The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-10-22 00:00:00

RAILWAY AND GAS ACCOMMODATION IN
STOURBRIDC.k.
lb the Editor 01 the "Observer.'

Data 8:11,—I see that your correspondent ‘• Amiens."
seeing to imagine that the governing body of Stourbridge
are riot to blame in the slightest degree its the matter of
the erectiou of the projected station in Foster-street, and
alleges that they did all in their power to compel the
company to build one there, as was originally proposed.
Although 1 Miter with him in this respect, yet as it is
now too late to try to alter the matter, and as I see by
the report of the Commissioners meeting which appeared
I in your columns in the same week as my letter, that they
I are now bestirring themselves, and trying to get the rail-
way company to make the approaches to the station more
accessible, 1 will say no more at present on that subject.
1 see that your correspondent agrees with me that if
gas can by any means he supplied as cheaply in this
town as in Walsall, the Commissioners are not doing
their duty to the town snout exercising the power given
to them by the Improvigg Act, and erecting a gas workv.
lii fact, he goes farther, and says they are conniving at
an injustice. The; it can be supplied here quite an
cheaply as in the before-mentioned town, I do not think
there is a shadow of a reason to doubt. We have coal
here iu as great abundance as they have at Walsall,
bricks, for the erection of the works, and plenty of iron ;
and, in fact, I have never heard that there is any rhlE.
culty either physically or geologically in the way to pre-
vent us fr m having our own gas works. The only diffi-
culty in the matter that I know of reata with the Com-
missioners, who, for some reasons best known to them-
selves have always thrown cold water on the project.
that there must be 1301.0 reason which does not appear
on the surface for their apathy in the matter is sell-rea-
dout, as many of them are large gas consumers them.
selves, and if it were not for something " behind the
scenes " they would be only too glad to sire the difference
between Is d and Ss 3d per thousand feet iv their res-
pective gas bills, as it would amount to a considerable
sum in the course of 12 ruonthe. If something of the I
kind is not the matter, how is it that none of the Com-
missioners have ever been to IValsall to try to get infor-
nistbn on the subject? It cannot be because they are
afraid of spending the town's money to defray the ex.
peuses of their journey. At all events they were not so ,
squeamish with reference to the late trial at Worcester, I
which was the result of their bungling proceedings in I
the Market Hall, sod which, bye-the-bye, was one of the
most perfect specimens of "How not to do it" that has
ever come within my experience.
When the present body were first elected there was one
gentlemen chosen to sit at the Board of whom 1 had
formed great anticipations, as I believed him to be pos-
sessed of considerable ability, and thought that he would
give his best endeavours to the improvement of the town.
But 1 need not tell you, Mr. Editor, that my hopes were
doomed to disappointment, for although he has now sat
on the Board since its formation, the only reform that 1 I
have known him to be the originator of was the naming 1
of two byeways, each of which was known by the eupho.
moss title of " The Gullet ;" and although no doubt this I
was a great improvement, Phase never beard that the
inhabitants of the respective places have presented him
with • testimonial for his pains. If the meney which it
cost to get the two boards painted and placed at the
bottom of the respective passages, had been laid oat in
defraying that gentleman's railway fare to Walsall and
back, so that he Knight have made the necessary inquiries
of the authorities there, relative to the erection of • gas
works, no doubt the town would have derived some prac-
tical benefit therefrom.

Hoping that at the next meeting of the Lmmmimienere
something will be done in this matter,
I am, Mr. Editor,