The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-08 00:00:00

taking off the

pressure too early." Good gas, and high pressure,
are not required at one and the same time, and to
supply them at ss. 10d. per thousand cubic feet,
would either lead to the discontinuance of the use
of gas on the part of the public, or the bankruptcy
of the Commissioners.

The consumers are badly off now, but they
would be much worse if they intrusted the
manufacture and supply of light to any set
of men so manifestly ignorant of that which
they seek to embark in. Mr. GOUGH makes
his own gas at 2s. per thousand cubic feet, and if
his manufacturing plant were large enough, we
dare say he would not object to distribute it for is.,
which would make the cost to consumers 35.,
instead of ss. led. per thousand cubic feet.
Will the Commissioners do this when they become
the owners of the Birkenhead Gas Works ? The
query is an important one, and the Board ought to
have considered it well before it unanimously
adopted that portion of its Committee's Report
which relates to lighting. Th© fixed determina-
tion of those who have taken up the Gas
Question in this Borough is, that gas
shall be carried into the houses of the
poorest classes, where it is most required for
domestic, sanitary, and industrial purposes. And
unless the Birkenhead Commissioners are pre-
pared to supply this great want, without taxing
the rich too heavily for the benefit of the working-
man, they had far better leave the gas abuses
complained of to correct themselves. The instant
they take the matter into their hands the occu-
piers of cottages will have as much claim upon
them for cheap light as the shopkeeper or those
living in private houses. They should, therefore,
see that the present works are capable of supply.
ing a twofold demand before they lay out the
ratepayers money in purchasing them.

At present there is something saved to the public
by taking off the pressure before ten o'clock ;
and unless the Commissioners see how they can
reduce the pressure when shopkeepers and other
householders are not using gas, we fear they will
do but little to relieve their customers' pockets.
It is in the early part of the evening, and not at
ten o'clock, that the pressure should be taken off.
The Committee ought to have seen this ; but
perhaps it is not too late to offer them a little
wholesome advice. Our Town Council appear
disposed to let the gas question drop altogether.
The ratepayers, however, have no notion of doing
anything of the kind. They are only waiting to
see who will move next; and they promise the
gentlemen who will renew the discussion about
meter inspectors—that is, men to look at the out.
side of the conjuring box,—and saddling the
borough, directly or indirectly, with a gas debt of
600,0001, a very warm reception if there be any
heat to be infused into a really popular opposition.
Birkenhead may be duped, but the gas con
sumers of Liverpool now know too much
to be bamboozled by compromises and jobbery.
Mr. EARLE hopes that in all the onslaughts which
are being directed against property, that when the
gas question comes before the Council again, the
rights of property invested in light will be res-
pected, no matter whether the Company's mea-
sures be honest or otherwise, and in this hope we
fully concur, as we think it high time the magis-
trates should interfere in every case where the
meters are found to be constructed so as to register
against the property of the Company's customers.