The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-09
Highly Important Meeting OF Gas Con-
sumcrs.

]
way House. last evening" for the purpose of taking into
consideration such measures might be deemed me-
cesssry to relieve the gas consuming public Of the
grievances which they labor under In consequence OF
being at the mercy Of the Gas Companies existing
The meeting Was called to order by Mr.. William A.
kentish. General sLoMAs was appointed chairman,
and Mr.. SWEET secretary.
KENTIsH explained the objects for which it called
After enumsratng few OF the extortions practised
no reason why gas could net be supplied chsao
rate here In Phsdephia In that city 1t costs but
about TO be lowered to twenty and perhaps eighteen
cents. Even at twenty cents, the people OF Philate
phis pay only half as much as Is paid Ia New York
gentlemau In connection With him. this subject,
said that the why gas is dear In New YORK is
that coal dear; but that would affect aiephia
As we'll as New York Why should It, therefors, be
twenty cents In city, and forty herel friend
of his Informed him that he paid In Oatober last one
hundred and twenty eight dollars more than he dia in
the same month in lS48 although he used much less
gas. Mr. kentish then referred TO measures which
sss:n so
bins, and charge what they pleased Tie sus-
pany, and it was formed in fortnight Ever
nnce then, the three companies have been fur
nishipg gas ut seven and half cents lie did not be-
eve that the people New York wsuted gas at such
small sun as that, but he knew they would like to
have 1t at cheap rate it could DO furnished for
leaving a moderate profit to the manufacturer. lie
addressed the New York companies on the subject
but reply. A friend OF his, called on the CON-
psny on the same matter aud the answer he got was
that the New ork Company had made up their mind
to do as they pleased and that he Mr. kentish nsht
do he pleased, TOO. He did not any difficulty in
the way Of forming third company, by which gas
could be provided at reasonable rate TO consumers
He had In his possession, monthly report OF one
Of the English companies, from which IL appears
that the coal costs, for forty-nine bushels the
sum of twenty. wo shilings ave dollars and half
They sell the coke which made out Of the coal for
thirty shilipgs for the same quantity, which
amounts to nine dollars and half. Inc coal, there
fore vbf an thevh huvfo for five
sell for nine aud quarter dollars after using IL IN Tue
manufacture Of gas lie might be mistaken 80 IA. as
New York is concerned, but he has understood that
the demand for coke Is greater than the supply. The
fact IT, that the people Of New York are unortunatey
at the mercy Of monopoly aud 10 prsed him that
anything the shape of monopoly would be tolerated
in this republic lie then referred to the narrow escape
which the public had from being sadded with this mo-
nopoly for fifteen years after present coatrsct
pred by the action of the Board Of Assistant Alder
men in refusing to eonc1s with tne otasr , ,b re-
Gas Company. The question nov Is, whether, by any
arrangement, gas can be furnished at reasonable
In carrying It into effect He concluded by invihng
gentlemen present to give their views.
ing-I have listened said he, to all this matter patient
ly. IL appears to me that In his arrangements, he
never mentioned he was citizen Of the United States
He frst told us Of different cities In the nted States
Of how Baltimore, and Philadelphia and other cities,
can sell gas. What Is the reason oi TN. You viii
find, since $780, Engiishmen coming TO this country
head over heels, from the poor Manufacturing dis
trcts from Drmpghsm-
tion from servants Of the Gas Company
CH,InMAs.-You must conine yourself to the ques-
tioD.
The gentleman continued He talks about coal 10
this country lie don't say where " comes from-wAe-
tber It was imported from EngIasd- -,,.r.,
yoicE-I call him TO order. This meeting was called
by gas consumers and We don't want tue servants OF
Gss Companies to thros IL into disorder. (ApplAuse
We don't want TO hear any native American speeches
here. (Grsat spPlause) And the speaker sat dom
Mr.. JoHS J. MoFrArr was the next speaker. He
10 thirteen, fourteen and nre.n dollars he supposed
1t was all right and he paid them. Every thing went
ON well until his bills to sixteen aud seyen
teen dollars. He then kicked against them In lit
tie Will. a collector was employed by the comps-
ny and h's bills farther increased He complained,
and all the satisfaction he got was that IL he did not
want to pay he nsed not take the gas he replied that
such was not the way 70 DO sn.pss ,n naI tne '.@s
right In this age Of light aud progress' that should
be compelled the candles witch NY grandfather
used IL vas the same with the Hudson river mono
poly until IL broken up, aud now we can 20 TO A-
bany for City cents or dollar That monopoly was
broker n down and bring this one dowa 100. lie
was in favor Of the Corporation furnishing the city
with gas in the ssme way as II provides water Dur-
Ing the cholera, his business was very slack ana ne
sought TO reduce his expenses much ss possible lie
accordingly inquired as 20 the way OF economhns gas
and did not duriog August or September burn more
than BALI the qusutity which be usually consumed
that his bill for that month was three
or four dollars than IL was when he burned uu
quantity lie called on the company aud all the salts
fsction he rot was the sending OF to taks away
his metre He told the mau ne might cut on the gas
In the street but IL he Attempted to NOV. the metre
he weud put him cut. n. again went 70 the company
and ne told that he vas not forced TO take the gs
lie then wen; 10 December when he burned gas till
two three o'clock In the morning lis oil Toe thst
month. vas only eighteen dollsrs aud thirty iour
cents after buruiug two three umess' mdah sss as
usual lie prided himself on being knickrrbD Doker,
aud he knew chat the spirit OF the knckefbooker when
aroused, IN not % be tfined Win lie believed that
the time lad coine for the citizen, % s1ss "a TOE
natter. nsttr than tubmtg 20 this eAt0ftOn h-
would throw the tea overheard = Lot agphcation os
made 90 the Common Council 20 bght toe sisy " tney
d0Dt do g. put them out, no ma,tr 20 "has parry tny
msy belong. Make "a test question IA our elections
and tb,n shall uot have those people intsrruptns
e.pti.msp. whose name We did not learn, arose
ard made q speech. in which ne ssdesvored 20 shoS
tlst eas could nt be- furnished fog the street lsgss
To-, than uhat Ia charged He vent ioto esb5rate
statement 20 prove this bu, mentioned hoihing OF
stores or Of the cheap rate nj ~hcn ~ y
t-rlupted, bot was by oouresJ listened 70 t'ii ne
nisbed. ,.
fee minutes lie said he attended meeiings on The
subject In Dublin and LONDON and kno Fing tue
bsh price paid fsr gas In NeS ors ne s.os "a ,ass
est in the Procesdngs BY comparing notes, hs toaaa
that be himsen pait In Nes ORR seven ntrnth'i sni
that In Dubrin the people paid only tsn'hs Iney
com p,Ained of that charge In Loadon, aiso ~,
price raid was considerably lees than here, and ftl
the pee Te there conp aimed too In conclusion ne 'ai1
the tine had come when this monopoly system NUT
no brns.n aown 40 q. TO make thsss corporations
know that there is power above them Tie "F
,evernl of The s,oesh,ld,r' 70 'ao,s ~.
marks He moved In cunclution that cemuhtsebe
sppointsd 70 draft resolution eqassuas ,ns L.s,ss
IN. Gas oupapiss in ths city In order that tho pub
lie nav have come ligbt on them. aud seertaio
whether thsy have been doing justice 70 the gs n
sum.rs aud the city. The motion was carried, ana
M.ssrs Heutish. Bergen. Burn, Grant ahi Sweet. aP
pointed fuch mmittee ,-,, -.
Professor Gas~r b~ipg called upon, explained, a.
som. length psu BY which the city could b. lighted
at avs thou-sndth part q the ezpen,e nos Incurred
D.for. dotnr So however he contr0vered the rtsnEs
Of ths rsptsman who sad gas could not Be furnished
at chez per rate than Is now provided The l,sht y
~ M. c.n aud the principal iBgrei-nts u
nitrate a sods Witch cen be had. IN ineGbAn.uOle
quantities, ~ South America The restiua 0 he
suds after being used would be more valuable thtn
the article In ~. crude state. One on those hshs
plse.d IN Broadway corner ~ Canal street on tns Yep
ef hcu,e would enable person q reai throughput
The Whole Of that street and nettheotho1t lie has
one Of them In the locomJuye "Aousn ava
p,ssyr on the Philadep phis railroad hre. ~ u the
ensgnssr can see ree-qusrters of mile eheai and
4. enabled TO observe the switch p,le for halt
mile The expense OF that light Tor four nghis vas
onlv twenty. Eve cents All be wanted for the benefit
ot his discovery q competence sufficient 10 live
ppou fer the rest a his life. .,
aar.s,es NJ three uere appointed e. examine this