The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-21

To TnK EDITOR OF TUE HkRAIDi
SiR Now that the subject OF the gas monopoly
has IN n measure been brought before the public,
through the instrumentality Of that great engine
the prrss, setting forth the sentiments Of the m
rruniiy and those Of various editors OF the Leading
journals OF the day, have thought proper, per-
hsps might rather cay presumed, 10 offer a lew
remarks On this important pub lie question
by way sf preface, may inform the person who
Interrupted the public meeting last week. land
who. have no doubt, Is one OF the Gas Company's
servsnts,) that L am not yet long enough in this
country 20 make me citizen of the United States
of America; nevertheless, hope may be allowed
to speak Of the comparative prices Of gas light Ia
this and other places Having, during my scJourn
IN the mother country, been examined before CON.
miiiees at both houses OF Parliament, regarding
the prices, qualities and different modes ut con-
tracing for gas light IN the principal towns ana
villages in Scotland, II may az least be supposed
that know little about the subject m question.
That the advantages 10 be derived from good aud
cheap pes light have not long before this time,
been more prominently brought before this inge-
NOUS and enterprisng people, must be matter OF
sstonlshment 20 those who are NJ all converssnt
with the question az issue. For example, there 10
not village m Scotland that numbers three thou
sand inhabitants, that has not its gas works. And
what IL the reason Of this Because u ~ both the
cheapest and best Of oil srtihcial lights. The
average price Of n kitchen light for a year, in
Scotland, with the privilege OF burning from sun
set till twelve at midnight. IN the winter months,
from five IN the morning tall rise. " only ABOUT
twelve shilllngs sterltny or something less than
three dollars. This is by contract end those that
metres often burn the same kind Of JET at a
much cheaper rate, the price beng only about ten
York shillings per enc thousand cubic feet. Bat,
Mr. Editor, your leading article in last Sln.
DAVIS Hc,od, puts the cap stone on the heads
~ the gas monopolizers.and question very much e
there 10 one member of that most august body who
could IN sny way account for the anomaly Of rates,
which is plainly and fairly Get before the eyes OF
the public in the article referred 10.
Mr. Editor, You may In your own mind imtgtne
ten thousand different causes 10 account Tor the
companies irregular charges, but al the loaz run
you must come 10 the conclusion that yoa have
paid for the piper. You talk cf being swtnoled
ont OF 1872 dollars more in the month OF December.
lsi9, than in the same month In lsE. Ycs, Mr.
Editor, IL you paid that amount OF money more
att December than IN December, 1871, Won may
calculate that You At least were swindied o,t of
more than double this sum in the shap. OF bad
light NJ you must know that the lighter in specific
gravity gas ", II gives the greatest amount OF H.
Eliminating power; consequently, the same number
~ cubic feet ~ longer in passing through your me.
ter. There ~ another reason that might in a mea-
sure account for the rregulariiy Of the company's
charges 10 you Water meters In a country like
this where the heat and cold 60 TO such extreme =
are not the beat to be used, the tempersture oI
the atmosphere operates irregulsrIy on them. Dry