Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-10-20
HERALD OF THE TIMES,
THURSDAY Oct. Goth, 1859.

- hLo' tNT ef quIfits are made
oi us as 10 Whether tie city auihsriucs
intend TO light tie streets with Gas ;we
Lave this far hlsialI, d from making
any remarks in regard to The matter.
ihafnuch az negotiation were pro-
efcssn e ie'Nctn tie Ciry Coul c.l and
The Gas C"mIany,- apd We had no de-
sire 10 express any.opinon or TO offer
amy sugg' s'icIs uhrh there was some
definite action in ragard TO The matter.
The Company made proI osiiion, some
weeks ago, to the Council, stating at
what price they would light specified
number OF lamps how many hours they
were 10 burn, &c. The Council re-
pared the matter 10 special commit
tee, who lave had il under considera-
lion, and they inaIly made a kind Of liz
direct proposition TO ,he Company. inu.
mating a Willingness to pay about three
flihs Of what the Company propose TO
charge for lighting. The Company re.
] lied that they could not accept the
Proposition ; and there the matter rests.
1t Is proper that We should sra'e for
tie benefit Of all as this Is a matter Of
public importance, and one in which the
whole community feel a deep interest,
that The Company, OF course, being
desirous OF lighting the streets, made an
estimate Of tie cost Of the Gas, before
sendirg in proI osals TO the Council
and they placed the price as low as they
well could, in order TO make any profit.
The price OF Gas IN This city is as low
as it has ever been in any place when
the works were first started after the
lapse Of time, in all cities, when the
consumption oi Gas increases, the price
is reduced, because it costs no more to
make five hundred thousand feet per
day than it does TO make one hundred
thousand feet, except the cost OF coal
and few more men at the works, Just
is increased. Thus it will readily be
perceived that where there is q large
consumption Of Gas, tic price can al
ways he materially reduced. II our
memory is correct, the Gas works in
Providence have been unGe7 way abou,
five years. ard yet the price was not re-
duced 10 three dollars Per thousand
until the first Of the present month ;a,d
consIdt ring tie number Of hours dur
ing which Gas is there burned, and du-
ring which ii was proposed TO burn j,
here, and takng into the account also
that the posts and lanterns are owned
by the city in Providence, and by tie
Company here.-the price which the
Company offered to light Tor here.
makes about the same that is pad in
Providence.
This we believe is plain and fair
sta tement OF the facts in The case F; a,
least, we have intended 10 make it
so,-and if there is any error, we shall
be very happy TO correct j..
We have no means f judging, but
we suppose that the Council do not feel
authorised to pay the price which the
Company ask. OF course, the former
can have no ie' ling in regard to the
matter. but simply desire 10 discharge
their duty in a manner which will be
satisfactory 10 their nslituents. We,
therefore, suggest to the Council the
proprIety Of submitting the question OF
lighting the streets al the price Charg
ed by the Company, TO the qualified
votes, and let them determine and,
certainty, the result, whichever way IL
may be, will relieve the Council from
all unpleasant responsibility in the mat
Ter. Questions ol this KIND are ire
ouently thus disposed Of in other cities,
where the Council desire fair express
sion Of OF inion on the part Of the pee
pie, without feeling any immediate in
terest in the matter, cne way or the
other.
Several gentlemen have already made
proposals TO the Company to have GER
tain lights lit, IN the immediate vicinity
of their residences and they ac will
ling to pay the price charged by the
Company. Blu, these oilers will not be
acreeded to by the Company. as they
do not feel that such course would be
of any advantage TO them, and oil bu,
little to the public generally and il the
streets. or any OF them are TO be lat
they do not desire the expense TO fall
upon few individuals.
We respectfully submit this PROPOSE
ton TO The City Council, as prudent
one, feeling tha, such course would be
satisfactory to taxpayers, and agrees-
Bile TO the Council.
rFThe New York National Demo