The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-09-01


opinion of the Counsel for the city against
the right of the Gas Company to raise
the price of gas. 1t is decided and clear
in its conclusions, leaving little doubt in
regard to judicial decision Of the
question. 1t has been proposed that the
citizens shall on presentation of their
bills, tender the company the former
price, and if they refuse to accept it and
turn off the gas, they shall Immediately
commence suits against the company for
damages. Ii the courts should sustain
Mr. Jones' construction of the contract,
the damages would be made exemplary.
We think the course of the company
unfortunate and injudicious at this
period when the public attention is
directed to the use Of gas Cor culinary
purposes, as the cheapest fuel in the
kitchen. Apparatus for cooking by gas,
is becoming popular, and the experiments
tried with them warrant the belief that
they will soon come into very general
use. Gas stoves are sold in Cincinnati
from Sl5 to $50 that will serve family
of five to 20 persons, at an average cost
through the year of two and half cents
for fuel to each person per day, with gas
at two dollars and a half per 1000 feet.
The greater neatness and convenience in
cooking by gas, would commend it to
housekeepers at double the cost of coal
or wood, il it were once introduced. As
it costs the gas company but small
amount more to furnish 500, 900 cubic
feet per mouth, than it does to supply
100000 feet, it is their interest to pro.
mote the consumption Of gas by low
prices. The actual cost of gas to the
company is not fifty cents per 1000 feet
and there would be twenty per cent
more profit in the sale of 100000 feel
per month at 50, than in the cOnsump
ton Of 4OO.0OO at So. Low prices, as 8
universal rule, increase consumption
and reduction of 80 per cent. of tn,
cost of gas ought to double the demand
for it. II the company instead of going
to sleep over their monopoly, would
make some effor. to make known the
economy and advantages of gas both a.
fuel and light, and thereby increase tht
demand for it-and would do away will
their illegal charges on metres-ant
reduce, instead OF raising its prices, anc
would moreover dispense with some o
the supernumerary salaries which ART
everywhere attached to such companies
there would be no difficulty in maxim!
dividends on the stock If the stock i
worthless to the present holders. lie
them dispose Of it. They had better sci
it for fifty cents on the dollar, than Il
hold it without dividends.
To the Common Council Of the City Of Evansville
Having been requested by His Homo
the Mayor, to examine the cOntrac
between the city OF Evansville and tn
Gas Company. and give my OPINION a
to the right OF the company to charg
for gas more than Is charged in Tincin
natl, respectfully state that
1t Is my opinion that the Gas Compan
have no right to charge more for "a
furnished to the city of Evansville. tina
one hal the amount charged prlvat
individuals Tor gas In Cincinnati. Tn
claim by the company of the right to d
30, appears 10 be founded on the word
similarly situated" occurring IN In
contract IN connection with the languag
fixing the price and quality Of gas, 81
TINS phrase as used In the contract is 5
vague and uncertain that it is difficult {
determine what meaning it has, II am
think it clearly does not refer to tn
prices OF coal, iron. &C., to be used by tn
company. The word situated" sign
fes placed" or Standing" in relatlo
to some other object which occupies
place. The price OF commodity is nj
an object nor can it have a place
locality. IL the phrase quoted NEAR
anything, il has reference to the locatio
of Evansville, as it relates to fixed object
and not to prices, which are as variab
as the wind, and could never be the four
dation OF rule as to the price Of gas.
JAS. G. JONES.
August 29th. 1857,