, 1859-04-30

1aton fraa and Tnbuns:
noticed in your paper a faw days sncs, IN
article from s. n Wilcox in relation to the nav
Gas Company. in which he seems to be soue-
whut interested. In referring 10 tue article in
your editorial columns, you secm rather in
clined towards this new moonkhinc enterprise,
at which am somewhat surprised.
! have myself no interest in either the old or
new company, and speak only rs taxpayer
and property holder Of the city. Some ten years
ngo, the old company, now in full operation in
this city, wns organizcd-they have at this time
between forty and fifty miles Of main pipe laid
down. supplying gas to every portion where re-
quired. The undertaking on the part of the
company was commenced with no very Entering
prospect Of success, but through the aid and in
Aucnce Of some Of our most entcrprlsing cit!-
zens, capital from, ubroad vas secured, which
added to local subscriptions has placed the COM
pany upon firm foundation, aud enabled them
10 meet the wants Of the city and keep pace
with its progress. The contract which thry
have had with the city fer the palt nine years
has recently expired, aud before the company
has time for an opportunity Of proposing terms
AoA AcAch AAuL!ael IL aA" r "f'oe%1
that ii the cty will take gas Of them ut certain
rates for ten years to come they will undertake
to erect gas works and supply the city US fast as
t'ley are able. An order iu due time passed tlc
Council directing the execution OF contract
with this new company, binding the city to take
5as Of them for ten years, 10 tue extent and III
such localities lis they might please to furnish
1t, and binding themselves to do just nothing
This ur.lcr was hurried through doubtless with
out mature reflection, but was vetoed by the
Nayor. for which act he is entitled to the thanks
oi the city.
If the contract ordered had been entered into,
whit would have been the rcsulty Why the new
company by inrestiug ten thousand dollars, and
even less, could huve performed their part OF
the agreement, uud thus held the city 1or ten
years under the agreement, without supplying
more than dozen lamps, leaving the city nlean-
while to take gus Of the old company ut their
vwn price, which might be three dollars = thoH-
s4ntl. thus compelling the city to buy OIL the new
conspCnv from their cuntract ut high figures. or
=utItr sill yrratsr loss by briuk. compelled 10
take gas ot another company without the bcnt-
lit Of u contract and let tllt nlutier 60 which
way it night, thu ci1y.Sn. in fnr lurge sum Of
money, MI 10 cnme out ot the tax payers.
Huw strange it is that this new company,
which claiu,s to have organized some fur years
SINCE should have just risen mp into new lie at
t!4is particular time. Ii they are really sincere,
and POSSESS the capital to enable them to per
Iur1n wllat is or should he required OF them, II
seems 10 lne they hive had sufficient TIN" TO
manifest ii By commencing their works anu
showing tn the public soE:e evidence nf t!ler
ability but here they come, without brick Or
font vi pipe laid. and ask contract to light fhc
city. They a.surr us they can perform II tic
CRY will aid them, but they caunot start without
suciI aid. Then certainly they cannot with i,
and further, tll,uk the city OF Chicago has al-
ready enough on hand. without en.uging. in .
muunsl.iue enterprise Of thi. kind for The bene-
fit of Il few specializing Shylocks. We hare
responsible company already in operation, who
hasc the gus ready to supply. They need no
time for preparation, and the performance Of
contract with them will depend upon no contu1-
gencies-their terms no one disputes. The new
company. if ever in operation, d. not propose
lowur rates. Then willy do our city fathers de-
lay concluding contract with them? The city
il paving every day fifty cents more Thousand
than they need to pay, i'll consequence Of this
delay The people vii! hold their representa-,
ti,cs accountable for tLs unnecessary waste Of
;.rir ,acuvr, 1 CITIZEN.