The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-07
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY. AUGUST I, 1860

Wherever there is gas, it seems there is always
trouble. Whether this comes from the nature OF
man or the nature of gas in the abstract, or only
from human nature in a gaseous connection, II is
difficult TO say but certainly the fact is not to be
denied In New York, where they have the best
gas in the world at two dollars and half per
thousand cubic feet they insist upon having it at
two dollars 1t is made for them from camel
coal, upon the most approved chemical principles,
and is undoubtedly pure, brilliant, and honestly
supplied Yet they have made up their minds
that it can be cheaper, and ought to be, and con-
sequently that it shall be. Three or four years
ago they paid three dollars per thousand feet and
since the reduction 10 two and q half the gas has
been manufactured more scientifically, and has De-
come, in every particular, better article. lhey
have resolved to have it at least as good and sui
cheaper, northumberland depend upon
i'll so have it not without
...... course-not without protest and
ut still they will so have it, for they
competition and explode the relics
which linger, and by that process
they will certainly do the business: In London,
gas costs about one dollar and eight cents per
thousand cubic feet, and yet the public are not
satisfied. People complain of the quality of the
gas and will not be quiet till it is improved. The
House of Commons, it appears, has taken up the
matter, and bill has been introduced, which
Punch STYLES, in his Essence of Parliament" "a
''Bill for making Gas Companies behave with
''some sort of fairness and honesty-at which" he
adds, "those companies are naturally indignant"
From this comment it is very obvious that Punch
understands the nature of gas companies perfectly,
all the world over, and that he has fathomed the
sources of their Indignation like philosopher,
he is But he goes farther and illustrates his wis
dom not less than our cis-Atlantc experience, by
showing that 'all the tact in the world will never
''make people believe that companies ought to
scharge high for bad gas, and then, because they
'have monopoly of the supply, ought to insult
"customers who demonstrate" We do not know
what people will believe on the other side of the
water but we think we can assure Mr.. Punch
that the identical system of company morals and
conduct which he describes has failed entirely to
convert the public, in this part of the world, to a
sense of the fairness Of the process by which they
are compelled to pay for twice as much as they
use of vllanous article, at the rate of three dol
lars per thousand feet and are bullied or snubbed
if they venture to demonstrate. We shall die in
the belief that if the best of gas be had in New
York for two dollars and fifty cents per thousand,
the worst of gas ought not to cost three dollars in
Baltimore. We shall never be persuaded that the
abolition of monopolies which has improved the
quality of gas elsewhere-to say nothing OF the
morals and manners of those who distribute it
will fail to exercise the cheapening and civil
izng influences here ALSO if fairly and fully car
ried out. We hope, therefore, that in some shape
or other we shall have legislation, like that pro-
posed in Parliament, TO make our illuminators
''behave,n likewise, with some sort of fairness
ttand honestY.'