Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-04

The GAS QUKsTIoN.-A CARD PROM Mr..
NATURALIZATION National Republican; The COM
municRtIon of Jos. =. Brown, "SeeretAry in charge
OF Washington Gas Light Company, in the Evening
Star OF yesterday, In which he says "thAt the
statement which 1 made in the Common Council
In relation to the leakage OF the gas mains in the
streets OF this city Is fAlIe," "thAt all the leakage
SC, Is in work done by the firm Of which am .
partner - "thAt Mr.. shepherd will not deny that
he 10, and has been, Influenced by hatred to the
Gas Company" &C, 40, IL certainly = singular
document A single reading, alone, convinced me
that II was more an attempt to injure the firm OF
j. W. Thompson Co., as mechanics, than to de-
iend his position In connection with the Gas Light
Company, or, In other words, II was more emA-
nation OF malice than an effort to prove a faithful
discharge Of duty on his part towards his en-
ployers
Unjust confess that WAS somewhat perplexed to
understand the motive for such an attack, when
friend came TO my aid with the suggestion that
Mr.. Brown, &" Secretary IN charge" Washington Gas
Light Company, Alderman, Police Commissioner,
Wood Deiler, &C.; sc, Ne, had become the pro-
prietor Of the Plumbing establishment lately con-
Quoted by VIM. T. Dove, and now carried on under
the name of"Jos. Reynolds Co.." and that he
evidently expected by slanderng the reputation OF
his most formidable competitors, to turn the tide
OF patronage toward this, his last enterprise, and
crown It with success
In my humble efforts, as city legislator, to pre-
vent an Increase In the price Of gas the dspleAsure
Of MIR. Brown has evidently been Insured. This
10 certainly to be regretted-iOr It 10 not my dis.
position to make enemies. But the protection Of
the interests OF my fellow-etizens IL more import
ant than the good will OF Mr.. Brown-And II hi
interests are antAg0nistie to those OF the commu
nifty, It Is his misfortune, not my fault.
The statement made by me in the City Councils
which Mr.. BrownpronOunces geographically false, y
viz; that our gas mains would bankrupt any
company, being in leAEy condition, and that they
are losing by leakage Of mAiuI, from % to II pei
cent OF their gas" 10 true, Notwithstanding the EN-
phStc denial OF the rdeiouS secretary In charge.
To convince any one OF the fact, let him saunte
along the streets ofthe Metropolis, and he vii
sniff It in, at each respiration. Let him look at thu
beautiful shade trees that droOp and die from tn
poisonous fumes OF the gas.
Let him taste the water from the drinking wells
and he convinced. Let him, too, guard well hi
nose az he passes the soWeropeningI In our streets
In fact, Of all these villanouI smells that infes
Warrington, the predominating one Is gas.
Notwithstanding facts so palpAble, Mr.. Brow
wishes US not only TO bear this evil quietly, but
pay for II as we'll. Oh ye whose gas bills caus
curses loud and deep how will II be II our seer,
tATy in charge" succeeds in obtaining the increaI
OF % cents per thousand feet, for which he Is 9
earnestly Gtriying1 Doubtless he argues that 20
BroAdheAd's decision, the Government tax, While
the company itself should pay, and that you wi
now quietly submit to this reasonable addition
over 10 per cent to your bills. Let him bewAr,
lest the last feather break the cancels bAeki"
Seriously speaking, the leakage Of gas in TIL
city Is enormous, and the people are paying for 1
II can and should be remedied, though II Is hardl
fair to expect that the " secretary in CHARGE"
the multitude Of his private projects, can give III
subject the attention II demands. Consequently
not only the consumers suffer- but also the stool
holders. Gas goes up dividends go down. Il
Mr.. Brown give AZ much attention to gas pipe la,
Ing as he has to political pipe laying, and all ma
yet go well.
Mr.. Brown states that | am influenced "by II
most unrelenting hatred towards this company
press the people and particularly thoSe that II
nish poor gas at exorbitant rates. am willing
give him credit for having, by sheer inadvertenc
Astonished the public by telling the truth.
The statement relative to gas mains laid by
W. Thompson Il Co, whose contract was for
single year, (while the Gas Company has bsen
existence fourteen yearG,) and who put In 26o a
vices out OF 4 total Of about 500 on the books
the company, Is a contemplate subterfuBe ev,
for Mr.. Brown. II needs no answer.
The reputation OF that firm ca not be Affected
the assertions OF = Jealous rival, especially VIII,
that rival Is Joseph T. Brown. append, hoWev'
the statement uf Lloyd W. EmmArt, (thsn in o.
employ, who, a. our foreman Al that time, Gupt
intended the work. which respectfully Iubm
makes more indiSputAble than ever Mr.. Brown
welLeArued and acknowledged IObriquet, Mu
ehausen the second.r Ifhe;ever writes work
fiction II uriH sell.
Respectfully, ALRH. R. SHEPHERD,
Councilman Third ward