The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-11

this as OF favor To- powerful gas monopoly but
r,so II 10 YOU a pr y. to individual
If this were mere natter OF srauity or gift and to
be considered che gro 70 suah
in cht to demand any vel, large amount OF favor at
the hands of from the pockets " ~, ,he people.
of the business Of furnishing our peo ewth necessity
they have exacted and are exacng then s' aaH
the complaints OF the people have not been oder b
any great favor liberaty. The stocsA uels nave
reaped enormous gains, and the people havs ~. rtos
pered by any corresponding liberaty of tN' Virtual
The Manhattan Company was organized with aAcaptal
Of Ave hundred thousand dollars It's capital now - four
do not think that the people are prepared to have
their taxes increased unnecessarily to swell the gain
Of stockholders Of gas companies But 1nis Is por-
/ am aware that the stockholders in this company
are among our most respectable citizens, ana the
largest holders are the leaders and chefs In move
ments for municipal reform and doubtless, ~ acqui-
escng in this action, might secure ther PUBIC prase
feel that did not deserve the commentator:
! have long since concluded that the best praised
are not always the most deserving ana c ocsr
on the consciousness Of doing right, however mucn
temporary and interested camor may DO ncensed ana cry
required by law that all bids for contracts shall be
opened.in the presence Of the Comptroller
shall not attend be present at any opening ior Ods
for the proposed substituted contracts and shall in no
manner recognise them
against Se scen Of The Common Council
The first contract made by the Corporation to ght the
streets Of our city was executed with the New YORK Gas
that in consideration Of the covenants TO be performed oy
the company the Corporation granted demised and TO
underground pipes in all and every Of the public
and parts Of streets lying south Of line running dago
the North river the foot Of Canal street. for conduct
ing for lighting the public lamps in the streets ana
buildings fronting or to front on OF bounded by the
streets or parts Of streets south Of that line. 1t
then provided for numerous conditions and resric.
tons under which the grant was TO continue. and
It expressly stipulated that II the company
did not faithfully perform its contract and all
the covenants and conditions therein contained, 'the
PREMISES thereby demised shall be revested In the
Corporation as fully and completely as II this linden;
by its own limitation hold that by the provisions Of
that contract the exclusive right Of the city to control
furnishing gas distinctly recognized and estab-
shed independently Of all other consderations, and
that the contract amounted only to lease of the of
the streets FOR the purposes Of tho company during the
continuance Of the contract The contract having
the reverted 10 the Corporation All the contracts
made with the Manhattan Gas Company and that with
Harlem Company contain the provisions in this
respect-word for word.
This recognition OF right and ownership by the Corpo-
ration the in connection with gas companies Is
an important and valuable property, and may he turned
very profitable account in charging these companies In
the future annual rent or other adequate consdera
On for their further OF tho streets which they have
ured TO such useful advantage without any compensa
ton heretofore to the people The resolutions OF the
Common Council do not take this ownership into &C
count and mako no provision for its reservation or pro-
tecon but virtually surrender it. The resolutions d.
rect the making Of new contracts without any spula
lions.
The New York and Harlem Companies are in the posi-
@ with ref to the STR Of a1 M holding r
to the streets for their pipes single day without the
author. Of the Common Council, and are necessarily
dependent the Corporation for their very existence
Thore arc outstanding with either the New
York Harlem Company, tho former being paid
$25 81 lamp, under q demand for that amount and
the latter continuing to receive s2s so per lamp the
~ 70 % PAiH nor s,S
c*P.eu on su T uas y, ~ ~, ~ 'i cOU. ,.
sds WITH sSs:s os%psass q s;ss - .isss
Of the bubble Interest al every point where needed
s,ardnU with The cxcroon Of dc changes between the
rst and second contracts with the Manhattan Company
Common Council no proys:on for public PROTECTION is 10
be required This would be in itself an nsuperabe OBJ
/ iect ION ~ 4~- 49, p
1here are still other objections equally strong TO nv
attending the opcning Of the bids for the new CON
| tracts or taking any action to give them validity
| The invitation of tho street Commissioner issued
| in pursuance of the resolutions Of the Common
districts being practically the districts in which
| tho New York the Manhattan, the Metropolitan and
| the Harlem have exclusive possession. / do not
find any authority for this division and formation
'of districts the resolutions themselves The practical
eec. q viii be that mother company COMPETING with
whatsoever in It's own district no matter how oxorbtan
and thore will be no relief Whereas If the invitation in
cluded the whole eity there might be competition each
being at liberty to override tho other, and necessarily
there would be struggle for the advantage s true
Inconvenience might be suffered while the pipes we're
districts but DO not SEE how this can be
qtma'ey avoidc9 WITHOUT an aosoe SURRENDER Oh the
Guy 70 tue gas mohopolies On ..e'r own ,crins.
In orocr mat proper esnse may DC Io.H'ed o ING
extent 70 whicn tns paIaess " may " ,neIeasea
under te proposes ne" S , ", ,h @ ,sra
Ss 10t gh he
accoIuins W VIZ SNo,' r. I'M 49,, w
ABOUT n1ui hunuleu Svu iv yynn;,,od 10"'
All WHO" Is esrcs,y y ppEWG.N r,.,.u,rouo.
hAii"E" 4 D"HNf'N'' oo"p"o''''
TO CONTRACTORS.
OyYrR STREET COMM sIoSrR,
NO. 237 BsoApwAy NV SoRk.
Proposals. enclosed In Scaled enS cope g. it
the title of the work and with the of the bidder
written thereon will be received at this Office until Wed
nesslay. January is 1865 at eleven O'Clock A. NJ -
For furnishing gas To and lighting all the public amps
in the city OF New York lying north of line com
mencnp at the East river at the foot of Grand street
and running through the middle Of Grand street 10 Sui
Ivan street and through Sullivan street TO Canal street