The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-12

GAS ExroRT1oN. see that in the city of
London movement has been initiated to take
The supplying of gas from the present compa-
mics and to give it to q board Of commissioners
elected by the taxpayers themselves. When
I'VE take into consideration the great disparity
of prices exacted by the London and New
York companies, the comparison is calculated
10 swell the tide of indignation which has set
In against the extortions of the latter. Fin the
British metropolis the consumers find six shil-
lngs and a dollar of our currency-the rates
charged by the companies at each side Of
Oxford Observation-Disclosures and oppressive,
how much more reason have the people of New
York and Brooklyn to complain Of the prices
exacted from them. In the first place we know
that the profits of our gas companies are enor-
mously out Of proportion 10 those realized in
any other description of business. 1t is true
that only certain amount Of dividend is annu-
ally declared, but this, large as it is, does not
represent the surplus Of profit actually divided,
and which in ten years doubles the amount Of
capital invested.
II will be answered TO this that the rates
charged are limited by the charters OF the COM
panies. So they are; but II Is notorious that
the limits specified are fixed by the companies
themselves, who, in engineering their charters
Through the Legislature, take the largest mar
gin that decency permits. And this, once
reached, is again expanded by other charges
such as the government tax and tho rent for
petres, which swell their profits enormously.
Thus the Manhattan Company, in consider
alton Of tho renewal Of lis charter for
swenty years, undertakes to limit its rates
10 two dollars and half per thousand cubic
feet; but in violation of its agreement II
exacts from the consumers the government
tax and an increased rent for metres, which
renders an already unreasonable rate heavily
oppressive.
A stop must be put TO these increasing ex-
actions, or presently the metropolis will be-
come SO enormously expensive place TO live
in that 1t will affect The growth OF our popula-
ton and drive out taxpayers to westcbester,
Long Island and New Jersey. The objection
That we canno. interfere with the present char
tiers Of the companies is absurd. They have for
feted them themselves by violations Of the con-
diiions on which they were granted. If the
people Of New York will bestirthemselves at
once and force the matter on the attention OF
an Legislature, the whole plan of the city sup
ply could be revised and reformed In q few
mouths When the bill creating the Board Of
Municipal Control becomes law 1t will at once
supply the machinery for H. A short act can
then be passed abolishing the charters Of oil the
existing companies, and dclegating TO the new
Board the powers conferred by them. In this
way we csn arrive at an exact periodical state
mont Of tlss rsonts made by the companies
and OF tie extent TO which their charges can
be reduced. This plan would be better one
for the public interests Than that which Ia pro-
pcsed for London, because Il would afford In
HuiIely less scope for INSTRUMENTATION and
conuption-the great dangers to be spprc-
heudcd II the city authorities undertake the
p,anuiac,urc Of the article themselves.