, 1866-12-17
TIE GAS QU-:.ST1JN IN CHICAGO.

The universal rule Of :l1 rnonopolics is to
Se. the mos. meme. for the Least quantity
and poorest articL.. Gas companies ore no
:xc:rticn 10 this ra1e ; on the contrary, they
furnish the strongest Instances Of its truth.
Communities that lave once enjoyed the use
ef :.as Gnd fl thereafter an almost indisacnsa-
bic artic!c. Places OF business, factories,
stores, offices, shops aad residences arc adapt
I'd to IFS ure, and 10 b. deprived Of it Is to
subject Mi 70 ;.rea: Inconvenience. expense
h,l loss. To dcp.;ve 4 community Of gas
would work great injury and destroy much
comfort, aud 1t Is because tho Pablic
asc compelled tousc H.. that gus companies
tiHd II s., easy 10 sar:y Into effect the rule we
lave cilcl, Of demanding the greatest st
tainat''c'snm of m1ncr for tte least quantity
q; shc poorest gas, Chicsso is not tho sAaly
.fEercr. Other cl.cs have passed urter the
ililiction Of like ,nonot'olIes, and in The e
i.avc tren driven to that measure "f relic;
which alone CAP r.t all end to the evil. aud
AhIcl, ne hopc will t;c adopted here witil7ut
delay. r.csious 10 1885, there wls bnt onc
.:;ss company III Chicago. In that year. after
aa immense struggle, Second company wa1
Incorporated. Tie public had sone hors
tlat in co.npeti;ion There would be
reduction Of price and an improvement in
slsc article Of gas. BIT such hope was sooa
c-.tinguished; the two companies were SUBJ
stsutia1ly consolidated. that Ii to say, they
divided the city Into two districts, each pre-
fc,raug ouc-half tha existing monopoly, to
entering into competition. Since that time
these two companies have been stEens hen
ing themselves by tho occupancy of addi-
,ionn1 streets, aud for each e4tortlon flnd'n.
a precedent in the one preceding It, to which
the public had submitted.
t;as il now furnished IN the CITY at ChtcaSn
at the following ratcs: In the South and
| North Divisions at the rate of three dollars
nrh fifty cents pcr Thousand feet, exclusive ei
| The Government tax Of twenty cents per
| Thousand five per cent or seventeen cents
| rcr rthousand feet 10 be added upon MI bills
! not raid within the first fvr days Of tae
month. In tho West Diyision At four dollar
| ard twenty. five cents per Thousand feet, Ia
cladlnc the Government tax with discount
ns fifty cents per thousand feet upon all blll.
| raid on or before the tenth day of cact
| month.
The price of eas to those who pay thei
hills promptly In tile ftst week Of cac1
month, exclusive Of the Government tax
three dollars and fflr cents per thoussn'
fttt; and this charge Is for an article ofgas tha
j. often not only Of m inferior quality but q
the most offensive odor. We need not u.
that The manufacture Of gas In Chicago IL an
has algays been eource OF large prott. Th
I public will never comulstn ofa fair profit t
companies who perform their duties 1aitt
1ul1y, nor If tha. profit be liberal enc
but they have right to complain If thos
l rn, t.as- p - ri mi
necessities of the public au enormous proh
upon m inferior article, furnished under cl
cumstances of questionable fairness.
Ltbe gas now furnished the city Of Chic
20 can be furnished at two dollars per tho
rand feet, and yield to thc company an q
!. nual profit at twelve per ceutum upon Il
.. cost Of their works and the cost of the 81
then every penny beyond that sum is
= rect extostion from the public. II tho eli
- of fCh,cago can light the streets and furnl
= cas to the Inhabitants At cost Of tHo ct
=. lars per thousand feet, including 4tr p
:. cent interest upon tho necessary e1pea'
- lures for gss works, layiug pipes, &C., IN
:. 1t is criminal disregard Of pun
: interest my longer to ray three dolil
= and Any cents TO any company. u
=. uratious may have rights, but ID
!, arc subordinate to those OF
- rcoc,al public, and when Gus companies
rcr,nittcd 10 use thc streets OF Chlea
- w;thout charge, for thc:r pipes, tho pub
: have a right to demand that the Pr'st'e
= shall not be used to the oppression OF
.. publ,c. The remedy is clear and dt1
It ane. Let the city of Chicago mannfact'
y It's own ras. Instead Of having tue Of
= ne.s in the hands Of twenty o1 thirty IN
,o- ysdua's, let there be vast company
,c, GLIDING every householder or
to consumer aud tax payer IN
~ city, ind in tha name j..
ay the city of Chicago, manufacture tt
ct own gas, and furulsh 1t at cost. EsttmAt