Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-28
THE GAS CONTROVERSY.


In our local columns Of yesterday we
briefly adverted to the impoliey Of setting
up in our midst corporation owned and
controlled by foreigners, and having for
its object the destruction of local CAPT
tai. A simple statement Of the propo-
sition that the one company is the prop
erty of the citizens of Memphis, and the
other the property of people from Gin
cinnati, would ordinarily be sufficient to
convince rightminded and thoughtful
people that the home interest was first
deserving Of support; but, inasmuch as
there are complications connected with
this matter which need explanation, we
prefer to argue the matter at length.
As stated in our paragraph of yesterday,
we again repeat, and with more than Or
binary emphasis, that all the troubles
and impositions put upon this commu-
nifty came through Cincinnati foreigners
men having no object here further
than to burden us with taxations and
exactions. Is this game to be played
over again, and are we to be made par
ties to our own destruction? How peril
nently comes up the story of the wood
en- horse and fallen Troyl The name of
this horse is competition. As mat
ter of course, these Cincinnati people,
in the fullness Of their love for the South,
will urge the entire absence of merce-
nary or selfish motives on their part
holy, pure and unadulterated patriotism,
and desire to relieve the citizens of
Memphis of an "old man of the sea I"
is what moves those entirely disinter-
ested dwellers by the Ohio; not dollar
would they have, not a single atom of
greenbacked lucre shall stain the hands
of those makers of shot and shell where
with we were pounded into obedience to
the laws some years gone by. They are
but batting their traps now; but once let
the foolish victim enter and see what
will then happen. Impositions will
come, millions viii be wrung from our
citizens to be taken away to build villas
and create manufacturing industries in
and about Porkopolis. Viewed from
this position the question is of public
interest, and should not be confined to
the narrow limits of the mere price of
gas. Whatever is paid to the Cincinnati
corporation will be lost to US forever,
whereas that which is paid to the Mem
phis men will remain and add to the
commonwealth. There is the whole
question in nutshell. On the other
hand it may be argued that this is not
combination of foreign capitalists, but
that the stock of the company is owned
and held by bona fde residents and citi-
zens of Memphis. Now if such is the
case, and these people are really patri-
otto, and have no other end in view than
the spending of money for the public
good, we can point out nearer and
more direct mode of getting at the end
desired, to-wit: buy up the stock of
the present company and do with 1t just
as you like. If you have money of your
own to erect works and lay mains Of an
entire new company, certainly you have
enough to get control of the old one.
We say this because we know from prac-
teal demonstration that it is not neces-
sary to invest more money in houses and
We have enough of that sort
Of thing already, and any further outlay
in that respect is but to take money
hence to give employment to foreign me-
chanics, to rob Memphis Of her capital
and keep her in an eternal state of yas-
salage and bondage to the North. If
this is desirable, back up the Cincinnati