Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-12-11
The Gas Question.

Mr. Editor
In the last number of roar paper l MOTTO
ed an article headed "Our Gas Work, IN
which some reflections were cast upon cer-
tain members of the Common Council who
proposed to light the streets with something
cheaper than coal gas. AS | am the only
one who has attempted anything OF the kind
in the Council | hope you will allow me
small space in your paper 10 explain. Hsv-
ing ascertained from the company that they
would not lay down their main pipes to our
ward for wears to come, or not at least until
theJ could get private consumers enough to
pay the expense, proposed in the Council to
erect seven posts and lamps on one of the
pricipsl streets of the sixth ward, and to
supply the same with fluid known as safe
ty oil, instead OF that dangerous article called
naphtha, which you speak SO Indignantly
about, and of which the agents and retain
ers of the Gas Go. are bowling so hercely to
excite the fears Of the timd, in order 10
prevent the use OF any cheaper article for
lighting the streets. Amy one can ascer-
tain what this safety oil is by stepping into
Dr. Shultz' or other druggists in this city.
They will I'll lamp up to the top, apply
lighted match it will burn mildly with no
explosive properties about it. and with the
brush of the hand is easily extinguishsd.
Placed in properly constructed lamps it emits
beautiful jets OF gas, and is cheaper than any
other light; Is cents will supply . street
lamp for a week. | have seen it often tes-
ted and know of no way in which il can
T tfv tharo
should be any accident from it, it would
not be " orse than kerosene, which no one
proposes to do away with, unless it is the
Gas Company, who wish to monopolize the
lighting business. The same objections may
be urged against gas; and further, that
when it is taken into the lungs it is dead
ly poison-witness the suffocating OF two
persons recently at Cincinnati, who had in
hailed it also not long since in England, a
Depot and a Receiver were demolished by
its explosive properties
No one in Council proposes to do away
with gas on account Of its dangerous quail
ties on the contrary every member 10 in
favor oft, providing it can be obtained on
reasonable and just terms. Shortly after
the war, when materials for manufacturing
| gas were high, contract WAS entered into
with the Gas Co. to supply the street lamps
with gas at 1874 per month each, while
| private consumers were to pay $3.50 per
| thousand feet This contract was to terminate
! in one year. outstanding this contract
had expired for years, the company contin-
ued to charge the old rates until about a
| year since, when getting ashamed Of it they
| voluntarily lessened the price TO private
consumers to S4.0e per thousand feet, but
adhered to the old price for street lamps.
Last spiing move was made IN the Coun-
| Gil to obtain a contract Al cheaper rates.
After much delay the only response from the
company vas that they would reduce it,only
cents on the lamp per month. Finally
after q delay Of soma months further prop
| osition came from the company that they
would furnish gas for street lamps at S.. so
| per thousand feet. This, although not as
| cheap as Milwaukee or Chicago by Loo
per thousand, the city Council concluded to
accept, and ordered its clerk to draw up a
contract accordingly, STIMULATING that the
Company should substitute 5 feet burners
in, tead Of six, as now, ard 10 extinguish all
lamps st 10 o'clock P. NJ, which we're not
situated on the main streets leading from
the two depots. fhs the company refused
TO do, alleging that they cannot afford the
extra expense which they would incur in
extingulshing at different periods of tn.
night, an expense not exceeding So pei
month. Their friends in Council intimate
| that if this expense is insisted upon they
may become so demoraized IS to leave III
in Egyptian darkness
The intentions of the company are very evil
dent to delay as long as possible, and so lonl
| as the Council Will audit their accounts al
| old prices, they are in no hurry to enter in
to a contract at cheaper rates. | should moi
be so tenacious in insisting upon a just
| equitable contract between theucompany and
| the city, were it not that there is another
| wrong growing out of this gas operation
| The expense is charged TO the city genera
| fund, consequently every ward has to bear
| its proportion OF the expense. The 9TH, 6tt
and Tth wards have not lamp post within
their boundaries, the wealthier wards, lst
| I'd, 3D., and 4th monopolizing the whole
| While the former pay hundreds of dollars
| 10 light up three or four streets of theil
Weather neiRhbors, they have TO keep thu
! princps streets Leading into the city in re
| pair; and also some Of them have to sup
| port their. own poor, and have to raise lar
| ger sums tor that purpose than some Other
wards do for general ward purposes. If W.
must have gas let the wards where it is con
sumed pay for it, as Milwaukee and othe
cities DO, and not by general tax on thu
whole city. The luxury for gas for the las
i've years has been no small sum, amount
ing to nearly $4,000, and from the prssen
increase of lamps, at present price charged
will amount to at least $500 for the yea
to come. Where the benefits come in Can
not sec, for have learned of no person Wit
has been attracted to our city by its e1trl
! light. but on the contrary many have left IL
on account OF the extra taxes imposed BY
gas and other corporations. j. P.
Waterfowl, Dec Q, 1879.