The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-12-25

quite likely there may be good ground for COM
plant At the same time we would suggest
that the companies probably suffer more in
convenience than anybody else from the OBJ
stacles, incident to the season partially, which
prevent full perfect and constant supply OF
water and gas. However, we will give our
correspondent hearing and this is what he
says:
The Water Company growl in the winter be-
| cause their patrons turn on the water wheh
| the thermometer is down to zero to keep their
| pipes from freezing up, which they nave 10 re-
pair at their own expense, let alone the neon
| venience: and in the summer the pressure is
so weak that residents in the upper part OF the
| city can't get water on their second floors with
| out lugging it up by the pailful. is the scarci-
| ty of water the fault of their customers? NO;
| 1t is the capital on which the Company started
into business, and if they cant keep i9li
stock, enough to supply all necessary demands,
| why they had better shut up shop, particularly
| if they can't make their pipes large enough or
| strong enough to bear the necessary pressure
| to give all their customers sufficient supply IN
| the summer when they need it most.
| How about that internal monopoly the Gas
| Company? They are prompt enough about
| collecting their bills, and that is about ALL
| The writer solemnly AYERS that the pressure OF
| gas in the neighborhood of Emery street has
| been reduced two-thrds-that it takes three
| burners to obtain the former light of one; and
| we don't think the quality is excellent. Now
insthe name of conscience, if corporations
have such an article, aud in view of the high
rates charged for consumption, and the enor-
nous annual profits of the Portland Gas Com
pany, let some steps be taken to give consumers
a fair equivalent for their money. j. w.
CHRISTMAS AMUsMENTs-The Richings'
Concert and Opera troupe give first-class en-
tertainment al Music Hall this afternoon and
evening, consisting of selections from the
operas of martha" and 'Il Trovatore," and
miscellaneous concert The second act of
Martha and the fourth act of al Trovatore'
will be rendered in costume. The troupe is |
highly spoken of wherever it has been, and the |
entertainment has received unqualified approx |
al No lover ofsoperatic music will fail to at |
tend
The Grand Christmas Ball at Fluent Hall |
this evening presents unusal attractions to all |
who delight to "trip the light fantastic toe"
1--WE have suspicion that this quotation has |
been used before, but it is good one and will |
bear repetltion). The names of the members of |
the committee of arrangements are guarantees |
that the affair will be well managed in every re-
spect. Chandler furnishes the music and
Webster and Saunders the refreshments.
church give an entertaining and unique enter
tainment this evening consisting of cantata and
tableaux illustrative of the life of Queen Esther
The costumes are rich and the music fine.
The ladies of the Allen Mission hold their
annual Christmas Festival this evening, and
give free supper to the children. This is
very worthy charity, and we trust our citizens
will give it heariy support.
THE ExPREss-The Transcript says: ssThe
little steamer Express, under the management
of Capt. Oliver, is great convenience to the
people residing on the islands in our harbor;
she makes two trips per day to Peaks Island,
aud has very comfortable accommodations, a
vast improvement on the passage by open boat
in former winters We came up from Peaks
Island in her during the heavy storm of Friday
week, with more speed and comfort than we
could Sget to our residence at Woodford's Cor
ner in the horse cars : the Express does good
work for vessels coming ON the coast in the
stormy season. Hearing that schooner was
beating about outside one stormy evening last
week. Capt. Oliver, on his trip up, with consent
of the passengers, put out after her, and coming
up with her off Broad Cove, where she was in
danger of going ashore, he lowed her into the
harbor through the darkness and storm the |
sea was rough and the boat pitched into it SO
heavily that one of the lady passengers said
she was scared Eve dollars worth, and one of |
our physicians who was on board thought his
scare was worth at least two dollarsI'
TIGHT SQUEEZING. Yesterday a charcoal
vender, slightly oblivious as to facts and mar
ticulate as to speech from the result of wrestle
with bold John Barleycorn, drove up to the
place of business of one of our wholesale fruit
dealers to take an order for charcoal. The
merchant gave an order for two barrels of the
sooty fuel. Shortly after the charcoal man re-
turned and presented bill for eleven bus iels.
'Eleven bushelsr' exclaimed the astonished
merchant, show in the world did you ever get
eleven bushels into two barrels?' "Wen Mis-
ter it cods tight squeeze, but L shook it down
well" was the reply. The man evidently meas
ured as well as saw double.
HoRRIBLE-We were informed as we enter