The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-14
Che Ratlaaa Daily Globe.
SATURDAY, JUNE IA, 1873.
PURCHASE OF THE GAS-WORKS
RY THE VILLAGE.


thousand dollars.
IL the citizens should fail to vote any
thing at the next meeting to pay for light
ing the streets, and the bloated monopoly
will not light them without pay, we auVo-
cate some other mode of lighting The
streets. 1t was once suggested that the
streets and alleys of New York he lighted
bv an electric or Drummond light, which,
placed in a central, lofty position, would
illuminate every street and alley in the
whole city. If that could I've done on so
large scale it can be done much better ON
a small scale, and the benefit, by means OF
rencctors and sky-lights extended to the
lighting of every citizens house without
the expenditure of Il cent for gas pipes.
All would then he upon an equality, and
who would complain of the tax?
We have all around us the materials for
an electric light in the greatest abundance
and cleapness Nothing is required for
the Drummond light but water and lime.
otter Creek flows within easy reach, and
our hills are full of marble. From the
water there is nothing to do but to extract
The oxygen and hydrogen, and if more oXy-
zen IL wanted. the abundant air has in it
plenty. For the electric light all you want
is electricity and charcoal. You cannot put
your hands on any thing that does not con-
tain electricity, and as for charcoal, great
quantities of it are burned in this vicinity,
and the very hard kind required can he
made to order.
Let us suppose a tower built in the rail-
road park, say hundred feet high. In
that tower is placed an electric light like
that used in England in 1858, when forty
five workmen on a bridge at night, receiv-
ed from the bank, 200 feet distant, Il light
rs strong as the brightest moonlight
On one occasion. also in England. a
Drummond light shone maryelously. a
ball of lime only tlmee-cighths of an inch in
diameter, cast distinct shadows on a dark
surface ten miles distant. An immense
luminous cone from the reflector illumi-
mated the horizon to a great distance. This
ilil NuhCVIuiIS ltht'toIS - NNiH Ndiu-
able. Every one has seen in loco
motive headlight how reflector trans
mutes simple kerosene lamp into blazing
sun, lighting up the road ahead to long
distance. 1t would be perfectly practi-
cable to place one of these refectors over a
sky-light in each roof in the village at such
an angle as to turn the beams from the
central light into the house, whence by
suitable openings in the floors and walls land
by a system of properly arranged reflectors
the light could be made to illuminate every
corner of every apartment, from cellar to
garnet. How cheap and convenient
This mode of lighting the city is only
held out as menace to the gas company
in case they refuse to sell to the city at less
than a hundred thousand dollars. We
moroly hint in addition at the probability
that Gould could be induced to come here
and bear the stock down to a low price and
thus bring it within the means of village
that cannot afford to pay 81, 800 year tc
have the streets lighted. But we would
not take such an advantage of home in
stitution. If the company become con.
WINGED that the village can buy, they will
probably sell at a reasonable price. From
this it follows that there is really nothing
in the way but the legal objections. Tt
dispose of these let us examine the laws
and authorities. The 18th section of til,
village charter gives the trustees authority
ito provide for lighting the village" 1t il
objected that this only gives authority t.
light the streets. We ask if there is moth
ing to this village but its streets? Suppos
you take all the houses away. The street
would be left, but could you call the spo
village?
Something has been said, also, about thu
nature of public and private corporations
their differences, their restrictions and thei
limitations of powers, and the Inference
has been unadvisedly drawn that thu
village corporation cannot make apurchas'
which it has no special authority by statut
to make. But the authority of munich
pal corporation is much broader. The fol
lowing will set forth its nature
The establishment of towns, says Kent
with corporate powers as local republics, wa
the original policy throughout New Englan
and it had durable and benign effect upo
the institutions and moral and social char
acter of the people. M. Tocqucville, i
his he Ia Democratic en- Ame1iqne, appear
to have been very much struck with tn
institutions of New England towns II
considered them as small independent re
publics, in all matters of local concerns
and as forming the principle of the life o
American liberty, existing to this day
angel and lines on Corporations, page IA
Now what are the powers of a republic
Our state has republican form Of govern
mcnt. 1t has power to buy land stock, q
anything it pleases The United States
republic. Look at its powers
No further argument is needed t
strengthen our position. But as a case ha
actually arisen under the very state of al
fairs we are discussing now, and in whic
the matter was judicially set at rest by on
of the ablest benches that ever presided j
any State, we conclude by pointing to til,
authority. An injury occurred in cons,
quenceof failure by the city to light IL
streets of San Francisco. The city W,
sued, and the defence set up was that Il
tax or allowance had been made by cit
authority for the purpose The plainti
rejoined that although the city could NJ
compel the lighting of the city by gas frol
the works of private corporation, yet
could have bought those gas-works an
should have done so, and furnished Il
streets with light. TO this the city r
joined that it was municipal corporation
with restricted powers, having only thol
granted by statute, and the authority
buy gas-works had not been specially pr
vided. AS the case is one of deep intere
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