, 1874-01-08
THE GAS EXT0HTI0N,


THE GAS ExTonT1oN.
Ono of the most outrageous aud inoxousablo
burdens imposed upon the suffering people OF
this community, at present, Ia that Of tho Chi
cago Gaa-Light Company; and that 1t is borno
without public demonstrations Of indignation ia
only proof Of tho patience and forbearance or
the public. It is no now burden. Ever since
tho fro this corpulent and ovorgrown monopoly
has taxed tho public o1otbltant rates for m In
ferior article and tho imposition is constantly
increasing. The bills grow larger, whio tho
quality Of light furnished grows poorer almost
daily. There is probably no other department
Of buBinesB in this city In the conduct Of which
such an oxaction would be endured for my
length Of timo. Rival institutions would spring
up like mushrooms and furnish people with m
equivalent for their money and that auch has
not boon tho caae in this instance only showH,
az re have aaid, that people arc very forboarng
and long-sufering.
During the great fire tho Gas Company lost it's
works on the South 8ido. but fortunately 1t Ind
works on the North Side which were not do
stroyed, md into which it moved for temporary
occupancy. 1t was presumed, and indeed OK
pectcd that corporation "a largo, and wealthy,
and energetic, and necessary to the community
as this, would occupy these insufficient North
Side works only SO long as It would take to erect
now works OH tho South Side which should 10
OF sufficient capacity to meot tho wants Of tho
South Division. Meanwhile, MI other corpora
tionB, even charitable md church socfotios, and
individual property -ownors, whether they had
uonoy or not, went to work energotically to I'LL
up tho gaps and improve their property, so TINT
tho business interests Of tho city should not
suffer; aud they did their work so well that the
facilities for business are now better than they
were before. Oyor two years havo elapsed, and
while every other clement of metropolitan no.
cesBity llas been replaced, the Chicago Gas Com
pany las mover taken step towards restoring
its works, notwithstanding its abundant moanH
its immense buBinoBB, and tho indispensable
character Of tho article which it furnishes. It's
business is compact, constant, and immensely
profitable. Moro than this. tt Ia the only busi-
ness in tho city which Is strictly cash. Every
citizen must pay Ills bills promptly, or his gus in
shut of, and lie is loft in darkness; or Ao mus.
leave security for payment, upon which he can
draw sayiugs-bank interest. The Gas Company
deals in M article Which every ono must have,
and pay cash for, and yetit is so n,iser1y aud
niggard that it continues to occupy the North
Side works, forcing gas from Hawthorn
avenue to Hyde Park, without sufficient
pressure, and, when demonstrated with.
has the temority to insert that 1t
cannot AFFORD to put on sufficient pressure, as
the city will not pay for the extra gns which
would thereby be supplied to the etreot-burnersl
This, rs every ol,o knows, is mere malcshift.
Tho real reason il that it is an ayaricous, grasp
ing, tyrannical monopoly, which will continue to
furnish poor light to the people of this city
just so long US thoy consent to bo bed by 1t; and
It will remain in it's present quarters and refuso
to build upon sufficient scale until the people
force it out. Tho business which this Company
is engaged in is just as dsroputablo IA that of
the Cheap Jacks storo, whorc you pay the price
Of gold s7atc1 for brass ono. They agree to
furnish frat-rate article for frst-class price,
and instead Of That furnish an inferior rticlo for
n ilrst-claah price. Tho gas which is used in
almost every part Of tho South Division does not
furnish light enough for any practical purpose,
mud is consequently ruipous to peoples eyes. 1t
will be no better 30 long as people submit to
1t. 1t Ia time the public authoritios took tho
II, 1,nr lat In
thus imposed upon should take such action as
! ahall compel this Company to erect new works
Oh tho South Side, aud to furnish their cuatom-
ors m equivalent for their money.