The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-05-02
TO the Citizens Of Westminster,

Tho President and Directors of the West.
minister Gas Light Company feel constrained
BY the duty which they owe 10 themselves, as
well as 70 the public, on whose patronage the
life Of the company is dependent, to make a
plain exhibl. and statement Of the affairs OF
The company, that the citizens Of Westminster
may determine for themselves, whether they
will foster aud encourage this enterprise, or
permit il to continue TO langaish aud finally
10 become extinct. No more opportune mo-
ment than the present can be selected to make
| this statenient, for the reason that We are just
now on the eve Of the municipal election,
when tho citizens win be called upon 10 elect
Mayor and Common Council, whose course
can be made to greatly impair the success OF
this enterprise as different and more justly
liberal course can render such support as will
assist to successfully maintain the organiza-
ton Of the company.
| We are fully alive to the position which the
Gas Company occupies in the minds OF some
/ Of the good citizens Of Westminster, and are
aware that the Gas Company has been sought
to be made the scape goat for all the elamor
against increased taxation, and in simple JUS
1 tice, we desire TO place before the public u
fair exhibit of facts for the information Of all
parties concerned, that we may be treated
/ talIll anu ht llnut W VNti thiy SuNn butuNHe
as are Justly our own. In the first place, al
| though the Gas Company may be very properly
| termed an individual enterprise, yet in its
4 practical and substantial benefits certainly
/ thus farl it is in no sense individual, only so
/ far as the individual is affected by that which
affects the public generally. No one can
! fairly or reasonably undertake to argue that
1 the introduction OF Gas into the streets of this
| city has not been equally comfort and bene-
/ fit 10 the public Of large as well as credit to
/ the enterprise Of the citizens Of Westminster,
large number of whom, we are glad to say,
are stockholders in the Company. The man.
/ agcment Of the affairs Of the Company is en-
trusted almost solely to gentlemen who are
citizens Of Westminster, and who have dis
charged their duties as officers, without one
dollar of compensation, and who are vet will
I ling to tender their services, if they can sue
coed in cnlisting the sympathies and support
of the citizens of Westminster, who by lheir
: generous cooperation can make this enterprise
an assured success, and at all events, can, at
least, save the life Of the company, which is
now fast ching away,
The hue and cry which was SO vigorously
maintained short while ago, TO the effect,
that the Gas Company was solely responsible
! for the increased taxation sought for, has sub
| sided into o calm and digniied whisper. In
Other words, time has demonstrated the falla-
cy of the SANDER. and We are now relieved
from the necessity of any argument TO show
! that the Gas Company had nothing whatever
to- do with the taxes, and that the reign Of
coal oil was more disastrous to the municipal
treasury than the use of Gas has ever yet
been. Bat We desire to speak somewha, more
I in detail. We are now enabled TO determine
from our experience Of the past few years,
that the private consumption of Gas in this
city will not pay for the cost and expense of
its manufacture-and further, tina. we are now
losing monthly under the present contract
which we have with the municipal authorities,
not less than thirty dollars. Thus very clearly
establishing the by no means agreeable fact,
that unless we can obtain from the municipal
authorities contract to pay us the same
price for Gas which we are compelled to charge
private consumers, we cannot hope to main
tain much longer the organization of the
Company.
Indeed, it is meagre justice to the dead to
say that had it not been for the prodigal gen
crosby Of Reuben A. Holmes, who gave his
time, labor and means TO make the Company
success, it is more than probable, that il too,
like him, would ere this have passed away.
Respectfully, John l.. Reifsnider, Presi.
dent Chas. b. Roberts, Joshua Yingling,
Edward Lynch, Chas. L. Savage, c. Hart
Smith, Geo. c. Hicks, Directors VIM. A,
Cunningham, Secretary and Treasurer.