The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-01
NEW YORK BY GASLIGHT.
Contest Between Rival Gas Companies
to Lighting the City-The Matter
In the Courts-An Important Argument.

Contest Between Rival Gas Compnnie
to Lighting the City-The Matter
In the Courts-An Important Argument.
In November last the city advertised ior pro.
posals for lighting the street lamps. On the 25th
OF December the bids were opened and the con-
tracts awarded on December 81 the same to take
effect on the lst OF January and being for the pres
ent year. The Mayor Comptroller and Commits
sioner OF Public Works comprised the contracting
board. All the old city gas comprehensive New
York, Manhattan, Metropolitan and Harlem-put
in bids Tor their respective districts, and, except
ing the Metropolitan Company, they each received
the award through putting in the lowest bids.
The youngest OF our city gas companies, and rival
Of the rest also put in bid for the whole city, but
only got the award for the Metropolitan Gas Com
panys district, embracing that portion OF the city
between Thirty-fourtn and seventy ninth street
An effort is now being made in the Court to pre-
vent the city from executing It's contract with the
New York Mutual Gasight Company The case
came up yesterday III supreme Court, Chambers
before Judge Donohue, on motion to enloln the
city from fulfilling the contract. IL came up on a
remonstrance from Mr.. Zolkoner, President OF
the metropolitan Gas Company, but not made IN
his capacity President OF the company, but IS
taxpayer, and claiming that the carrying out Of
such contract would De waste Of the public
money.
Mr.. Augustus Smith opened the argument for the
motion. He insisted that the award OF the contract
with the New YORK Mutual Gasight Company was
In violation OF the statute, that all the ormaties
required by stature had not been compiled with,
and that the contract was irregular inasmuch as 1t
failed to specify the date rom which 1t began, and
that thereupon the sureties could not be held ac-
countable in case OF It's nonu fment. He enlarged
at great length on each OF these points, aud read
citauons from the charter and from special atues
as well as quoting various cases Ia support OF his
views.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Andrews made an
equally lengthy ana indirectly equally cogent argu-
meut IN opposition to the notion he read various
affidavits TO start with, leading OFF with one oil Mr.
Place Treasurer
York Mutual Gasllght Company, setting forth that
the company had already laid slxty-two miles OF
gas aims through the various streets and avenues
OF the city; that all that renamed for them
was to connect with the city gas lamps; that they
stood ready to do this almost at a moments no
tice; tnat the other gas companies were bound by
an agreement entered into among themselves not
20 lay mains within the others districts that they
we're prepared TO furnish gas all through the city,
except in the Harlem district, and that they mad
offered to furnish gas tor the street lamps at s35
lamp per year. An affidavit OF Mr.. Richard A.
Storr5 was also read, showing what the city had
paid supplying gas TO the street lamps hereto
fore the price before the existence OF the Ne
York Mutual Gas Light Company being from $50 10
SIS each. Mr.. Andrews proceeded to snow that
this new rival to the Old gas companies had
reduced the expense OF lighting the city stree Is
from $50 to S33 lamp being a saving TO the city
OF S37o,oo0 year. He Insisted that this percent
age OF saving in the district in question
did not look IKE waste OF the cltys money. The
Mutual Gas Company mad compelled this reduction,
and while it was TO be regretted that II could not
then obtain the contract or 1gntlDg al the city
streets and avenues below Harlem. 1t was clear
that In the present case though t was possible to
raise some merely technical objections to award
ing 1t the contract, the public interest
had been consulted in making the con-
tract with TINS company 1t was stated
further that this company now lighted all the
public parks except the City Han Park, and
every place OF amusement except the Academy OIL
Music and Booths Theatre, and, In short that
through It's COM citing infuence the city was being
furnished with better gas than heretofore and at
reduced rates.
At the close OF the argument Judge Donohue took
the papers, reserving his decision.