Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-01-04
Shall Ii be a Flight ?

We have lately called attention In
the HERALD to the bad quality of the
vas furnished to consumers In this
city, and the high price charged for it.
We have done this in the interest Of
the people, believing that their claims
are paramount to those Of any clique
or combination, not with the view of
getting up fight, but hoping to secure
reform in matter that certainly needs
amendment The Gas Company origi-
nally intended to consist of a number
Of our citizens, and thus be identified
with the other interests of the place,
has gradually passed into the hands Of
Il few individuals, and these parties
choose to consider the course Of the
HERALD as personal grievance.
When the HERALD was established,
one of the principal stockholders of
the Gas Company, who is also in other
business, was solicited for an advertise
ment by the proprietor. A very in
significant one was furnished, accom-
panied with the very significant re-
mark that in other ways he would be
able to give the new paper important
assistance. He was promptly inform
ed that the HERALD only desired
legitimate business, and that only in
the regular way.
Judging probably from his expe-
rience with the other city papers, this
gentle hint produced no lasting effect,
and on the appearance Of an article in
the HERALD some time afterwards,
advocating the lighting Of the streets,
another member of the same firm, also
interested in gas visited this Office, and
unblushingly offered us one hundred
dollars to continue the articles. The
only answer he received was dissolv-
ing view of the back Of the proprietor,
who suddenly remembered that he
had business in some other place. No
further articles of that character APP
peared in this paper, but on the con-
trary when We had sufficiently inves-
tigated the matter, and became salts
lied that the Gas Company was sim
ply machine for plundering the peo-
pie of this city, we opened our guns on
the monopoly. This course has
brought down upon our. heads the
wrath Of the party whose proffered
bride was spurned, and we have re-
ceived formal notice Of his hostility.
His three dollar advertisement has
been ostentatiously ordered out, and
he Is no doubt at this moment sneak
ing around the city, trying to induce
others to withdraw their support from
the HERALD. The policy of this chief
member Of the company seems to be
to share the proceeds Of his public
plumber, in the shape of brides, with
the press, os long as it will do its dirty
work, but to use every effort to crush
paper that has the courage to take
up the cudgel in behalf of the public
good.
Though entertaining nothing but
the kindest feelings for him personally,
we gladly accept the contest thus forced
upon us; we shall hold the Gas Com
pany, however, responsible for his acts.
He is acting for the company and is
inspired by it. 1t is the Gas Company
that propose to buy or intimidate the
press of this city, and having secured
the silence Of the other papers, it con-
rentrates its hostility on the HERALD.
We shall expect the bitter opposi-
ton Of the Gas ring and any kindred
combinations, but we confidently ex-
pect the support Of the people, and
with them on our side, we have little
fear of the result. Stiil, while we in
tend to fight this monopoly to the bit
ter end, we have no desire to do the
slightest injustice to any one, and as
before stated, We are willing to open
our columns to defence of the com.
pany, ifany one chooses to employ
them for that purpose.
We have asserted that the price
charged for gas is an exorbitant one
even if the gas furnished were of good
quality. We reiterate that charge
and defy successful denial. In Oak
land, the paradise Of gas manufacture
ers, the price is only 81 so while here
1t Is 81 so. In Sacramento the street
lamps are lighted for So so per mo nth
while here something over So is asked
Gas bills are simply enormous, and
out of all proportion with the amount
furnished. We have asserted that
the gas Is Of miserable quality. We
challenge contradiction on this point
We do not get gas, hut lsmoke. II
falls so far below the standard, that ir
no part of the country would 1t be rec
ognized as gas ut all. 1t smells fear.
fully, fills the room with an offensive
smoke when burning, and is only toll
cradle because nothing better Is a,
hand.
The company pretends to have tn,
exclusive right to manufacture anC
sell this miserable stuff for the mex
thirteen years, and its shareholder
are pocketing enormous dividends from
the profits of their monopoly. Thu
fallacy Of this claim can easily be es
tablished. No City Council has TIT
right to grant exclusive privileges