, 1875-12-27

On the evening OF Dec. II, the Committee
on Gas Lights Of tho Chicago Common Coun-
eli reported mn ordinance; the previous qucs-
tion was seconded by vote Of 20 to TO, md
tue ordinance vas st onco rushed through
This ordinance ii Of tho most remarkable
character. It authorizes and directs the
Mayor and Comptroller to u,akc aud execute
contract in the name Of tho city with tile
"Globo Gas-Light Company" of Cincinnati
to light certain stroots beyond the present
gas-lnains, to be ua1nod by the Council, for
tho period OF .fre years,-said contract to
provide for at kast 1000 lan,ps. Tho Com
pnny is to roceivo for each Of said lights Mt
The rate Of $44 per annum. At tho ond Of
each year tho Common Council is to III tho
prico to DO paid per lamp for the ycnr ensu.
ing. Whenever tho gas-nains arc extended
to districts lighted by tho Globe Company,
the Company shRll remove its posta and
humps to s11ch other points as may bo directed
by the Common Council.
This proposition ia not now ono. We
understand IT was substantially mado a year
ago at Il less price,-a price too low to Justify
tho necessary division, should one be de-
mandca. Tho Globe Company can harlly
call itself gas company; it is moro prop
eriy an oil COMPANY. Each lamp-post nnl
lantern is n completo gns works for itself.
The material used ;a m oil wl,icl, can bo
purchased at q few cents per gallon. Two
gallons will rim each lamp for all tho nights
In tho year when lights arc used. Tho posts
i are uooaen, md the average cost OF post anl
lantern will probably not exceed s.. Tho
principal cost is in the wnges Of men to light
md extingnish the humps, 1t will 10 readily
soen, therefore, that tho Company can we'll
afford to keep 1900 lamps, or as 1t will prob
ably turn out 10000, at SIG or $40 q ycar
and mako an enormous profit.
The city bus already extended its ens-laraps
over many miles Of open expanso whore there
ase no household consumers These Ras-
lamps on tho prairie aro very costly, and tAoir
principal uso is to enhance the yaluo of out
{side lots held upon speculation. For this
purpose tho property Of the city generally is
taxod Heavily. A worry 1arge proportion Of
these gas"amps might be dispensed with,
and saving secured Of tens Of thousands of
dollars. The Common Council, however do
not propose to oconomize by reducing tho
gas-bipB. They propose to start OF with MI
extra expenditure Of $50, 900 year to light
up all tho unoccupied real estate huld in tho
!rrcsent or prospective limits Of Chicago. The
ordinance provides TINT the now lamps shall
never ba lesa then 1000 in number, but tho
Council retains the power to increase tho
number from timo to time indefinitely by
moro order. 1t is safo to say that, il 1000
10 contracted for, five timea that number
will be found inadequate 10 light up the uuoc-
cupied country adjacent to inhabited CHI
i, cago. The COWS Ut Cook County will enjoy
tho luxury Of paaturago by gas-light, whom
1.-The moon is not shining. The prico to 10
paid for lighting 5000 Of these lalups will
DO 1220,ooo q year in addition To our
present gas-bills, which have recently
been swollen 70 $700,00o q year. Each
additional 1,0oo lamps will be 's44 200 year
added to tho crushed Taxpayers. Each Alder
uan will have an opportunity Of placing q
lamp-post and lamp in front of tho shop,
dwelling, or saloon Of every ono Of lis frou.
tier constituents. To but family light up Tho
streets laid out Tn the prnirios OF the So, enth
Ward alons will require Vt least :, 600 Jumps;
wAile tho Sixth. Eighth, Thirteenth, Four
teenth, sud Fifteenth Wards will each re-
qu!re VI anapy-anl seyeral of them will re-
quife twice al 1pany-lanaps to light up those
portions Of their territory lying beyond the
present gas-nsalua.
The ordinance VIVA rushed through with
little or Ao debate, and promptly signed by
the Mayor. The Comptroller, however, hutl
ssrious serurics on the subject, but Those In.
teEssted bud shs contract prepared, and tic
Mayor signed Ii. On Friday last q number
Of Ring Aldermen and the representative Of
t4a NQlQba CQmpanrs fhhntad With Enmn.