, 1876-08-27
GAS,
To tho Editor Qf Tbs Tribune.

CHICAGO, Aug. 26.--I have noticed Of late
many comments in the daily prcss,-read many
reports OF conferenc es between the officers o.
the different gas companies and the Committee
Of the Common Council appointed for this pur
pose,-and SO far have not seen any manifesta-
ton or hope Of reaching the direct result, ont
asserting that gas cannot be furnishe to the
city at figures prescribed and meet operating ex-
penses, the other positive it must be done, or a
substitute provided.
Now, where such difference o1
opinion exists, the matter must be harmonized
in some manner, for to me it seems one Of the
impossib1ities to cut off street lights from d
great city, and almost as much Of an imposst
bilitv to attempt lighting the same BY oil. Nov
there must be some way out OF this dilemma,
and way that shall harmonic the interests OF
the producer and consumer-the matter is how
to reach it.
The economizing OF all expenses has become
an imperative necessity, not only by corpora
tions. but individuals as WELL and anything pro-
jectcd having tendency to reach this result is
ut this time especially gratifying. But does the
position taken by the committee OF the Council
lead to this result3 The shutting off of all
street lights would not close the Gas-Works; !;
they must be operated to supply the great city,
independent of what is consumed BY it in its
vcrsaut With manufacturing knows that to pay
operating expenses requires the production Of
given quantity and the greater the increase above
this the less the cost to the producer,
and the cheaper it can be afforded to the CON
sunlcr. Now, the point wish to make is this,
that while, if oil were practical, which deny,
there might be shown saving; yet On the gen
cral result, precisely rs now, for the additional
expense would have to fall upon the citizen,
thus in the end imposing greater burden upon
bvo m ha IF rrn6nrff0n autf
reducing the amount Of consumption, always
assuming that the producer is to have only fair
profit On his inyesttnens.
It is conceded there il point below which the
it costs to import coal from the Eastern mines
and distribute to consumers do not know, but
this much do know, within LOO miles OF Chi
cago lie vast beds Of coal capable Of being
utilized, aud made available for this very purpose.
Years ago the Chicago Gas-Light and Coke
Company tested some Of the Illinois Goals. and
among the rest the third vein Of the great La
Sale basin. I believe they reported the yield
satisfactory, the only objection teing the sui
pber contained therein. Now, believe there
are Illinois Goals that can be laid down at these
works so as to entirely supersede the use Of
Eastern Goals, and that gus Of equal llu1ninat-
ing power could be distributed at much less
price per foot, thus effectiug large saving to
Ihc consumer, and atfording fair profit to the
producer.
Touching what each particular kind Of coal
will do, can only mention that with which I
am familiar. Using the third-yein Pennsylvania
coal, the hluscatine Gas~Light and Coke Com
pany report 314 feet of gas to the pound; DAY.
enport, 3.26; Rock Island, $40. I assume the
most to be secured from the best Eastern GOALS
I feet to the pound.
At present prices this coal by canal prepared
for this purpose By carefully selecting, can be
landed alongside Of the dock at $3.50 per ton,
and BY close figuring perhaps a triae less.
There are other Goals that would be well worth
testing, and believe, were these experiments
made, the results would prove so favorable that
all parties interested would be satisfied, and we
hear but little more about the extortion prac-
ticcd by the gas companies. I hope to see this
matter taken up and investigated with the care
which / think the subject demands, know
ing it to be one in which the interest and econo-
G. G. MERR1CK.