The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-10-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINeToN, Sept. 26, 1875.
the GAS TIENDs,A

Washingtonians, who have been so long
plundered by gas fiends, are glad 70 see that
other cities are also loudly complaining the
extortions of their respective companies. The
press Of Baltimore, New York and Chicago
counsel the establishment of public gas works
by cities and towns throughout the country
That is what it will have to come to at last.
In Chicago, the extortion Of the gas companies
goes so far as TO demand 500, 600 year for
supplying the street lamps; and judging from
the indignation this wholesale plunder has
excited, we would not be surprised if that
city were the first to adopt the proposed re.
medy, and to demonstrate 10 other equally
oppressed cities the practicability of this plan
of relief. The New York Graphic has started
out, in real earnest, in favor of cheap gas and
of the city being supplied by public gas works
at cost. The New York Journal of Commerce,
rather conservative in its views on oil ques-
tions, takes strong grounds against the gas
monopolies; and, referring to the fight now
going on between the Government of Chicago
and the gas companies Of that city, comes to
the rescue in this wise: "The only sure re-
fuge from the extortion Of the companies, as
We have often said, is in the establishment of
public gas works by cities and towns. Then,
gas could be supplied to consumers at rates
covering the bare cost Of making; aud those
are far below the lowest now charged. If
Chicago will try this she will settle the ques-
tion in the only permanent and satisfactory
way, and set an example which we hope to
see copied everywhere" This is the doctrine,
and il will not be many years before gas will
be thus supplied in every city where it is now
used. Artificial light is necessity; and
is no reason why it should not be furnished
under the same regulations as water.
AHINT TO AMERICAN RAILWAY COMPANIES.
The English railroads were, some years
ago. compelled by law, and against their own
judgment, to put on their tracks third class
trains, with greatly reduced fares for per-
sons of moderate means. There were fervent
protests and much grumbling; but the experi>
ment was tried. 1t resulted in such increas>
ed travel that the profits of the roads were
gr' tly augmented; and some of them have
b, Il saved from net loss by the profits of the
II third class cheap trains. American roads
m ght learn a lesson from this. The railroad
agents recently in session in N. Y. City voted
to still further reduce fares both for Centen-'
nial and oil other travel, but they defeated
resolution to cut them Down one quarter
This vo Q, VIC judge, was short sighted from n
financial point of view. Centennial travel is
very large; if fares were still further reduced,
it would be larger yet. Tho cheap fare po-
licy is the paying policy. One Of these days
the people will get tired of paying private
companies such high rates for transportation.
and will instruct their servants Uhe Govern
ment) to build and manage all public roads,
so that we may then locomote and transport
produce at cost, as we now send our letters
and postal cards.
JAPAN AHEAD OF US.
Speaking of our postal system reminds me
that the Post Office Department of the Empire
of Japan, which was organized only five
years ago, has, up to last advices, established
4,500 post Offices, and has already gone ahead
of US in one very important particular. Con-
nected with the money order Offices of that
empire are post Office saving banks. The
people are thus provided with perfectly safe
repositories .or their surplus earnings, be-
sides being allowed n moderate rate Of inter-
est; while the Government is provided with
funds fer the prosecution Of enterprises ben
efcial to the general public. Will not our
statesmen who are prating of reform take
hint from those Of Japan" The "reform"
proposed by our benighted or bedevilled wis
eacres merely contemplate taking oil the sbig
things away from one set Of scamps and
giving them to another set. By ''big things"
is meant, of course, opportunities to defraud
the people. And the very worst and meanest
| of the moral frauds perpetrated upon the
people Of the United States are the legalized
| frauds. ..'..'
OHIO AND INDIANA.
| AS the October elctionS approach, the inter
est, all over the country, in the result of Ohio
and Indiana increases. Perhaps at no ether
time in the history of these two States, was
the feeling more inten se and the organization
of both parties more complete, than just now
In Ohio, the temperance question will have
more or less influence on the election. Again.
the German Republicans are reported by the
Democratic1press to be disaffected oil over the
West; but to what extent is not known, and
apparently, can not be satisfactorily ascertain
ed There seems, again, to be no doubt that
the Grecnback candidate for Governor, in
Indiana, will poll between fifteen and twenty
thousand votes. The result in that State,
both in October and November, will probably