The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-27
Gas, and Gas.

Light, heat and electricity, as philos-
ophers tell us, are imponderable agents.
But we plain people find that they are
agents for making most ponderous bills.
To warm and light our houses constitutes
one of the gravest questions in domestic
economy. The settlement of the bills
for fuel and gas very frequently forms
the theme of anxious family delibera-
tions. The matter of the fuel supply is
determined by the open market for coal,
but the gas supply is monopoly.
In Cincinnati this gas monopoly has
been most enriching one. The same
IS true of a similar monopoly in every
other city. These monopolies grow
enormously rich BY selling light to the
people. That they should be reason
ably paid for such supply is certainly
but just. But when was monopoly
ever known to be reasonable in its de-
mands? If our gas monopoly were not
unreasonable in its charges, how could
1t be so enormously profitable to the
company?
Our Board Of Aldermen tackled this |
light problem, at their last meeting; bu
their illuminating process had only this
effect, that it merely began to make
some darkness visible. Bad things |
about whisky, proiane men are prone to |
call "crookedness." But. as lignt can |
move only in straight lines, we can not
apply erookedness to gas: its badness
can only be designated as DARKNESS"
SO we say, our Aldermanic illumination
on the gas question only served 10 make
some darkness" visible.
Tie public are just now in good
mood to Investigate that darkness.
People are groauing under the ponder
osity of their bi-monshly gas bills.
A company is formed that proposes TO
erect gas-works and supply gas at
much cheaper rate than the oil monop-
oly'charges, provided the city authori-
ties will permit them to lay down their
mains along the streets. But, before
this is granted, the authorities very
properly inquire whether this new gus
company is responsible, or whether it is |
all gas. A committee of Aldermen re-
port that the said company was 'entire-
~ unable 10 produce any evidence of |
sufficient responsibility to carry out in |
good faitA such an undertaking" So |
far, well. But the same report goes on |
to say that they (the committee had en-
tered into an agreem mt with the old |
company, by which reduction of price
would be secured. But it was found |
that preposterous tom cat was hidden
under this bit of meal, viz: conditioned |
TO renew, or ertend the contract to the old
gas company for ten yearS from the date of
this redactioai
Just there it was that the "darknessv !
came in. 1t was discovered that the
Aldermen had got little too far ahead |
Of their functions. They had, In their
haste to accommodate the old monopoly,
forgotten that there was another branch
Of the city's Legislature, and had not
consulted that branch, whose committee
did net appear in this little ssagree-
mentn Here was the Darkness One
member proposed TO s'tear UP this re-
port" PeHhaps that was little unpap-
lianentasy, but to lay it ON the table
amounts to- about the same thing.
We are notatall concerned as to where
the city's gas-lignt may come from. But
in common with all ouf citizens, we |,
would ask of Council full and fair d.
liberation upon this matter, to see If we
can not be relieved Of this great burden
In the high price OF light.