The New York herald., 1876-12-15
How the New York Gas Brigands Can
Be COmbated.
A KEROSENE EXPERIMENT.
What the Banded Companies Say-AII
Very Innocent

almost Htcral sense, Domosne into tnc camp OF the
monopoliss.
The figures as given In the HERALD yesterday have
placed the in fair light before the public aud
tho representations OF OF the gas company people
are, taking them just they stand, but lame apologies
for an action which meets condemnation on every
hand
TuR CITY VS.. PRIVATE CONSUMERS
The argument used by several officers OF tho gas
companies is somewhat peculiar. The companies put
in bids Whenever the ciiy's be given
ort, and they know oil about tho requirements, and
they do not gropc about IN the dark In accepting
contract and living up To its requirements Another
peculiar argument in is that the gaslight district
OF the city spread that there must needs be
something obtained which shall pay the companies for
the space 10 be ravcrsed by gas mains in districts
where there may bc small nambcr OF gas lamps
erected Tor which the company operating the
may charge The city. Tho comparison OF tho ngurcs
shows that while there certain liked rules Intended
10 regulate the charges upon private houses and
ordinary public buildings, tho charges against tho city
develop the TACT that the city even more Tor It's
light than the taxpayers who occupy houses aud have
to know, from thor experience how hitlc
remedy thcro Is and how little satisfaction in contest
ing the rates whom tho bill comes in
COMPETITION COMPANIES.
One OF tho alleged reasons for the cxorbitant bid
upon the Guys cOntTaCt iOr pTOvluHs knSnght from
January l. 1877, until January l, 1s7s is previous
contests amorg tho companies. The Mutual appears,
according the representations of the Manhattan to
nave been the thorn the side tho other compan-
les But this alleged competition docs appear in
tho bids made Tor the new contract. The Manhattan
and tho Mutual are ut the same ratc-S36 per lamp
and tho difference IN tho other bids Is simply differ
Of convenience
THE GAS COMMISSION
All the members oi tho mission In upon
Mr. Whitney, Is convcrsant with every turn and twist
BY which the companies may be forced into fairness
by legal or legislative means. There was no formal
meeting of the commission yesterday white every
member is determined to mako the fight a bitter one
aud TO yield nothing against tho interests Of The tax
payers, tho Recommendation made, through the Board
OF Aldermen, is an earnest OF what may be done at
least by way OF experiment.
Personal influence has been brought TO beur upou
every member OF the Board, and, In WOW Of tho
depression IN business. OF The actual necessity ior
tightening burden OF the citys taxation Of
increasing tho load many OF our prominent citizens
were yesterday neglccting all business but that OF
gung tho ndvisaby oil making the war against the
m0nopoliss an carncst one, and using their influence
with tho City Fathers.
''wo can't It, and won't siard IT, STRIP snid
prominent city Official TO HERALD reporter yestcr-
duy. .'Ths gas question comes up nj bad time Tor
the city, when wo only fortnight oil from New
Years, aud there contract In icrce alter Dccem-
ber III. But the nght must be made and we're
going to try the experiment Ui ligntng one OF the
with oil, and sec II this won't teach tho COM
panics wisdom and compel them 10 fair dealing.
"Iook nt the sales oil gnsiight companies stocks,
said hc thcy'rc not quoted in the Board TN sold Mt
auction. They are pet Investments on account Of
their dividends and tho last sales OF the Manhatnn,
some time In October, were at 2l4 when in September
tho price was 24o and traction Tho new company,
the Mutunl sell at par Notwithstanding It's immcnso
outlay for pipes and improvements, aud the Metro
poan quoted at 146 think, or Whereabouts. They
oant cry poverty, and we mean this time to havo
fair deal s..
Tno same story reaches US from prominent house.
holders ana storekecpcrs aud the matter OF lighting
section or F,ith avenue by oil was brought upin tho
Board Of Aldermen yesterday upon resolution OF Alder.
man Reilly aud unanimously adopted.
THE QUESTION or RIGHT.
While, In ono scnse the city Is NJ the mercy OF the
gas companies the opinion OF The Gas Commissioners
that there Is no better time than the present To test
the matter If the attempt be desperate aud tho remedy
uncertain. That there are no other companies To bid
for the contract Is strong ground one side tho
matter Int Il s expressed MS an opinion by some Of
the best lawyers that Tho danger to the city's peace
and property from cutting OH OF tho supply could bc
construed into wilfu neglect and On attempt 10 over
step tho recognized rates Of payment which, if per
sisted in be used as M argument tor Legislation
rmk COMPANIES srurnons
So far as the bids concerned tho officers Of tho
companies who are In the ring are decidedly rc'iccn
They cIaIm 10 acted under quito good advice
as the city officials, and whatever the experiment OF
the lighting OF Fifth avenue, from Washington square
to Fifty.nnth street, with oil may be. they us
ready 10 await tho report OF the experiment as the
Gas Commissioners anu tho Board Of Aldermen. They
are evidently prepared Tor shc rejection OF the bids
and up 10 yesterday afternoon, at late hour had
nounccd no intcnuon OF lowering tho tgures on tho
offer already made, unless as is barely possible,
OF tho high contracting parties seem 10 fear.
TuE ALDERMEN on GAS MoxoP0LisTs.
Alderman Bryan Reilly offered the ol owing rcsou-
tion yesterday the gas question at the meeting OF
the Board OF Aldermen, which was adopted by unan-
imous yotc:-
Whereas It IL apparent that the several gaslght com
spirary BY which the expense lighting city lamps viii
be largely increased former years. and this
view d present depression In all kinds Of values and
ties thu, enter tho production Of Illuminating gs; aud
whereas Il s adverse TO tho pnoc Interests to yield 70 tho
The control absolutely o. the local In
az AL IN to c ' sss ~" 'hs
and as u i beyond aa, 81, p9wsr Of the city aa
provide in the for furnishing light
nesoyea 1"s the Mayor Japtrser and
Of Public Works who arc now authorized :. MAKE arranse
ssrer be aud ,ey aro hereby respectfully requested to
SYST system ior the production supply Illuminating gas
for public and private purposes similar TO that now IN use
provide temporarily lighting tho the city onc
su,e oil or other Illuminating material in tho city lamp
erected fif avenue from wsshnssen .qaare
the praccabi Of ehng The street, Of the city oy o;hcr
proposed and The proprioy o the
ss % q s e Dc to tho Board when
Alderman Howl,nd called up an ordinance authoriz-
ing the laying OF gas mains In seventy street
Alderman pnknsy opposed posed the passage Of tbs ord
that these gas companies should receive any consider
alton whatever IRON the authorities until they arc
brought 10 sense OF duty IN charging reasonable
prices.
Alderman Bryan Reilly argued from similar
Alderman Mccarthy explained that the properly
along seventy sixth street would bc injured by
a neglect 10 pass this ordinance They desired TO
noct their pipes with gas and Croton wntcr muina
The ordinance was laid over
TiE EXPLANATION or THE COMPANIES
Mr. Charles Place, secretary Of the Mutual Gaslght
Company. whose Offices on Union square, made
swcr tho reporters question, what explanation
has this company to give TO the charge oil entering into
d comnjnation win other companies TO dciraud the
city In the pricc oil gasf" ''rhat Is all mistake
about tho continuation and the ovcrchargc 10 The city
Why this company Is entirely In opposition 10 the
rest IL was TINS company that whom IL started four
years ago. broke the monopoly Then existing. Tho
city had been charged as high as 500 lamp aud tho
$3ar
.ow you charge the city In your bid OF $50 for
year 81 DO for IL 500 cubic feet Of than
you would tho private consuincrr'
THAT IS just The point wish 10 explain The price