The New York herald., 1876-03-13
What the People Have To Say on
the Subject
A REBuKE TO GRAsPING MONOPOLY
Incorrect Meters, Bad Gas, High Prices and
No Redress.
Jersey ,City's Interest in
the Question.

ma New York are noted ior their patience
under, erea, burdens But when they become fully
lroused 10 the injustice OF the oppression under
which they labor OF whatever sort It may be- they
often rid themselves suddenly OF IT, For q long
Nme the vail Of the helpless gas consumer has gone
up .piaintiveiy against the extortons Of the
gas companies, general relief came until,
within. the last few weeks The accumulation,
n evils have at last induced radical remedy. The
people are going to try how they get on without
ras They will use oil instead. The causes assigned
for this step are manifold First OF all mentioned
the exorbnant price to which gas has advanced
this season. Experienced gashtters and large
sonsumcrs join in the assertion that gas
Is now dearer than before in this city In many
sections quality is complained Of Also That such
high price should be charged at Time when busi-
is notably dull is very generally deprecated, and
the effort 10 economizo, uniting with the pressure
OF the many burdens imposed by the gas monopolsts
has helped to bring about the change. What contrib
uted to the excessive rates is variously stated.
One consumer says the meters are generally.
Incorrect, often registering very much against
The consumer. Another complains that the in
vpectors OF meters are either incompetent dishon-,
,st as the charges made by the company are often
greatly in excess OF the record kept by himself An
other says he has paid larger bill for slight
sumption on a months test than for the greater con-
sumption OF a preceding month. When COM
plants we're made formerly the grumblng Gus
toner was brought TO terms by threat
that his gas would be cut OF II he
did not promptly settle his bills, however
unjust or excessive the charges may have appeared TO
him. The relief sought reduction Of price,
gas correctly registering meters and fair dealing
between the company and the consumers. Now that
Me people, hndng they cannot obtain these reason
rhNlac nlAt
OF oil lamps the gas companies will be very likely to
acknowledge that they have made mistake In refusing
any and all concessions in their fancied security
THE BROOKLYN GAS MOVEMENT.
in tho city OF Brooklyn, in both the Eastern and
Western DISTRICTS the against the gas monopoly
has assumed gigantic proportions There the people
who engaged in business requiring large number
OF lights discardng the gas meters, andwth vari
Gus improved styles of lamps aud oil nxtures lind
great change in their expenses So widespread Is tho
movement the river, and successful has 1t
proved that the gas companies are actually becoming
frightened and have endeavorcd check it by reduc-
Ing their In this they followed by the New
York companies But the concession comes too late,
snd II is quite evident that the days of gas monopoly
are ended. Tho immense number OF meters returned
10 the companies during the past few weeks proves
poncusvely unless the price Of gas placed at
low figure and the measurement made honestly the
profits OF holders OF gas stock will be materially re-
duced
In Jersey City the use of oil becoming very gen.
era,, but not nearly universal the disgust IN
spired by the high handed action Of the gas monopo
lists II complained that all bills introduced in the
Legislature to remedy existing defects in supplying gas
are killed by the corrupt of the money Of the
monopolists Two bills now before tho Lcgisla
lure from neither of which much relief is expected.
canvass OF the city OF New York by the HERALD re-
porters disclosed tho fact that oil being used
IN n large number or stores instead Of gas, and the
movement rapidly increasing in strength.
ox THE BowERY
In hat store near tho Cooper Institute, where the
Eas bills reached $25 month oil is now burned at a
monthly cost of s5 for better light.
In the four story house No Third avenue, opposite
she Cooper Institute, the had the gas shut of
and lights up for average OF oncquarter Of the
amount he paid to the gas company. The owner of
his house expressed his indignation at the
tharges 10 which he has had TO submit while burning
gas.
The No. 3T9 Bowery Is supplied with sixty
two lamps which have been only few days In use,
that no exact estimate yet bo made Of the saving
effected. From what the managers OF the store have
becn. however, they expect TO full seventy per
cent OF the amount formerly paid Tor The monthly
bills about 500 for gas and is expected that
better light can produced for about SIS This
u about eleven owned by the proprietor
and all are now being provided with lamps.
A tea store belonging TO another large proprietor
located No. 3lS Bowery, has just been furnished
with lamps. For the month ending January % the
gas bill In this amounted TO ssh This pcng
sidered rather high hgure TO pay for a months
light, II was determined during the following
thirty days. TO turn out row OF fancy Jets in
the window Business being little slow sat
urday evenings the other lights also reduced,
but when tho bill came in Instead or reduction,
The manager OF the found increased change
arecompensc for his economy. lie asked TO pay
s57 This settled the oil question: but II leaves the
consumer in a mystincd condition The days were
longer for the month ending February 25 the lights
we're not started early and the jets were reduced in
number tho gas company are TO be called on TO
explain The cost for oil will be third OF the
price charged for gas The proprctors OF this store
own about twelve all, and no more gas IS to
be used in any OF them oil fixtures
completed
There is another large store at No. 1876 Bowery
with lamps. This one Of sixteen owned BY
lhe same proprietor in all OF which OIL is TO be subs
iuted for gas al reduction varying IRON hiy TO
seventy Eve per cent
At the hardware store No 253 Bowery, which has
burned gas for twenty years, lamps are now used.
There s branch OF this house In Brooklyn at which
The gas bills ranged from $50 $40 monthly for some
fourteen 70 sixteen lights, An equal number OF lamps
were provided and give good satisfaction for a
monthly expenditure Of about ST. The Of the
Experiment IN Brooklyn caused the proprIetors 10 try
in New York. and by doing they saving about
SIS month.
In this section OF the city the advocates Of oil instead
OF gas have only jest begun active measures and the
notion takes well. Is is not improbable that another
week half the stores will have had their meters re-
moved There many causes which lead 10 this de
termination First Of all is placed the very high price OF
gas then business having been quiet long profits do
not come In as fast formerly Meters too il is
claimed, do not register correctly; and last though rot
least, the never made favor OF the con
sumer. The people enthusiastic IN favor OF Inc
change from gas TO oil
TOWN
As Grand street is red almost from end 10 end with
retail stores, which keep open Till late the night