Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-06-17


Tue GAS NOTES.-THE following
extract from Lewis Courier-J ournal
correspondence of 9th inst, was hand
ed us with the request to copy it,
winch We do with pleasure:
The Clarksville gas works, which were
built ana originally owned by q stock COM
pany, Were operated successfully until
short time after the fall OF Fort Donelson.
But for the disasters OF war, under their
original management, they would still be
q paying investment. When they were
forced 70 stop there was mortgage OF
several thousand dollars upon the proper
ty, and, as soon as the Federal courts had
been restored to Jurisdiction in this Slate,
Judgment was obtained on this mortgage
and the properly sold. Mr.. Il. c. Hopper,
OF Philadelphia, who is at present sole
holder, and in order to save his stock and
II possible the original organization he
bought in the property at the sale. On ac-
count OF some technical or informal por-
ton of the proceedings necessary to secure
him a title, an attempt was made after the
close OF the war, by some parties holding
the sale. This was the starting point for a
long-continued suit in chancery, which
rested like an incubus upon the works, and
OF course TO great extent damaged The
enterprise. Mr.. Hopper could not, with
the uncertainties of a law suit pending over
the works, expend his capital in improve
or leased, q portion of the time to ire
sponsiDle parties, and as a natural result
the works have deter1oated. He mas now
compromised the matter at q loss to him.
self, and a perfect title now rests in him.
During the whole time of this litigation
Mr.. Hopper has worked with view of
securing from sacrifice the large amount of
stock owned by him, and at the same time
hoping ultimately 70 get affairs in such
condition as TO enable all who were inter
ested in the old organization TO replace
themselves and reap with him the rewards
of his efforts. The citizens of GAINESVILLE
will be grateful to learn that Mr.. Hopper
has now taken the works in charge, and
that he has sent here as superintendent
Mr.. Z. Brennan, for many years superin-
tendent of the gas works at UrDana, Ohio.
Mr.. Hopper is president of the American
Meter Company, and has for many years
been closely identified with the gas works
interests of the whole country.
He has a national reputation for his thor
ough understanding of every department
of this interest, for his integrity and I'M
Wavering honesty of purpose. The ctti-
zens of GAINESVILLE now have guarantee
of perfect fairness and honesty in their
dealings with the works, and a security
be equal to that of any city in the Union.
The success with which MIR. Brennan man
aged the Urbana gas works, giving perfect
satisfaction to the citizens of that beau
tiful city and his employers, is an assur- |
ance to our own citizens that he is the right !
to put the works in thorough repair as |
rapidly as it can be done. In the mean |
time the gas consumers will have to bear
with patience any little Irregularities that /
may occur, for they well know the dis |
ordered condition of the works and its sur |
roundings. Mr.. Brennan took charge the |
first day of June with no gas on hand. Sat |
urday night there was no gas, which is one |
OF the consequences incident to the changes |
which he is making. As matters now stand |
with Thoroughly reorganized gas works |
under efficient management, with gas as |
cheap as it was before the war, it is to be |
hoped that the citizens of GAINESVILLE will /
give this i'm portant enterprise that support |
and assistance necessary to sustain such an |
establishment in its midst, and that the /
city authorities will again speedily light |
our streets and thus show to strangers and |
visitors what we really are-the beautiful, |
inviting and enterprising commercial city |
of the Cumberland.