The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-06
THE WATER SUPPLY AND GAS oUEsT1o

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THE WATER SUPPLY AND GAS QUESTIONS
We have not yet seen the reports o.
Mayor Crowdus as to the experience Of biz
recent trip in the city's interest, but under
stand that he has been diigent observer
and collector Of facts in such places as be
did visit. Very much credit, must be
conceded to the efficient service he has thus
rendered. From what We have heard fir, IN a
friend of bis, he found that of the places via.
tied Tor the investigation of the gas supply
subject, the city of Hannibal, Missouri, was
the cheapest supplied with street gas lighting
Ihere, 1T appears, charge of S18 per annum
per poet for al posts, is charged, the gas
company owning the posts ard lamps. but
The city making all the needed repairs. Now
le' us look at this a moment. Ia HsnnibaI
they have a fine article of gas producing
coal, the cost whereof is $4 80 per ton of
22iO pounds; in Dial as we have to nav An
averaged price OF 81 per ton of 900 pounds
ms Is just 90 per cent. increase in the matter
OF coal price alone. Tbis 65 per cent
added to the SlS brings up the cos! per post
in Dallas to $50. Now, under the PROPOSE.
ton OF the Dalles gas company, as we under.
Stand.it, the latter keeps the posts and lam ,s
in repair, which statistics show, if we
recall! them Alright TO be an annual
cost of 81 each, which is S34
per lamp post, that the company in
this city ought to furnish its gas
for to the city, and which possibly
they could DO induced to do, provided
always that our figuring is correct and if we
have omitted no other proper item of ex.
pense. A couple of weeks ago. we saw in
the Philadelphia Gsslight Record, we think
1t wss,the report of the experts for series of
years. This report demonstrated, and il is
the standard, that Ian. burned annually
some 2.400 hours, and st the rate of
. feet per hour consumed $1,000
cubic feet of gas. This at So 90 per
1000 feet would figure out $50 per lamp for
one year, tho which briggs us within So of
the previous figuring just above. But we
that the mayor says that the aver
sge burning is only 625 feet per month when
lighted exclusively on the dark of the moon.
1t is admitted, we believe, that of the S65
nights, deduction of 90 nights is invariably
made in street Lighting estimates
The gives 3O5 nights, and equal
say to 1900 feet year under our mayors
estimate, which is very, very much below
the result of the years Of experience Of the
Philadelphia experts, and which is the &C.
cepted datum throughout the country. Cer>
tsihly, therefore, this needs revision and eau.
iioua investigation by conscientious officials
to avoid p'uoging the city into err, I.
In the matter of the kerosene oil PROPOSE.
ton we have merely this to say, that i. must
forever be borne in mind that the illumipa,.
ing efficiency or 'csudle power" of gas TO
kerosene oil 10 as two TO one, hence where
the cost Of gas Is, ny $40 per anrur per
lamp, shstu the oil must therefore 70 $50
for the s-ma service, to say nothing
of other Objectionable features Of tho latter.
And besides this, Also our good penpe must
not forget that those Of our ciLizens III, crested
in our gas works company are soit g, zens
here, and who, DO it known, pay annual tax,
os on some 100000, the which is Just about
one'eigbth of the entire city bssor ,men, of
I3OOOO0. This ought surely TO enter into
consideration in the making of cou,rscts. For
the rest, in all this business, we desire here TO
state expressly that we have been
guided, governed aud influenced solely and
exclusively In the city's interest alone as
public Journalists, never having for single
time been approached or solicited BY any in
dividusl whomsoeyer 10 say even one kind
word or do one assisting sct. for non. dividend
earning corporation here, c, imposed Of gen.
,lemen, who, so far as We happen to know
them, would honor any city, in any y Ia. of
view, numerically, socially, periodically
or nsN,, az