The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-05-15

| eCieQCe anu late l0V60tlOQ nave prO'
Vided. and the local gas company is
brought face to face with as formid-
able competitor as it is likely to
encounter. The light has come to
stay, and talking for or against it will
not make it burn steadier nor dim its
brilliancy. The quality, reliability
and cost OF the light, are all matters
which will be taken into consideration
by the users, and are points that each
will decide for himself. Gas is good
enough light for some, and being
thoroughly reliable, will be preferred
to the electric illuminstor at the
same price for each. Others with
large spaces to illuminate take the
electric light because it gives more
light for the money, and few get 1t
on much the cane principe that
they would have an elegant sign
board over the door. or some device
for attracting attention With them it
ia a means OF advertising. As
merchant 7aid the other day: III [
could have had the electric light six
mouths before anybody else in town
got it, l would have given g. 600
or 5000; but now that anybody
and everybody can have it, the
novelty is gone, and l do not
want it, as gas gives me g
good enough light, one that lie more
convenient and at DO greater cost"
As q competitor with gas for the illu-
minating business, it must be the in
matter OF cost to the consumer that
the rate is made, the steady and more
reliable character OF the gas very
nearly if not quite equaling the al
vantage gained by electricity in the
brighter light. Which is the cheaper?
ia the question that the many will
ask, and the answer will decide for
them the light they will ute. at the
present prices Of gas and the electric
lights, the latter is said to have the
decided advantage where any consid'
cradle number OF gas jets can be dis
placed By one electric lamp, as in
large stores ard balls requiring much
light. On the other hand gas is the
cheaper illumination in the smaller
stores and where it is burned Tor only
sn hour or so 10 The evening, the
elsotric lamp coating Ihe same il it be
burned ono or six hours. Inquiry
among several OF those who are using
the electric light leads 10 the belief
that it is generally the cheaper of the
two illuminators. which, If this i'm
preston is correct, will force the gas
company to reduce the price OF its
light or submit to a reduction OF
pro6ta. Ths former course ought 10
iuggest itself to the ghs people as the
better one to pursue, especially ns it
s the quite prevalent impression that
gas j. too high here. 1t is certainly
10 expensive as TO be regarded in the
nature OF luxury. A reduction oil
95 per cent. would be q popular |
and ought to 90 II long
Eay towards keeping the dividends |
Up to their present percentage,
through the Increase OF consumption.
The gat company has got fight on
.s hands, and it might as we'll make |
lp its mind to accept the situation.
rhe electric light cannot be pooh
,oohed into dSrkosss Nor will |
friendship guide a business man in
liz patronage. The cheapest light,
N things considered. will sell first.
Z gas can and will be made cheaper
han electricity, people will buy it;
not, then lite producers must be
ontent with smaller profit. while the
lectric light people make the money.