Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-05-09
THE GAS QUESTION.

Mr.. Editor Facts and figures never deceive.
says the proye1b, and in view of this 1t would
seem eur city fathers, for the first time in the
past ten years, "a far as know, have deemed
lt worth their while to mako . publication of
of the town" Now far the suspicion m ay have
entered their minds that the people were in
the cost of other zaatters than that of lights, i
oar emily eosieeturo; bat they will pardon the
the sost of full exhibit of expenditnres thor Oh
1t pc paid for at ad yertising rates.
.h Let a, examine this test sarefnlly made of
how far it deserves to he considered Scr the
enlightenment stI,s , Of the people" The coupsi
fact that tho consumption of gaaoiine Nv The
lamp adopted By them cost one cent and a suaT
ter isT.ten hours. What impressien ia tSis de-
signed to mako, ezsePt that tao cost Of lirhtinr
t%s 'S S With gasoline would be. per lamp, for
night tho patry sum Of ss 1 ss seq 4s. per or
men, naz. with 1T gas per lasP Tond be the
Legitimate aud natursl ia sfasi This Is TIE
Publisst'sa. and yet how far short Of the truth
On the 25th of April (ses supplements ., +,a
Sun OF that date last colaran Of frst pas.5 .the
AaJoT OF Baltim ere signed resolution Of tbs
Eicolsi to furnish the gasoline used +; N. ea.o,ia:
lamps OF that city. aud to keep the Lamp, and
e9safTs in met IF ts sb taf bs 5ss
aHd keep lamps aud burners in order.
New here are hundreds of lamps. in portions
81 the city whero gas mains de net run that
the Council of Baltimore think fit to lot out to
the ISWe,t bidder, and that where 1rssoIin. i,
not bought at retail at the rate Of ais par
lamp. per anpuh: for gasoline and attention,
and yet our Council intern tho pee ple that gas.
IL Dig job i'll Baltimore, or GROSS cEaE.SSCr in
Cbarlestewn. AZ s~AN1h III
But let as assume that the Conpcils of Ra,t;-
noTe knew what they were doing, and 90 a stcp
tarS99e me gas jss. in Baltimore. id rsgSr.d to
49, ., = eandte power and gasoline barner,
Maoh ~ gan De Kept in order, is reck oned at
tr9El to 10 candle power: then to get suuaI rs0
suits with Rss they must have two essolin.
thsy pay, using saseiis. s.sa. sps If and
me rae t o. SO? por gas laHP Is it any woniier
t1ted As fast As the Gas apaniss Law n;nsa a.
the rsauirsd soints' '''s ~
tnat gas1ii1s will cost but ss12I per iamp.
verify the legs of the lamo are not equal. s.
:. Bat what are the reai facts with regard ia
nghnnE the town with gas. against which so
1 h anJest ana undsseIIed prejudice IS sought
=, Ne towa of thi. size, or with moro than four
..[S us has ever deemed it neces-
o'clock. or at farthcct i3 s'cloek. In Carlisle.
IA, with 5000 inhab:t.nts, the lights sre e1.
WIN 5000 population and one of the Tealthie.t
te"ns IN the State for its size the lights ara ex
t;pgaishsd at II o'clock. In Snippensbarg p.
at II O'Clock. and SO at othsr places. Il fa''
rye hours te- about $50 nights would be tn q
hnnr Lime Ese1'Tsd and this at cent per
OIL rs candle powor. If necessary, this San be-
tSa e any An a@sat required by reducing
inlrtr leaPS will moro than supply the light
des'rsa III the town. and these would cost S375
posed RboH the town, at the last eIect;on ~
the appointment Of tws ssrgeants Instead of
SsGsd ~ oIosr 30 satisfy for services
Iown Con acil Is elected whs ,7illin. TO .srps
Now this is the bur bear With which the Conn
Ell have Professionally sou Ght to frighten the nee
pie over Sinee tho question of lighting the tow n
was raised. in defiance of tho saot that whers
ever gas is offered as cheap as it has been here.
IL Is aceepted a. cheaper and hottNr light,
Is used as preferable to others. -
, now SIR If this sta temsnt in any way seems
na a or an k'sd it is ohargeasle to tho man
HsE IN w aich tins corporation has been treated
since IT'S organization by the authorities of the
Started under difTicalties. which ne,. h,.
those who have had the natter in hand can re-
aiize, meeting with 10 su2port from mon who
munity. its STOCKHOLDERS consisting exelpsivniv
OF citizsnS and taxpayers. having fer their
ment of the interests of the eommnnity III
Wltbai' adding no small amount to the taxable
m;,P;nsy 10y, ~ mas net with logged and unre-
every reason to suppose RouId be its frisnIs
lhouGh demands have been made again and
at%hn, IN past years. to have the town lighted
with anything. from gasoline to a tRllow din,
tueSe aeElands Were uHh"eded by tne ConnciI,
Will we snered light ready to their hands ss
cheap as offered anywhere uader similar ca 90
Gltio"s' o light universally adopted where itean
it. and were suddenly Hfiicted With a a. ~
economy ana an ardent zeal for the protsction
Oh The IN ereSts of the deer psopis.
Ihongh this Is the Arst enterprise for manu-
taetUFihc, thus organi lied, Gvor started in tho
town and It comes within tho legitimate powe
OF the Council to extend to it its aid and en-
cities around us avail themselves of ali cnnnr-
tuIStlss to encourage any Gu erprise that teEds
TO the dsTelopment of the resources of the com
munlty; not man of those who dictate action
IN tse council has given Il word Of encourage
m9nt' mas put his foot. rs far as is known. in
sito OF the works. or aided By word OF deed as a
citizen or public officer "
ms company Stands a warning to the cit
iL'.hs O. inc community, ms to how far, under
tue present management of onr town fairs on
eonrasement is likely to be extended to any en-
eff property or advance the preseeritv sf ,he
town. Respectfully.
Wa. II. EABLE