National Republican., 1883-04-27
LET THERE Be LIGHT,
An Opposition Gas Company Files Articles Of
Incorporation.
They Ask Permission to Lay Mains Only
in the Principal Streets,
Promising 10 Tunnel for All tho Smaller Pipes and
Connections
An Argument That May Have Some In-
fluenco OH the Monopoly.

Articles of incorporation of the United
Illuminating and Fuel Gas company, of this
city, were filed yesterday. The articles set
forth that the company is formed for the
purpose of acquiring, by purchase, lease, or
otherwise, real estate in this city, and tho
erection thereon Of suitable buildings, to-
gcther with machinery, apparatus, and appli-
anCcs necessary for the manufacture Of illu-
minating and fuel gas from COAL oil, or other
materials to be used for heating or lighting
in this city and Georgetown; to acquire by pur-
chase, lease, otherwise all patents, rights and
improvements for tho manufacture and dis
tributon and use of said gas TO open the
streets Of tho city under such restrictions
and regulations as the commissioners may
prescribe and to lay pipes, mains, &c The
existence of the company il placed at twenty
years, and the capital stock is fixed at
T,000000, divided into 100 shares. Tho
trustees named arc Albert w. Fletcher, of
Philadelphia; Horny T.. Loane, of Baltimore,
and William DiCksons, Charles H. Parsons,
and John n. Oliver, of this city.
The above statement embraces the salient
points of the formal declarations found in the
articles. In plain words, it is an opposition
gas company, and thousands of consumers
will lift up their voices and pray that IL may
come to something and be the means of re-
lieving them from the oppression of tho frog
bloodcd monopoly that has been fastened upon
tho community for so long. The outside
members of the company are said to be gem
tlcmon of large means, who have been for
years engaged in the philanthropic work of
resCuing cities similarly situated from opprcs-
sion such as Washington is groaning under.
They have gone about doing good in twenty ono
cities in just the way they propose doing here,
knocking tho props from under grinding gas
monopolies, compelling tho distribution OF
cheap gas. They seem to have Jared well too,
and according to all accounts they have ac-
cumulated large amount of this worlds
goods This is doubtless as IL should be. The
people do not want philanthropists to i'm
poverish themselves warning against mo-
nopolies to free the ncCks of men from bur-
densome yoke. What tho people want is
cheap gas that will burn, and make a light
distinguishable after dark at something more
than ten PAGES distant and they do not care
how they get it, or who gives it to them. Cen
tlemen who will do these things will rank as
| public benefactors.
1t is understood that the incorporators OF
tho United Illuminating and Fuel company
| believe that tho district commissioners have
authority under the law to grant them the
right TO dig up the streets and set up in busi-
ness without waiting for a special act of con-
gress. All they want, they say, is the priv
ilege Of putting down thirty or forty inch
| supply Ouc VI luc hbiOSVo'
| They will tunnel under the sidewalks of side
streets and put in the smaller pipes that
way, so as to avoid tearing up the streets eX
cept when they come to crossings
They do not expect to begin active digging
operations for four or FIVE months, and theil
representa- ives say they will deposit $780, ,00C
with the commissioners as a guarantee tha
they will not sell out to the old company o.
permit themselves to consolidate or be swal
lowed up. The commissioners are to Civ
them a hearing some day next week and g
over the whole matter with them. If tina
quarter of million materializes, it may b
taken for granted that tho new compan.
means business, 1t will take several month
to brush away the injuhctions and other oh
struction measures the old company will
adopt when the first pick is stuck into tn
ground, and in the meanwhile everything
can be gotten in readiness for a fall cam
paign.