Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-09-02
A city Ridden by Gas Ring,


Probably in the limits Of the United
States, with the single exception Of Los
Angeles, there Is no more beautiful city
than Oakland. IL Ia really a congery Of
ideal homes, where more elegance and
ornamental effect are achieved by an
outlay Of ten thousand dollars than often
Is compassed by the expenditure OF a
million in New York City. And yet
Oakland is not happy, and rightiully 80.
For years this charming burg has
been surrendered 10 the remorseless
demands Of Gas Ring. Last year IT
cost s33, ,S25 to light up all this suburban
beauty, aud the Oakland City Council
has recently voted to relight the city at
figure which Is only little less cxtor-
tionate. While the Gas Ring In the
City Council has apparently triumphed,
and is congratulating itself upon rc.
newed lease Of power aud plumber, 1t Is
quito likely that IL will encounter, In
the person Of the Hon. J. West Martin,
an honest Democrat, who was elected
Mayor Of that city in the tidal wave Of
last year, an obstacle to tho continuance
Of its domination. While San Francisco,
just across the bay, is lighted at an
expense to the city of only 81 per 1000
feet, Oakland is obliged to pay within O
fraction of 50 per 1000 feet. The aver
ago OalSlander groafis as he thinks OF
himself as Obliged to submit to this cx-
action, when he realizes that gas Is
served TO the people Of Pittsburgh at
seventy-fve cents per thousand feet,
aud to those Of New York at Sl.75. His
dissatisfaction Is intensified when he
learns that, in most cities of the United
States, the municipalities get their gas
for about forty per cent. less than the
individual has to pay, while in Oakland
the city has to pay more for gas than
the citizen. We beg to suggest to the
people of that oppressed burg an easy
remedy. The pueblo Of Los Angeles
covers II supefileies Of six square miles -
probably larger area than Ia embraced
IN Oakland proper--yet our city is su-
perbly illuminated, through the Brush
Electric Light process, at cost OF
only $500 a year. Eight masts, OF
from three to four lamps, at an out
lay Of $1,000 per annum, with three
supplemental masts of one lamp each, ai
total additional cost Of 500, do the
whole business. Yet IL is the universal
testimony Of visitors that Los Angeles is
the best lighted little city on tho Ameri
can continent. Why should not Oak
land borrow leaf from our experience
At one-third of the expense contemplat
ed by the Gas Ring, that city can be
lighted as it has never been before. The
matter Is certainly deserving Of little
investgatio and the Hon. j. Wes
Martin, when his attention is called tt
the subject is just the man to insist up
on its being had Let those who are IL
favor Of honest municipal government ii
Oakland send down here q Committee
of Inquiry, whose duty it shall be to see
how our electric light system works
Should they do so, the result cannot h'
doubted. The Gas Ring viii be discom
fited and Oakland will rejoice in an in
finitely better and cheaper system o
illumination than that which has pre-
vailed there hitherto We suggest t.
Oaklauders that in this case the play il
worth the candle. The experiment i
comparatively inexpensive and ought t.
be tried