The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-11-18
THG GAS QUESTION.
What the Council May Do.

that tne SaS company III tniS GU
. is generously disposed to eradicate
some evils that have existed to th'
great detriment of the taxpayers
ever since 1t was organized, there
are still some points to which We
would call the attention of the peo
pie.
1t is our impression :hat there is
a statuary provision, that, providing
: a Gas company openly violates its
. contract with a municipality, III
property may be condemned and
be bought in and operated by the
corporation.
Whe: her this is true or net, the
statutes do provide that munici.
pallty may own and operate gas
works.
At Bel'airo the corporation owns
and operates the gas works and furn-
ishes first class quality of gas at
75 cents to the consumers through
out the city. This is done and at a
profit to the municipality. If gas
can be furnished at that point at
IS cents, there is no reason under
heavens that the people of Logan
should not purchase it at $1o0, 10
say the least. That price would be
much better than $3.50.
In the municipal code VIC find that
no gas company shall charge more
than the price fixed in the ordin-
ance. The price fixed here is So 50
and the Gas company Is not inclin.
ed to drift away from that point.
The code further provides, that,
ga neglect to furnish gas to citi-
zens, and other consumers of gas or
to the corporation, By any company
in accordance with the prices fixed
and established by the council, from
time to time. shall forfeit all rights
of such company under the charter
by which it has been established /;
and The Council may procede to
erect, or, by ordinance. empower any
person to erect gas works &c.''
Under these provisions the cor
poration has ample reasons to de-
clare the rights of the Gas company
forfeited. and If the taxpayers are to
be assured of no more protection
than they have enjoyed in the past,
it would not only be wise, but ex-
pedient that this be done.
The ordinance giving the Gas
company the right to light the
str-e's, provides especially that
5000 per post stall be paid by the
corporation and the company to
furnish gas equal to fifteen candle
power. 1t also provides the time
when the lamps shall be lighted |
and when they shall be turned of. |
Now 1t ia notorious fact that the
Gas company has failed to keep a
single provision of the ordinance,
only to charge consumers $3.50.
Shortly following the establish
ment of the company, the gas was
of good quality and the town brill
iaLtly lighted. After time sm all
er burners were put on the street
lamps,and quality OF the gas SO bad
that great majority of the consum-
ers absolutely refused TO use it at
any price. These are facts known
to every intelligent man, woman
and child in the town, and yet the
has been going on
paying this company s141.17 Pc
month just the same as if it was get
ting what it contracted for.
We think il is not only safe, but
fair estimate, that the village of
Logan has been paying for one
'hird more gas per month than it {
Not only this, but that |
. careful investiga ion will substan.
late the estimate. Il
1t now costs $l694.04 to lighti,h
treets for year with gas. One
bird of that amount would be
;56i 6S. A loss If this kind to the
own for ten Years would amount Y
o s5646 so, which would simply be t
steal off of the people. :
This amount would establish as a
,ood a gas plant as we now have i,
nd pay a fair rate On the invest Il
nent. y
Is not this subject, with taxes at 4:
'early 50 so. worthy most serious q
onsideratior? ST
The Council has power when it t,
lay be expedient, and for the public c,
ood to erect or buy gas works at the 81
xpense of The corporation. They " "
lay appoint board OF five trus al
.es to manage the works and furn te
h the corporation and citizens az
lth gss. Would it not be wise for - :,
lem 10 do SO. If there is no escape
ON tho burden the Town has been
irrying? We have evidence that ci
he corporation is furnishing gas to d
'nsumers and at profit, at IS cts, g
by not Logan? The code also b
Divides that the Council may ap- re
,iut an off Ger to examine all me.
rs and certify to the CORRECTNESS
ali bills against consumers. This la
oaid be valuable adjunct to d.
" corporation, We're it rot for the II,
ct, that Gas companies, at least Ii
mo companies, have acquired the
lowle lge of filing their tanks with of