The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-02

TO the amount OF business it does than
almost any other kind OF business,and
alter 1t Is once put in it is the most
helpless and worthless il its consump-
ton IS taken away, and even il its con-
sumption should be taken in part only.
without c. mpetition and reduction OF
price to Improbable rates, it would
hurt gas business more than almost any
other business, for the reason that all
gas companies nearly always make
preparations for supplying the entire
city with gas, and most frequently pre-
pare for the future growth OF the city.
The Memphis Gaslight Company, for
instance, could now, without any
ad 1ition to the works except extend
ing its pipes further into new parts OF
the city, furnish ea8 to Memphis
should IT grow suddenly to 100000
popul alton. With most kinds Of bust
ness this is not the case, the prepare
ton being generally for approximately
the amount Of business at ihs time de-
manded. Having nov sufficiently
pointed out the
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GAS
and almost every other kind of bust
ness, and further the helpless and
worthless character of the gas business
and gas property without consumers,
want to call your attention to fact
you well know, and that is, that gas
companies are always unpopular with
the great bulk OF consumers. In fact,
Ia every town or city where there is
gas company there are many good,
fair-miDded, honest men, who really
aud sincerely think, every now and
tnen, that they are swindled by the
gas company; and, further, that
the great majority OF the consumers
have a strong suspicion in the
same direction. This is the case in
every town where a gas company is in
operation. / will not stop to eontro.
vert this belief here, except to say
that If the best and purest men on
earth had charge Of all gas companies,
the same belief and suspicion to a
great extent would exist. And the
reasons are to some extent to-Wit:
Gas being invisible except as com
busted at the tip OF the burner and in.
audible, and coming to the consumer
through little clock-looking machine,
with three dials ON IL which not one
in thousand learn to read Though
they could learn to do so in a few mo-
ments), not coming in the shape of a
package, barrel or other solid shape,
10 be delivered on a dray or some
other kind OF wagon, which can be
seen and
IMPRESS THE MIND,
consumers can hardly realize that they
have had nythiDg OF value to them,
and when they do realizs it, mans
Irregularities and the Irregularities of
bis household being 80, much greater
than he is aware Of, and the irreg-
ularities of the length OF the days
and nights from season TO season,
snd the character of the weather from
day to day, week to week, and month
10 month, varying so much, and which
necessitates varying consumption Of
gas to such an extent, that the most
methodicsl, regular and painstaking
consumer is often astounded to such
an extent when. the silent meter in
the cellar shows up, that they can't
believe 1t correct Agar, some be-
lieving that the opportunities for
swindling without detection are
30 easy, can't we'll see how such
chances would be allowed to 30 by
without doing some Of it Owing to |
the peculjari,ies OF the business, all |
lhiugs in IL and about il tend to man.
ufactuIe and build up with consumers
hostility to gas companies in all |
cities. Hence, when any new or op |
posing company is proposed gas CON
sumers as rule are ready 10 welcome
all such moves, and when
ANY NEW COMPANY
enters the field they are ready to give
them trial, and generally do 40
pretty literally, till few of their bills
are sent in, when they begin to grow
unpopular, like the old one, and after
getting used to them and the novelty
worn off they cease to regard them
with any particular favor, and patron-
ice them or the old compsny, accord
ing rs the price and quality OF the gas
may suit them. In the meantime the old
knowing its utter worthless.
ness without consumers, have reduced
the price OF gas to hold them, and the
new company, OF ce there. do the same
thing, and are compelled to do the
same, for they likewise are no good
without consumers. The fight RACES
hot, heavy and continuous, neither
making any money, ill sooner or later
matters are adjusted in one or other
Of the ways pointed out in a preceding
page OF this communication EXCEPT
during the perio OF combat be-
tween the two companies, the con-
'umers having had very cheap pas,
nooc dy is benefited, and The result is
more capital invested to do gas bust
leSs where there already exists more
han is necessary TO do all the bust
less, and as a necessary consequence,
II order to pay reasonable aud even
mail per cent. on the amount, price
or gas will have to be charged higher
han otherwise would suffice. Having
low told you much about
OLD GAS COMPANIES,
want to give you a little history of
he new water gas companies and
heir methods, now seeking entrance
o many cities, All of them, direct or
ndirecl, are started by the Stand. +,
rd Oil Company. Their pur- !
lose is to get sale for their old
PRODUCTS and to blackmail old COM )
'anies by threatening to start new -,
ompany and sometimes selling out or !
fering to cell out before etarting to ,
,nild works, and ii they can't do that {
hey approach frequently some OF the :
,est citizens of the town and represent \
hat with their special patents they
an make water-gss Of very superior I
Iuslity at a very low figure, get them
o join them and through their influ, /;
nee get entrance into the streets of (
he city, run their lines OF pipe into :
he cream Of the consumption Of the I
iity, and avoid all non-paying por- \
ions, thereby striking the old con. +
ANY such blow, with comparatively q
mall capital, az to compel them to >
NY them out at largs profit, consoli- q
late, or otherwise fix up matters az n
heretofore described. !,
AS to the water or hydrogen gas and h
heir patents, they have no process by y