The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-04-12
Gas versus Electric Light.

Gas versus Electric Light.
The city of Hillsboro is supplied with
one of the best gas works in the country,
which is owned and operated by our
own citizens, whose interests are iden-
tical with those Of the city itself.
The city of Hillsboro is contemplating
putting in an electric light plant, which
is the property of non.residents, persons
who have no interest whatever in the
prosperity OF our place.
These are the plain statements of facts,
and on these propositions we desire to
say few words.
That our city is the possessor OF good
gas works there can be no doubt, and
that these same works produce quality
of gas which is superior to the average
city there can be no question. Our gas
works have been in successful operation
for the past thirteen years, and the gas
has given the best OF satisfaction. It is
true we have occasionally had bad gas
for night or two, but this is a rare oc-
currance. All cities using gas experience
the same trouble. There has been very
little complaint regarding the quality of
the gas manufactured by our company.
True, some Of our people have not OBJ
tanned the satisfactory results from using
gas that they expected, but the fault was
not with the quality of the gas. Inves-
tigation in nearly all of these cases has
clearly proven that the fault lies with
the way their premises we're piped. The
pipes were too small or were not prop
erly put in, consequently the required
pressure or amount of gas could not be
obtained. Ourstreets have been lighted
with gas for twelve years-and well
lighted, too, and there has been no COM
plant as to the service of the gas COM
pany. Of course we have few chronic
grumblers who would be satisfied with
nothingshort of full moon and cloud
less sky the entire year.
Our gas company has done all that
any reasonable minded person could ask
of them. They have invested over
$4,000 in their plant. Their works are
first.class in every respect; they have
two and one-half miles of main; they
have one hundred and three street
lamps and an average of one hundred
and sixty-five private consumers. They
would, if properly encouraged, extend
their mains to meet all requirements.
But under the present existing circum-
stances it would be piece of foolishness
for them to invest another dollar.
1t is the intention, as we understand
it, for the city to purchase the electric
light plant after it is in, and run it them
selves. This has been tried by a num-
Der of cities, and has never been made a
success. Napoleon and Sidney, this
State, tried this experiment and failed.
They now have no electric light. Elk.
hart, Indiana, did likewise, and were
obliged to sell the plant to private par
ties before they could obtain good
light. The same may he said OF Gales
burg, Illinois, Oshkosh, Wisconsin,
Hastings, Nebraska and a number oi
other places. Wabash, Indiana, owns
its electric light, and 1t is notorious
fact that it is the poorest lighted city in
the State. The only way to successfully
run an electric light plant is to have il
in the hands of private individuals, q
company which can and will have head
to it which will properly look after it,
affairs. 1t would be just as feasible an
undertaking for the city of Hillsboro to
open dry goods store, a grocery or 9
hardware store, and attempt to conduct
them in a manner which would be
beneficial to the city as for them to un'
dertake to satisfactorily run an electric
light plant. 1t never has been done and
it never will be done. These are facts
and cannot be disputed.
The question then resolves itself down
to this point: Shall we have electric
light and see it conducted in man
, ner which will be detrimental to one Of
the best and most beneficial of our pub
lie interests? Or shall we help TO main.
tain that which we already have? II
We have electric light, whether it is run
by foreign or home company, it will
cripple the Gas Company's interests ia
such an extent that they will be com
PEELED to shut down entirely. This is nc
idle assertion, but is made after care
full investigation of facts and figures
At present the patronage Of our gas com
pany is not sufficient to give them a liv
ing interest on their investment, and cu
off the city's patronage and they coult
not run their works without . heav!
loss.
The result from the adoption of cleo
trio light can be easily seen. With !
our gas must 20 for want Of patronage
or the price of gas must be raised to sucl
. figure that only very few Of our peo
pie could afford the expense. Will
electric light majority Of our citizen
must 80 back to kerosene for those VIII
have had their homes piped for g
At . heavy expenditure will not invea
in fixtures for electric light, especial
whom they have NO assurance Of its PEI
manency.
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