Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-10
SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 10, 1889.
Municipal ownership Of Gas-WorEs'

Municipal Ownership OF Gas-Works'
The Nationist Club Of Washington city
has undertaken to Jet light in upon what
should not by any means be dark sub
sect. That club is composed Of members
who seem 10 have learned q lesson or two
from Professor Ely. of Johns Hopkins
University. who has laid down as sound
the two propositions following namely:
first. that a CITY ought always 10 own its
eas-works and carry on for itself every
business which is a natural monopoly, ana,
second, that competition IN such natural
ynonopolics is impossible. If for example,
a city authorizes a second, or third, or
fourth plant for making and distributing
gas. all the plants viii have 10 be paid for 10y
theconsuners ofthc gas. or else competition
will come TO an end 10y the utter failure OF
the fourth, the third, and the second
plants. II. for instance. the corporation
of Richmond were 20 authorize new gas
plant TO be put down in this city, and al
low all of our streets 10 be cut up for the
purpose Of distributing the gas, the new
company would be compelled 70 make its
customers pay not only for the gas but Tor
the whole plant, or else would be compelled
20 shut down. There can be no real COM
petition under such circumstances. \ city
which allows q second eas-plant to be
erected within it's limits provides N effect
that the gas consumers shall pay for the
two plants-in other words, provides for
higher gas and not for lower gas.
BY the same token a city which allows its
inhabitants to be dependent foT Gas upon =
gas company instead Of supplying gas to
them itself is not under proper govern
mont. There is something wrong. Tho
Washington Clubwhch we have mentioned
has recently adopted petition which asks
Congress to provide for public control of
the passwords in that city. In then petition
they affirm that wherever tho supply Of
gas. water, electric lighting, and other
common necessities Of towns and cities
have been under public control large
saving in expense without loss OF quality s
shown when compared with expense OF the
same supplied bv private parties or corpo-
nations. They also say that the lighting OF
Washington city has for many years been
done by private companies over which the
inhabitants have had no practical control.
The gas spectators pretend to believe
that their plant cost 3, 100000. Anyhow,
they draw dividends which are large
enough TO justify them in making such
q claim. II is admitted that S5,G99,-
O62 had been paid between 1865 and 1886.
in one year dividend of Si,010,0OO was
declared on capital OF $4,000, 0)0-lOO per
cent The number of stockholders in 1866
was 1913: in 1886. G93. This small number
of persons have been able TO place al the
inhabitants Of the city under contribution
in the supply Of an article Of prime nc
cessity.
The petition to Congress concludes as
follows:
believing your honorable body will
consider the deiencclCss condition OF the
residents Of this District IN this bchalt-as
they have no power 10y suffrage To and
themselves, and can only thus appeal TO
Congress for redreSs-the undersigned re
spectfully ask that the control of the
means of illumination, whether by gas or
electricity. may be taken out Of the hands
of private corporations, and that the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia be
authorized and instructed 10 lurnlsh the
people of this District with illumination,
by gas or electricity, or both, at actual
cost of manufacture and distribution"
Richmond owns her gas-works. Her
people get the benefit of the dividends,
which consist Of the lighting Of the streets,
public buildings, &c. for nothing, and in
addition handsome sum turned into the
city treasury everyyear, She also owns her
water-works. When she shall become will
ing to sell either her gas-works or her
water-works, she will also be willing to sell
her public schools; for as long az these last
are kept up her people will be too intelli-
gent TO be humbugged out Of their gas
plant and their water-works.
We are indebted to the Post for our
Grnrpa