Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-30
CHEAP GAS POSSIBLE.
Pittsburg Could Emulate Paris and
Produce 1t for Nothing.
A PROFIT REAPED ON THE PLANT,
More Fuel Consumed in This Section Than
in the French City.
MUCH GOOD MATERIAL WASTED HERE

What's the matter with Pittsburg? Paris,
cost it cent though coal is dearer there
than in Pittsburg, and besides it makes a
per cent-a-year dividend on its plant
out of the bi-products which are con-
tracted for in advance of their
production. There is no present need of a
tar trust, for the product of the entire
world will not supply the demand.
The statement regarding the Paris gas
works is not a hasty generalization, but
comes straight from the best authority in
the world. There may be some who will
answer the question propounded in the out
set by saying "there is nothing the matter
with Pittsburg." They will not deny, per-
haps, that politically and socially the Iron
CITY might be improved as well as Tmbuc-
too, but most people think the city is getting
along finely, so far as its material interests
are concerned, but it is not even in this
respect, and never will as long as its fuel
waste is continued. When it lis considered
that in Pittsburg, which includes
not only the city itself, but Allegheny City,
McKeesport and several other large towns,
more fuel is consumed than in 'the City of
Light, " and the greater part is wasted, it will
be seen that there is considerable the mat
ter with it, especially when E gineers NJ.
V. Smith and Lee have stated, after ex-
haustive experiments, that double or triple
what has been demonstrated in Paris can be
done in this city.
1t was stated 20 years ago that the waste
in Pittsburg rolling mill would be con-
sidered good profit by the owner of an
English mill of equal cost, and this goes
far to explain why some Pittsburg iron
manufacturers get into trouble, notwith-
standing all their natural advantages. Mr..
Lee states that gas for manufacturing pur-
poses can be made in Pittsburg with profit
at cents thousand cubic feet, and Mr..
Smith as confidently asserts that it can be
made for nothing, and Paris has proven
that it can be made for nothing and still
yield profit of 5 per cent on the cost of
the plant.
In view of all this, what can capital
lists be thinking about? The study
profitable in the breadth it gives to
mentality. but the first requisite for such
study is financial ease, and this does not
come through the waste of Natures capital.
Cheap fuel and cheap transportation are
the fulcrum on which the lever, capital,
must rest to lift this city to the plane she
should occupy. The capital is here, and
small portion of it will furnish water trans
portation to the lakes, and give us
as cheap transportation as any inland city
can possibly have. As the way to cheap
fuel-so cheap that no other manufacturing
center can hope to compete-is plainly
pointed out, capitalists should receive no
commiseration if they stop to debate the
question in sight of the best gas coal so far
developed in the entire world.
Most people are complaining that moth
ing can be accomplished until after the
election, but this excuse will not apply to
money making, and the condition of fhe city
is getting frightfuL The dense cloud of
smoke is not only blackening buildings,
but tempers as we'll.