Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-09-23
MUNICIPAL GAS PLANS.
The National Gas and Water Company
Offers the City an Interest.

Tells What His Company Can Do-The
New Process IN Successful Operation in
Cicero ard Extension Said to BE Easy
The Most Per ect Plant in the World
Municipal Gas League Interested.
The new gas company, which pro-
poses to issue $40, 600, 600 of its 500
900, 900 of capital stock to the CITY,
and claims to be able to make and
sell Illuminating gas at cost of 80
cents or less per ], 900 feet to the con-
sumner, by the use of the inventions
and appliances of the National Gas
and Water Company, which has a
large plant in operation in Cicero,
was recently licensed to incorporate
as the City and County Gas Company.
The incorroratOrs are the same per-
sons interested in and controlling the
National Gas and Water Company
and the Cicero plant.
In reference to the apparently very
liberal offer of the new company to
supply Chicago and its enyirons with
a superior quality of Illuminating gas
at price which eventually will make
it cheaper than coal for fuel steam
generating, and heating purposes
and to make the city a raltner in
the enterprise, as it were, Corpora
ton Counsel Kraus states that he
doubts the feasibility and legality of
the scheme and thinks the better
way would be for the city to receive
a certain share of the gross proceeds
instead of becoming directly inter-
ested as a stakeholder
In reply to the objections Of the
Corporation Counsel Mr.. Henry G.
Rev, the President of the National
Gas and Water Company, said:
"The terms of the proposed or
dinance granting our company a
franchise were dcliberated upon by
Edward w. Bemis, of the University
OF Chicag some of the leaders Of
the Municipal Gas League, and the
officers of this company, and after
due and careful consideration were
agreed upon Mr.. Bemis was in ia
vor of complete municipal owner
ship, but the others and myself were
opposed on the ground that the
works would become a political foot
ball We believe it ought to be put
on a distinctly business basis-half
business men and half municipality.
If Mr. Kraus' plan were followed and
the city only retain certain percent
age of the profits the stock would soon
fall into the hands of combine, and
the city would have nothing to say
about it. The other plan would put
the city in control from the start.
Mr. Kraus should try again. We are
glad to get his views or the sugges-
lions Of any creditable authority. The
gas supply for Illuminating, fuel for
power aud heating would be more
profitable than than the water de-
partment is. All Of the coal used in
the city would be ground through
the apparatus of the munic ipal gas
plant and handled by machinery, and
a small profit per ton on the amount
of coal consumed would pay a very
large dividend at very low price for
gas.
"Objecti0ns are now frequently
raised about extravagan e in the
water department aud that people
with political pulls can get water for
nothing. If the city had absolute
control of the gas works the party
happening to be i'm could put in
5000 men just before an election and
stay in.
Looking at the matter from the
standpoint Of our own self-interest it
would be better for the company TO
hold all the stock and by control of
this stock and the bonds make money
by keeping the price Of gas up and
paying dividend, on securities largely
composed Of water But from the
standpoint OF the interests of the
city and the people in the long run
our interests, 1t seems TO me, would
be much better subseryed II we fol-
low the plan agreed upon by Mr.
Bemis, the Municipal Gas League,
and ourselves
"lt is the deslderatum % put gas
on fuel basis as soon as possible Ia
order to get rid Of the smoke, coal
cart and ash wagon abuses when
the price of gas reaches au econom.
teal fuel basis the cts can pass an
III ..... s....H. ft.Ue t..ss 49,. $3.50.