Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-05-26
Summer Gas.

The gas problem in Butler is assuming
q condition of vital Importance 10 the Peo-
pie Of this town.
Never before in the history Of fuel gas
has such a question presented itself 10 the
people. The citizen who inditferently
stands by and watches the present CON
hict between the rival companies with
view Of securing thesadvautagc OF cut-r6tes
for the present is a blind victim OF bis own
stupidity. Those who suppose the present
condition of things to be simply a fight be-
tween the companies and that they will
reap the benefit off are blind to their
own interest and the best interest nt our
town The cut in rates is but the combIn-
ed effort of the two old companies to pre-
vent consumers from patronizing the Citi-
zens Company with view of driving 1t out
of the field as a competitor and regaining
the opportunity Of imposing on the people
their forn er high rates But short time ago
the people of this town were paying tribute
in the shape of high rates for gas 10 Tor
eign corporation whose head, body, soul
breeehes. pockets and all. are located in
the city of Buffalo, and whose only interest
in the town was the amount of money that
could he extracted from our citizens by
piping gas, the natural product Of our eoun-
ty, into town, and furnishing tito the town
for light and fuel at eXhoTbitant rates.
This mercenary corporation which has
fastened its deadly fangs on the vitals of
the financial interests of our town estab
lished itself among us by donating share
of stock each to two Of our citizens and
engaging in its employ such persons as
would best serve its interests in drawing to
itself patronage for tho purpose of
extracting from the people high prices for
gas, and transmitting to the city of Buffalo
some $50, 900 annually to fill the nav of
their foreign mercenary master. To-day
this same foreign power which so lately
exercised autocratic independence, Is,
through its paid emmisaries, carrying mis-
sions of its magnannity to the doors of its
victims.
The determination of g few Of our local
citizens who compose the Citizens Gas
Company to relieve the people from the
necessity of paying tribute to foreign capt
talists, pursuaded this warm hearted Bnf-
falo corporation that it would be policy
to furnish the people of Butler with cheap
gas to warm themselves by during the
summer9 Such selfish piece of generosi-
ty on the part of foreign mercenary pow
er which forced from the people exhorbi-
tant rates tor gas during the long winter
months should be regarded with suspicion
and deserves the contempt of every good
with this corporation knowing its highly de-
served unpopularity with the people, haYe
drawn to its aid local ally in its at
tempt to drive the Citizens Gas Company
from the field in order that 1t may regain
its former prestige The Citizens Gas Com
gany has established reasonable rates
which it guarantees it will not exceed for a
period of ten years, thus giving the
people the assurance of low rates of gas.
Neitter of the old companies give any as
surance that their present low rates will even
continue for a month. The people, now as
never before; have an opportunity not only
of proving their loyalty to home enterprise
and capital, but securing for themselves
reasonable rates for gas in the future, and
by so doing keeping their capital at home.
The drain of foreign corporations upon
this town is enormous.
1t is to the interest of every citizen to
keep as much of his money at home as
possible, to aid in the building up of the
town, and sustaining home interprize and
industries. The Citizens Gas Company is
assured of an abundant supply Of gas. 1t
is the purpose of the Company to pipe the
entire town and give every citizen an oppOr-
tunity ofmaking q choice Of whether he
will support the Company that has been the
means of reducing the price of gas and Sc
cure continued reduction or by paying
their money to foreign cor
pofation, they viii again subject them
selves to foreign capitalists and take their
chances of paying high rates again in the
future This is question the people will
be called on to decide. With the decision
and financial support of the people in its
favor the Citizens Gas Company viii be an
assured and permanent success. Will you
| continue to send your money off to Buffalo
or will you keep it at homei The old
company may be generous in Offering you
cheap gas to warm yourself by in the
summer time, but the money you send off to
Buffalo brings no return. A CITIZEN.