Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-25
Municipal Gas Works.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:

40 tne 6ultor OF Evening star.
The writer was at one time Identified -
a citizen with the construction OF num-
cipal gas works at Hamilton. ohio. a city
which has a population OF about 10000. and
located twenty-five miles north of Cncin-
natl. The local company which supplied
Hamilton with gas up &c 1855 was very
unpopular in that Il was almost universally
charged with supplying ala inferior article
at high pricc-$2 per thousand cubic feet.
When demonstrated with by citizens. e. had
many seemingly unanswerable arguments.
IL could not get cheap coal, Ike other COM
panies. the supply coming from western
Pennsyivania via Cincinnati; the extern
sion Of mains ordered by the city council
cost so much money; the pipes were cid and
leaked great deal Of gas: the profits were
small and to prove this the alleged books
OF the company would be thrown open to
the inspection of the council
Public sentiment continued 20 grow stead
lily fr view Of the fact that the company
refused to materially reduce the rates and
nnally developed into 4 vigorous movement
looking to the establishment of municipal
sas works. The nam arguments were that
there was no other real solution: that gan
could be supplied by a municipality as cat
isfactoriy as water: that the profits cosld
go into the public treasury instead Of into
the fat rocket books OF The gas company
stockholders: that such profits belonged to
would be greatly reduced. and that finally
as the gas works were gradually paid for
through the medium Of the sinking fund
the city would ACQUIRE a valuable properly.
worth large sum Of money, without any
tax, the works paying for themselves
The question carried by hg ms: ority
at the election. Gas commissioners. good
cnes. were then elecrad. In connection with
experts they spent much time in going
over the field and studying every phase OF
the matter. The WORKS were .hen spIendi lily
we'll built at cost So far Of about s1750oo
The cd company fought each step in the
courts on the ground that they had vested
rights, fnasmuch as they hal invested q
great deal OF money in layin, mains as an
OF the city authorities. The case was fought
clear through to the Supreme Court Of the
United States, waere lie cison adverse TO
tne company rendered.
Now that the city has teen running the
works Tor several years the following re-
suits are conce led.
1. Price Of gas reduced from 81 to 81.
win prospect OF still further reduction,
which may not be realized until the sinking
fund burden becomes lighter through the
payment OF bonds.
2 Quality OF gas greatly improved
g. Cost OF public lighting reduced In ths
same proportion.
T. Owing to the cheapness OF gas the
number Of public lamp posts greatly in
g. Large increase in the private consump-
don OF gas. particularly In the use Of gas
for cooking purposes.
g. Universal satisfaction among the cit
liens with the gas supply.
z. The company Is prosperous and SOL
vent furnishing gas at the above pr1cA
meeting all fixed charges and having .
good cash surplus always on hand
1 have thought this plain recital OF facts
might have a tendency to clear away q
good deal Of fog. much OF II manufactured
that seems to settle about this same Ques-
don at our national capital. which. instead
of following, should lead. as Il has in 90
many other directions in the settlement q
this problem. What Hamilton has done
with the limited patronage embraced In =
Wsshington could well DO With its poppAay
don OF twelve or fifteen tfnss - great