The Washington times., 1894-07-10
BETTER And CHEAPER GAS
Opinions of Business Men and Others
on the Question.
DISTRICT TO OWN THE PLANT
Citizens Unanimous in Declaring That Like
Water, Ii Should Be Supplied by the NUM-
cipal Authorities General Opposition to
the Present Monopoly.

Whether or not the government shall own
and control a gas plant in the city and Dis
trict that shall be economically conducted in
the interests of the people. and not for the
profit there may be in it. is question that
has been discussed locally for many years.
1t is Just now again under consideration, and
The TINES presents to-day the opinions of a
number of business men upon the important
topic: tt
NJ. DYREYFoRTH. of NJ Dyrenforth & Co.,
merchant tailors, No. 62l Pennsylvania ave
nue.: at does not matter so much who owns
the plant If we can get good quality of gas.
The gas we have been getting lately is horri-
ble 1 would rather pay good price for good
gas than low rate for the article we have
been having, and that's 'nufI sed.'"
FRANCIS MILLER. dealer in paints. oils, and
glass. No. 307 Ninth street northwest: 81 have
always thought that the government should
control and operate the gas plant for the city
and District, but when l consider how the
water works are sometimes managed l am in
clined to doubtit Still, if prop erly conducted,
the government might well manage the plant
aud give us better and cheaper gas.
MIGHT BE A GOOD THING.
J. b. KENDALL, dealer in coach findings. iron
and steel, No. els Pennsylvania avenue north
west: 'If the national government should as
sumo control it might be a good thing. Stu
ated as the district government is. subject TO
congressional action and confined to the let
ter of the law in all that it does, there is. OF
course, but one way to effect the suggested
change, and that is TO place the gas plant
under governmental control, as we have 10
common council or other similar board of
officers
]. J. DECKER, dealer in books aud sta
tonery, No. iii L street northwest: Il
certainly think the government should own
the plant. The present company has too
much power as corporation. and too much
monopoly. / don't believe in monopoiies.
III the government owned the works do not
think the people would have to paw such q
high price for a poor quality of gas"
JOHN A. POWER, of John A. Power & Co.,
plumbers, No. 430 Tenth street northwest:
Il believe it would be better for the people
the gas consumers, if the government were to
control and conduct a gas plant, and the gas
should be sold at as low rate as possible
J. +. PACE, dealer in fine groceries. No. /
1910 F street northwest: Il think It would
be an advantage for the government to con-
troll the plant.
GAS WOULD BE SOLD AT COST.
ROBERT COHEN q SoN, dealers in shoes, No.
$50 Pennsylvania avenue: ''The government
should own the plant certainly. The gas
should then be sold to the people at cost, and
the streets OF the city more brilliantly lighted,
not emitting moonlight nights.
FRANK E. HOPKINS hardware merchant. No.
436 Ninth street northwest: II am in favor of
the government owning all OF such monopo-
lies. i think there should be a change from
the present plan and management"
n. A. Poole, dealer in groceries, No. 1909
+ street northwest: ~ think that if the gov
ernment can run the plant SO as TO give
cheaper and better gas than we now get it
would be good thing for the people. But if
it were to be run in tine interest of those who
hold the offices merely. it would be no ad-
vantage"
PRESENT COMPANY IS MONOPOLY
]. D. BURNS, merchant tailor, corner of
Ninth and G streets northwest: 81 certainly
think the government should control the gas
plant, especially as the present company is
liable TO maintain a monopoly of the business.
l say the same of electric lighting. The city
should be supplied with Il better quality OF
light at lower prices"
BENZ. W. GUY. of Guy, Curran & Co.. No.
315 Ninth street northwest: II believe Ii
would be good thing We should have
cheaper and better gas in some way. We pay
a higher rate for gas in Washington than is
charged in any other city of like importance.
c. 7. CARTER, of c. 7. Carter & Co., whole
sale and retail dealer in hardware, No. COG
avenue: II think it ought to
be left as IL is. under the present control, but
the price of gas should be reduced to 81 per
feet
George w. Wilmer. dealer in wall papers |
and upholstery, No. 429 Ninth street north |
west: Il think we ought TO have cheaper and |
better gas. / see they have the question up
in Congress and propose 10 reduce the price
to one dollar per thousand feet. but / believe
the government should own the plant; be-
lieve that it would be better for the people.