The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-14
CITY To MAKE GAS
Municipal Ownership Of Plants
Proposed In New York.
Resolution Adopted By the
Board Of Aldermen.
TIRED OF COUGHING
OF Private Gas Corporations
Which Are All Too Greedy.
BIZ to Be Prepared By the Leg
islature.

New York. Dec. 14.-New York may
vet own its own gas lighting plant.
At the meeting of the board Of alder
men. Alderman Olcott introduced a res
oluti0n providing for the appointment
tof q committee Of seven TO investigate
the cost of gas making and gas lighting
and an matters pertaining 10 the manu-
facture and sale Of gas, for the purpose
of drafting bill with a view OF pldc-
ing the ownership of gas plants in the
hands OF the municipality
The resolution was adopted
Alderman OlcOtt's proposition IN full
Is as follows
Whereas, 1t is essential to the well
being. health and comfort of the citi-
zens of the city of New York that each
inhabitant should be afforded the Op-
portunity TO obtain the best and purest
light and fuel ait the lowest possible cost
to the consumer; and,
Whereas, This necessity is on the
same principle as, and only second IN
Importance to, that which prompted
the city to provide for every household
err the puTest, best and cheapest water
furnished by any city in the world Of
equal population; and,
Whereas, The use Of gas for illUnIin-
ating purposes and for fuel and for use
as a power in manufacturing and in the
arts and sciences has largely increased,
and with it has increased the necessity
for tine economical production of gas;
and.
whereas. The recent combination be
tween the old gas companies and the
new best illustrates the futility of eX
pecting reductions in the price of gas
from the establishment Of competing
companies; and,
Whereas. This municipality has itself
failed TO secure cheap street lighting
because in advertising for competitive
bids for that purpose it has been the in
variable experience that there is not
real competition, but that the different
companies appOrti0n among themselves
ali raTH
fer nOn-competitiye bids for the respec-
tive districts; and.
Whereas. The cities of Philadelphia,
Richmond Va, Wheeling. W. Va;
Hamilton, O.; Birmingham. Leeds, and
Bradford. England, and Aberdeen, Ed
inburgh and Glasgow, Scotland, have
each become the owner of the gas plants
situated ia such respective cities, and
consequent reduction has thereby re-
suited 10 the consumers Of the gas in
such cities
Resolved. That the president of the
board of aldermen appoint a special
committee of seven of its members to
make "a thorough investigation of the
Feasibility and practcability Of NUM-
ctpal ownership Of gas plants and cost
of Misunderstanding gas as now carried on
by the existing companies. the price at
which the city should deliver gas TO the
the owner of the gas plants, the cost of
manufacturing gas as now carried on
by the existing companies the price q
which the city could deliver gas TO the
inhabitants thereof, should it become
the owner of the gas plant, together
with all other material facts in connec-
ton Herewith that may be deemed nee
essary By said committee to give imfOr-
nation to the mayor and board of alder
men of this city on the matter in ques-
ton; and
Resolved, That said committee cause
TO be prepared a bill to be presented to
the legislature of this state to carry
out their recommendation in that behalf
and vigorously urge the passage of the
same in the interest of the city and its
Inhabitants.