The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-04

CorporatIon Coun.ei'. Br,.r a an. -
ply Agnlnst the AcetYlenn Do. anA.-a

= hhEheN 70 the AanNwns
ply Against the AcetyIens Co.'s sehews.
ALBANY. April Incorporation Couns., sco,,
has forwarded to the Assembly C~onmit,ca IN
Gas and Electricity a brief protesting. In bebolf
ofthe city OF New York. against the bill which
proposes to turn over the streets of New york 10
the Carbide and Acetylene Company. In his
brief Mr.. Scott says;
This bill authorizes the company To law
mains, pipes, and conductors through the
streets. lanes, alleys, public places. and high
ways In any town. village. or city In either OF
the counties mentioned in the title. IL provides
that' SO FAR as cities are concerned. II shall not
lay the pipes until IL shall have made applica-
tion and have obtained permission 20 to do
from the Commissioned of Public Works. But
that provision Is practically nullihed by the
next sentence Of the section, and such Com
missioner shall grant such consent under rca-
sonable regulations as to the manner OF laying
such pipes, mains, o. conductors
similar provisions In existing law have been
heid to be mandatory. and upon the refusal Of
the Commissioner to grant tho application man
damus would lie to compel them to. The city
of New York objects to the passage OF the bill
in the interests OF It's streets. 1t has expended
In the last year for new pavements. mainly Of
nsphalt. = ;oOo.QOO, and plans are drawn and
approved for the expenditure of 81, 700. GOO
authority under the law to expend n further mill
non next yeuf. lhere are now seven lines of gas
mains In the city. The East River Company
has been for two years now disturbing and
practically estroyinP.the ppyements of the city,
and probably Will continue for two years more.
to complete its work. The city protests against
allowing another company to start In to lay an
entirely new system with the right to tear up
any street from one end to the other OF the city,
The only justification for such vandalism
would be q reasonable certainty of gTeat benefit
to the public from cheaper and better light. but
such promise Is denied by the terms of the bill.
This company Is distinctly allowed to charge
the same price per thousand feet as is allowed
to existing companies. But, say the advocates
of the bill, while that is true, we will give such
a better light.
Note the concluding sentence. Section Q OF
the bill provides and for gas OF greater lllumt-
mating power of the standard of purity estab-
lished by law may charge n prOportiOndtely IN
creased price per thousand fest.' So that not even a
pretence of giving the public cheaper gas is
made by the bill. This great public franchise
with all it's resultant loss and damage to the
city in the destruction of its splendid new
with the .unbiushing provision that IL may
charge what the old com panics charge and il
better gas Is given still higher prices may be
charged.
The history OF gas corporations in the city
of New York Is competition and consolidation.
AS soon as competition becomes formidable the
interests OF the city and its citizens in good,
smooth. permanent are to he leopard
ed to enable terms to be forced by u lot OF pro-
moters.
With seven lines already In the city, and
with no promise of benefit to the consumer, the
passage of this bill would be "A great calamity"