The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-04-02

could figure out that amount for
either of the months just past. April
will certainly fall far short of it and
the next five months will not much if
any exceed the half of that amount
from the entire plant. Examine the
demonstration" and you will find it
made up of assertions that to put it
mildly, are misleading.
1t asserts that the Allen County
Gas Company made last year over
and above all expenses. 5000. Ihave
no means of verifying or disproving
this statement, bat the parties who
are in best position to know say it is
not correct. But whether true or
false we all know well that their
year" as it is called commenced in
October '95 and ended with January
81, '97. 1t included a full calendar
year and four of the winter months in
addition. Many of Us also well know
that their income was derived all the
first winter from stoves that cost =
and $50 per month and for many
this rule held good till December '96,
when the price to all was reduced to
IS cents. Under the existing arrange
ment 81 per month per stove is all
that can be realized and the people
generally will see that "stoves by the
dozenn would need to be added to
keep the gross income up TO the for
mer figure. The same is true of the
statement that the Cooperative COM
pany turned over service that was
yielding 500 per month. The "Bul-
letin" does not say in express terms
that this was i'm addition to the in
come of 5000, but evidently it expects
you to understand it that way. The
facts are that it was less than
500 and nearly if not quite half of
these stoves are the very ones that
paid an income to the Allen County
Gas Company of $l.50 or = each for
'95 and '96. Since they went out at
= and came back at 81 it is very APP
parent that they would need to be
doubIed or nearly so to keep the in
come up TO the old figure. Il believe
that bulletin No 81 is at least 3 500
too high in its estimate of the gross
receipts. | also believe it TO be as
much too low in its estimate of the
cost of extensions if the city owns the
plant and has to make the extensions.
What the taxpayers want to know
before petitioniDg for vote is the
truth as to these matters
They who are in debut as to the
accuracy of either estimate above can
Approximate it very nearly ina the
manner indicated Do your own figur-
ing. Follow up each street where
you know the gas pipe is laid and
count the stoves and lights. Be care
ful not to Overestimate your in
come. Nine times cut of ten the man
who does overestimate fails An un-
derestimate of the outlay is just as
likely tn be fatal. Remember that
not every heater is burned six months.
That each additional light above two
ia private houses is only five cents
month. DOnot theOriZe, stick closely to
facts. MANY of u argued and honest
Iy believed when we were paying 3 %
a month for a stove that if We would
furnish gas at 81 per month per stove
bur few families would do without the
second stove. Our arguments, beliefs
and theories to the contrary nOtwith-
standing, about One-third of the
families use but one stove. This econ
omy, when necessary is very COM
mendable, but goes to show that the
people will not spend an additional
dollar for another fire even though
they have saved more than that by
the reduction.
In the spring of 1895 the people
with one mind demanded a change in
the gas management. Through their
representatives they named sched-
ule of prices which they believed to
be just, both to the citizens and the
Gas Company. The lack of general
interest now as compared with two
years sgO is easily accounted for.
Then the service was inferior and the
price extOrtionste, a. many believed.
Now the service is greatly improved
and the price for domestic use lower
by q third than was fixed by the
eity's representatives when they
named their schedule, lower thsu
was suggested by the advocates "f
city ownership two years ago, lower
than the Cooperative company
itself established when il had the fix
ing of prices to its customers. Ii the
only object was a. svow-d two years
ago. TO secure Dollar Gas, why this
continued agitation? Let him answer
who has been wrunged. The answer
cannot e,Hne from the small share