The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
CHEAP GAS QUESTION.
Prospects for Its Protraction D,
Agitation Good.
WoUlD.BE PUBLIC BtAtFAeIoRs.
A plea for Proceeding at n Slow
Pace and for the Records of
Gas Plant Failures.

To The Post.
Permit me, by way Of introduction, to
express compliment to your MANAGEMENT
and editors for the many recognitions
youchsafed by you Of the right OF com
munication by the publications printed
heretofore on matters public, and for the
,impartiality Of editorial expression on pub
lie questions contained in your excellent
medium, the primal principle OF which Is
to be right on all propositions affecting
the people and in holding up the hands
of officials by whose authority ordinances
are passed and enforced for the general
welfare In the administration OF local gov
eminent. The gas question has become
conspicuous topic and the proiix pcssimist
and posing promoter---would-b be public ben
efactors-have had an inning in your col
umns, and We feel confident you are not
cowai1is--that you will not hear the de-
fcnsiye side, Of the proposition, that the
city grant franchise to another and for
eign company to experiment IN the manu-
faetulc OF new process gas for illuminating
and heating purposes The low prices
quoted are al once catching and cohvinc-
ing to the consumer who has been lea
to believe by dexterous presentations that
he is oppressed by greedy monopoly, when
such is not the case by any manner Of
means. The ambient novelty and mystery
of advance scientific productions, coup
led with the spirit OF revenge or hope OF
rofit in some way, conceal the motives,
while results are magnifed, whereby the
susceptible are Frustrated by mistakes
made and languidly limp because the pro-
Dloter has made one OF their legs longer
4, A. Ip,.. IInftr VDt.
The record OF promotive geniuses and
new process" benefactors is replete with
failure, loss ana disgust; there has been
no success scored In the manufacture Of
fuel gas exclusively; it is physical i'm
possibility to even distribute gas for 80
cents per 1000 there is no gas as good
and powerful for general use as coal gas,
and therefore, can not give satisfaction.
People confident OF the profit and excel
lence OF new process" gas will not hesitate
to place guarantees to insure compliance
with terms OF franchises, and would not
bother their heads to induce Others to in
vest and share proposed enormous profits
with the discoverer. The record has been
where schcming men have made attacks
ON corporations in operation and succeeded
in obtaining a rival franchise, war OF
rates follow, then either the sale OF one
to the owners OF the other franchise, or
division of territory. or an agreement
upon charges ensues. the result being that
the two supply the product at greater
cost than the one, which additional, cost
is paid by the patron public.
Your commitment will not question the
motives OF the company wanting conces-
sions In Houston for purposes of honest
competition, nor of patrons who may be
misled by glowing pictures of coined silver
saved, but hopes The Post Will favor its
| readers with scme history and facts ey.
perlenced by citizens of cities wherein
| fuel and Grease-gas companies and theil
| ehorts have already proven fiat failures
TO the end that our citizens and local gov
| eminent may not be made the victims OF
haste and over-estiration OF future re-
| suits.
| There are many ways by which strangers
III strange city may be mised by EXPERT
ana studied trickery Take the Kalamazoc
| investigation for an example as 10 prob
abllities. The Wellsbach burner. with
.hrec TO four feet capacity, can be made
ny drilling. to burn seven to eight feet
Ihese lights could have been comnare
| with those OF old burners OF the coal ga,
company. The rev process" having few
customers in Kalamazoo. may have intro.
uuced our investigators to stakeholder,
IN on the ground floor" whose stores wsr,
aniaze with superb quality oi' old lin,
rellable illuminator to bedazzle the he
holuer Let us go In safe pace and in
vestigate further ard to a finish. TIL,
kalamazoo plant is second hand ono
removed from Grand Rapids Mich 10
notwithstanding" the gas business there
| A Post Reader