Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-11-04
Come, Let Us Reason Together.

OF our business houses have concluded
to make test of the acelylene gas
generators, as a means of illumina-
ton, we respectfully ask them and
others who may contemplate similar
action to consider few suggestions
we have to present.
The main considerations entering
into the matter may be viewed from
purely selfish standpoint. First, is it
equal for illumination Of electricity
second, is it as safe as electricity
third, is it as cheap as electricity and
fourth, is it as conveniently applied
to ordinary use as the subtle fluid
which has SO rapidly forged to the
front as the cheapest and best means
OF illumination yet devised by man?
Unless it can meet all these consid-
erations of safety, chcapness and util-
ity, and present a better service than
its rival, we maintain that it should
find no favor in competition with the
product of plant owned and MAIN
tanned by local company and giving
permanent employment to a score or
more of laborers in maintaining the
lighting and strect-car service. We all
know how eagerly we reach out to
grasp any proposition for the estab-
lishment OF industrial plants in our
midst. We have had more than one
practical demonstration that our peo-
pie, as whole, realize the importance
of securing and aiding the develop
ment Of local enterprise. Many years
ago, several thousand dollars were
raised by subscription to build a wharf
at deep water on the Westsidc, to in
duce the Pacific Mail Co. to give lis a
monthly steamship service. The re-
suits were satisfactory from the in
creased vitality at once infused into
our business life. 1t is only few
months ago that quite sum was
raised by the same means to prepare q
roadway for extension of the Jefferson
street spur of the Northern Pacific to
encourage the location of Just such
aids to civilization and progress as
provide payrolls in return for benefits
conferred. A late act OF the Chamber
of Commerce has been to afford q To-
cation rent free to a creamery, for the
benefit which its work might afford in
keeping money at home, by creating
a market for farm product and en-
listing Others with us in the effort to
build up acommunity of producers.
Had we no street cars, and no cleo
trio lights, we doubt not but that our
Chamber would be quite as active in
advancing any proposition to establish
a plant, and our enterprising citizens
would again ego down into their
pockets" to secure conditions that
would induce capitalists to invest their
money for that object. Are these in-
centives the less to be respected be-
cause We have an excellent plant in
operation, which has never cost the
community a cent by the way of a
bonus? Are we to encourage feeling
so utterly perverse and selfish that it
fails to recognize merit or reward en-
deavor, when it can be done by simply
paying an equivalent for service rem
dered? Shall we afford to capitalists
we urge to develop our resources the
remarkable spectacle of community
deliberately starving out a kindred en-
terprise by failure to accord patron
age that is legitimately its due?
Observation teaches that this policy
is dangerous one. The rails have
been removed from the tracks of sew
eral towns in this State for want of q
remunerative business. Capital is
cold-blOoded. 1t is difficult for few
promoters of an enterprise to infuse
much warmth, while the community
is showing-as in this instance-an ut
ter want OF appreciation. One would
suppose that the loss of the rolling
stock and barn of the light and car
company a few months ago, would
arouse i'll any human heart throb of
sympathy and a desire to aid at least
by according a patronage that must
60 somewhere for one of life's necessi-
ties.
Electricity may be made the cheap
est light in existence. 1t is now as
cheap as acetylene made by the most
economical process known. Claim
what the interested promoters of the
gas-light may, it is a more steady
light, maintained without trouble and
is absolutely safe. 1t may be made
still cheaper by increased patronage.
Superintendent Faulkner, in reply to
a query, Gays that if the consumption
would justify the use of larger gen.
orator, 25 or 30 per cent. reduction
could be made with safety, and the in
creased patronage that would result
from this reduction would doubtless
enable the company to make further
scaling OF rates, until light could be
afforded at the minimum cost, on the
sound business proposition to make it
supplant all other means of private
or public illumination.
Think over these suggestions, reader,
and decide for yourself whether it will
pay you in the long run to aid in Civ
ing a possible death-blow to an enter
prise that once enjoyed we cannot we'll
do x1,,tI1,,k l,,k