The San Francisco call., 1899-01-23
Democrats UnWittingly Help
DR.. Pardee'S Political
Future.
I'd May Have to Solve the Problem of
-mpetition in Gas-Temescal
Desires to Change Its
Name.

to the household consumer, especially as
the use of gas for domestic purposes is
rapidly increasing In this city.
There is, however, more important as
land now pays for it's street lighting and
for the illumination supplied its municipal
buildings a sum approMmating $SO0OO a
year. This of itself is a tolerably COM
Portable income for corporation. This
means, of course, that the head and body
of any competition will center itself about
the municipal contract. Experience has
taught that under such circumstances
either corporation would naturally be
forced for its own protection to do every
thing possible to secure the necessary six
votes in the City Council and two In the
Board of Public Works to obtain the con-
tract No other possibility can exist.
Oakland has, therefore, if the exploited
plans of the new company be carried out,
the prospect of rate cutting war in gas
before her. Whether this will prove bene-
fetal or not ultimately is the point to be
determined. Four years ago Oakland had
but one water company. The rates it
charged were considered to be abnormally
high, and the public voice was always
heard demanding that the schedule be
ton always was able to secure the pas
sage of its high rates by the City Council.
Periodically Indignation would assert 1t
self, mobS would denounce the water COM
pany and besiege the council chamber at
the time of fixing rates, but after the an
nual excitement died away the people
were compelled for another twelve
months to pay their tax into the Golfers of
the corporation, there being no alterna-
tive Competition came along and for
about two years Oaklanders enjoyed pay
ing an absurdly low figure for water.
Houses which would reasonably pay a
dollar and half a month were accommo-
dated for % cents. Everybody was de-
lighted and the city congratulated itself
upon the advantages of competition.
The situation is now different. There
are still two water companies, but no
competition. Since the beginning of this
year they should be getting rich, but it
is at the expense OF the people, VINO two
water at a ridiculousiy low figure. The
man who would be willing to pay a dollar
and half and got his water for a quar-
ter now finds his bill over three dollars,
and the presidents of both water compa-
MES blandly tell the objector that he IS
being greatly favored, as the rates now
charged are nothing near those in the
schedule which the water companies in
duced the Council to pass last spring. 1t
is expected that very shortly there will
again be but one water company and that
the city will be called upon to pay the
legal per cent upon their united CAPT
talization of 100000.
In other words property-owners have
suffered greatly from competition in
water.
Now the question has forced itself be-
fore the public as to whether competition
in gas is going to be a benefit or detri-
ment. At present Oakland pays 81 80 and
81 % for illuminating and cooking gas re-
spectively. The new company proposes
to place it's stock in escrow, so that for
period of three years gas shall be sold at
81 and rs cents respectively, and so that
no rival corporation shall buy it out dur
ing that period.
But after three years? This Is a ques-
ton for the social and political economists
to conjure with.
Residents of Temescal have caused a
small wave of disappointment to spread
over Oakland. For many years the pic
turesque little suburb Of Temescal has
rejoiced in it's pretty, euphonious name.
"TemescaP' is rather poetic. Now come
the residents and demand a change. They
declare that the name of their suburb
means "a sweathouse," and this they
consider an insult. No doubt they are
right, they ought to know, but no one
will willingly strike the pretty word from
the nomenclature of this county. And,
after all, it isn't so bad as Hangtown or
Los Gatos Cthe CATS, though it may not
compare favorably with Los Angeles.
STUART w. BOOTH.