Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-16

49, 9-oaio
At last the huge lighting monopoly Of
New York is to have competition. This
Is TO be accomplished through the conf
plete reorganization OF the Longnore Elec-
trio Light and Power company. which. UNI
der a recent decision OF the court of APP
peals, now has the right to place it's wires
In the electric subways. The monopoly Of
lighting in New York had boen heretofore
maintained through the exclusion OF all
rivals from the use OF these ducts.
The Longacre company wished merely
to furnish electric light IN the theater dis
tTict. but the trust opposed every effort
II made to lay wire Now that the highest
court has upheld the right OF competitors
to use the ducts the Longacre company
will amend its plans. enlarge its capitaI
and compete with the trust ell over the
city.
The lighting monopoly In Manhattan Is
absolutely under the control Of the Con-
solidated Gas company, largely backed by
Standard OIL interests Il sells, or rather
manufactures, 1900 600 900 cubic feet Of gas
every year. When electric lighting first
became popular there were many small
companies furnishing different districts Of
the city with light and power When the
gas magnates got frightened and thought
the small companies were going TO hurt
their business, the stock OF these concerns
was gathered up here and there until two
companies controlled them all These COM
panies were finally merged into the New
York Edison company, the entire stock of
which Is owned by the Consolidated Gas
company.
Vice President Edgar Van Etten of the
New York Central. who is the president
of the new corporation, says that appllca-
tions for a large amount of power already
have been received. One prospective CON
sumer has signifled his intention to con-
tract for $4,000 worth OF power a year
Electricity. II is expected. will he furnished
so cheap that II will not only cut down
the trusts business in electric lighting and
power but Will largely supplant the use of
gas.
The total bonded debt OF the United
States is only S925, 100000 and that Of New
York city is already more than half that
OF the national government. At the present
rate OF increase the metropolis will have
the larger indebtedness in five years. says
the New broadway Magazine. ~
The total debts OF air the states in the
union amount only to S23i.s141sO, less than
HdlA AildN VI NuG stiiBit city VI view 1OFhs
The total state, county and city indebted
ness of the entire United States is less than
three times that Of the city OF millionalres
The great military powers of the world
are much concerned over China and it's
debt. and yet China has borrowed only
s6l3O00.OOO, against $500, Co., 900 for New York
The entire Dominion OF Canada owes only
S271 10000, about equal TO New Yorks in
crease in four years.
Next TO New York the twenty-five large
cities of the United States, in the order
of their population, are as follows: Chi |
cago, Philadelphia, ST. Louis Boston. Bal
timore. Cleveland, Buffalo, San Francisco.
Cincinnati, Pittsburg. New Orleans De- |
troit. MilWaukee, Washington, Newark. |
Jersey City. Louisville Minneapolis. Provi- |
dence, Indianapolis, Kansas City, ST. Paul, |
Rochester, Denver and Toledo.
Their population, according TO the census
of 1900, was about s.6O0OO0. against 3,4STOOO |
for Greater New York. 1t is not likely |
that this proportion has changed much. |
Now. tho total bonded indebtedness of
these twenty-five cities Is about $4,000 900, |
almost tlOOOOOOOO iess than that Of the
metropolis!
In providing free music. the Sun de- |
clares, New York leads all the cities OF
America, II not Of the world. BY some |
persons London is put first. In London. |
they say, free outdoor concerts are given |
at noon In summer in populous parts of |
the city as well as in the evening Many |
thousands OF working people often stand |
patiently during most OF the lunch hour |
listening 20 the music.
In this respect London is ahead. So far |
New York has not given outdoor concerts |
at noon in the nelghborhOod of factories |
and stores But New York has given about |
every other kind OF free concert. and |
Travelled New Workers who know London |
-, that In tho 70 Navy