Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-08
MAYOR DISCUSSES
WE|CHTY MATTERS
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the Los Angeles Gas and Lighting
company ran low there was short
age of coal and wood. There was also
shortage of gasoline and Oil. The
result was that everyone turned to gas
for heating and cooking as well as
lighting purposes. In a days time the
demands upon the gas company
doubled, yes, trebled, that of ordinary
times. Then came a marked shortage
in oil, which the company was depen-
dent on to manufacture gas. Follow
ing this came a fire at the gas plant,
temporarily crippling it. These facts
should be borne in mind in trying to
account for the famine.
But with all these things placed to
the credit of the company there is
still much to be said which Is not to
the credit of the company. One is,
knowing a famine could not be averted,
corporation officials should have
warned the people.
In many sections of the city it is
known that the gas company is try
ing to serve double the number of con-
sumers the pipes were planned to ac-
commodate. This results In low pres
sure and unsatisfactory service for all
Just how extensive an area this COW
ers 1 do not attempt to say, but 1t
has been represented to me that until
the company lays larger laterals in
several sections there can be no hope
for any better service, for those later
ais were laid when the city was thinly
populated and consumers have out
grown the pipe capacity. This claim
certainly requires investigation.
A claim Of the gas company is that
the people have not been economical
in the use of gas. 1t is pointed out by
it's officers that during shortage Of
water policemen arrest consumers for
using water after given hours, while
no step has ever been taken to stop
eXtraVagant use of gas. The excuse
is a lame one. The water Is controlled
by the city, while gas is controlled by
private money-making corporation.
The difference is plain. Consumers,
knowing the gas company has a prod
uct to sell for the money there is in 1t,
have a right to expect all the gas they
are willing to pay for. Anyway, as
surance of efficient service was prom
ised when the corporation was granted
the right to lay mains. However, had
the gas company called upon the peo-
pie to be saving, that a famine might
be averted, and explained the real sit
uation, there would no doubt have
been a ready response to the appeal.
1t has also been represented to me
that the capacity Of the plant is not
sufficient to meet the demand. 1t has
been represented that the capacity of
the plant has been something like
100000 cubic feet of gas a day, while
the demand was in the neighborhood
of 100000 cubic feet. I do not give
these as accurate figures, for my in
formant does not have access to the
books of the corporation, and it is
largely an estimate on his part. On
the other hand, I have the assurance
of officials of the company that, ex-
cepting in extraordinary instances,
such as cold spells we have expert
enced, when almost the entire city is
using gas for fuel and with great ex-
travagance, the company can easily
meet the demand.
Uniform Gas Bills
A suggestion has been made to me
that to improve the service and make
gas bills more uniform 1t will be
necessary either to increase the pres
sure or to enlarge the laterals. The in
crease of pressure is met with the
claim that many of the pipes are old
anG decayed, and in such condition
that they would not stand further
strain. The people are entitled to know
if this is true.
1t has been proved clearly to my mind
that 1t is the irregular and low pres
sure which is responsible for high gas
bills. Some measure should be adopted
either voluntarily by the corporation,
or through the adoption of an ordi-
nance which will do away with high
gas bills when service is poor and
when consumers have right to ex-
pect small bills.
Corporations ask and get much from
Los Angeles. In return the people
have a just right in demanding good
service. shall insist that all public
utility corporations fulfill their obli-
cations to the people. Corporations
must necessarily be encouraged to To-
cate here. They help the city in its
expansion, but they have no right to
be other than fair in their dealings.
Public conveniences which will come
with corporations are needed, and will
be encouraged, but you should not lose
sight of the fact that the people are
entitled to fair returns for franchises
granted.
The time is not distant when the
people of Los Angeles will ask for the
privilege of voting on the question of
municipal ownership of its lighting
plant. / believe a municipal lighting
plant will not only be a saving TO the
city, but with the power expected to
be developed by the new water system,
viii give us the best lighted city in