Norwich bulletin., 1913-02-05
Square Deal Tn City Business.

Square Deal In City Business
 MT Editor. was somewhat sur prised that other cities in Connecticut were selling gas 40 per cent cheaper than Norwich. I had supposed up to the present time, from what had been told. that we were getting 4our gas and electric light at rock bottom prices on account of municipal ownership Now, if our gas and electric plant is making per cent. on the S750,0o0 Tn : vested, and they are charging us 40 per cent. more for gas than other cit Ies sell for, how are the taxpayers that own the plant, and burn the gas making any money? I have under stood that it costs a private corpora. ton about 45 cents a one thousand cubic feet to make gas, and one and one half cents a K w to generate electricity.
 If our municipal plant can manu- fracture gas and electricity at the same figure, it would seem to me as If they should reduce the price of gas and electricity to the stockholders or de- clare a bigger dividend on their stock. I am not familiar with the expense ac- count of the plant, but 1t would seem that if they would put door where the window is. that has to be taken out every time they want to put any thing into the building, they would save something on that. Also, if they should hire their carpenters and ma sons and buy their lumber, bricks ana
 
 the steam and gas filters, and buy the pipe and fittings. they might be able to save some money, and thereby be able to declare a bigger dividend, and re- duce the price of gas and electricity.
 suppose it is necessary to have the automobile, and of course some one has to run it. But, with all due re- spect to Superintendent Bogue and relatives, and the nice salaries they are drawing q understand they are <,-th kn of the other builders and taxpayers, who are stockholders in the plant, had a chance at little of the work and jobs within the gift of the board of gas and electrical commissioners
 I understand the courts have hand ed down a decision that it is illegal for public commission to enter into contract for work with one Of it's members. Is that so?
 Our mayor has put great deal or time on the Boswell avenue extension, that job being completed Now. would it not be a good thing if he would look around the city barn and see how many salaries and what duties they perform, and see if some of the money used there could not be used to scrape the mud and tar off of the so-called street macadam. 1 think if he could bring it about the people would rise up and call him blessed. and also tell the poor hard-working taxpayers, who are taxed the full value of their little homes. how much of their hard earned tax money was saved purchasing the Stony Brook water rights; go down to Johnson's witch hazel mill and see how much less water is going over the dam than before the gates were closed at the Stony Brook reservoir; also tell us people how much less money the street department had last year than usual, and how much more was done with the appropriated. There is a whole lot he can do outside of street railway extensions.
 A CITIZEN who believes in the square deal as ad- vocated by his honor, Mayor Murphy. before election, and hopes he will give the citizens the benefit of his pre- cleo tion theories; stop hammering the street railroad for a. short time, and help the citizens to get aboard what cars we have without going over their shoes in mud and tar. and also tell the sending out men to deliver the gas and electrical bills, and the water depart ment sending theirs out by mail When and how their hard earned tax money is being used, and how many non- producers are on the payroll; and at the same time he might propose to the board of trade to tell us in their little book just where the city of Norwich would be today if outside men and capital had not come in and develop ed the street railroad Notwithstanding also tell the people what benefits the trolley, lines are to the business men and city in general. throw a few bou- luets at the railroad, and give the lem ons and spur tracks rest.
 Norwich, Ct, Feb. 4, 1913.