The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-30
Adv ENT.

The public service corporations of to-
day afford, like the most OF American in
dus,ry. a notable contrast with the cor
porations NJ a generation or so ago. New
methods OF operation. perfection OF sys-
TENS, "the spirit Of service" a clearer
contention Of responsibilities. the ire
mcudous enlargement Of fields OF useiul-
ness and their upbuilding on a business
basis has made the service corporation
the chief single factor In the progress ana
conduct OF the community. As the life
Of both the home and Of industry II Is
the priced and indispensable partner oil
the producer. and IL takes first place in
not only the perfection but In the matter
of the existence Of every home.
Once the public utility" was the thorn
In the side Of every patriot. To-day
practical people recognize II as the
friend OF man" The batting OF the
utility has largely ceased. II no longer
serves as the bulls eye Of the new re-
former. The utility has expanded into
it's fun sphere OF usefulness-which in
clldes every corner Of commercial and
domestic life-and has come TO good
terms with its customers after the man
ner OF "A partner and a comrade.
A period of change Is natural in every
expanding industry Of a growing coun-
try. \ period OF criticism. a period OF
reconstruction Is quite likely IN the
process Of development OF an industry on
which every individual depends. when rs
the very machinery Of the community;
which. in short. had the demands of ma
turi'y pu, upon 1t AT birth. the public
utility corporation. ana SO AT we start
bore a burden usually the lot OF me o.d
and experienced manufacturer. ADJUST
incuts naturally became necessary. stand
ardization Of its system, determining III"
cost of production and service ana the
a dav for settlement. Problems had to
be solved the while the business. was
growing. After some years the citzen
and the corporation settled down to an
understanding in which the requirements
Of the former and the necessities OF the
latter were mutually understood. Instead
of being opponents they recognized the
common helpfulness and became close
associates.
The public utility is perhaps the conn-
,rv's greatest business. Rut its status
cannot he settled by rating II ONLY win
successful enterprise. The gas eIectri'
light and power companies in their mod
ern form - highly organized develop.
mcut bring benefits to "A community
which cannot be measured by Their com
pcusation. Their advantages ar" mus
putahlc and their removal. II II u" IN me
mower of Imagination 70 depict II. would
result in "A loss entirely incalculablc.
AppreCiatiOn Of the task Of the lighting
romuauy has become evident to the aver
AGE intelligent citizen. lie sees the com
r.nv i'm the character Of an essential. in
dustrious. earnest growing factor Of the
uuhlic interest instead Of the ancient earb
81 the mere m~onopolist. The excellent
uuhlic service of America is evidence in
Itself of "A rare studionsness and npnll'a-
ZION which alone reiutes the old time
charge " sheer scltishncss. The lighting
cnrnuauv has done its share In the ad-
vance OF modern life, in the u~pbulldirG
~ our cities. Its natural reward has
he.n 10 retain its title OF proprietorshtp.
Tor i, IL safe To say II could only have
dome So through efficiency.
Men know to-day that the public ser
vice company must grow: otherwise his
Town cannot grow. nor his business nor
would he he able to build or 10 live in a
nl,cc of f~avorite selection. The gas
,ompanV, the electric company are the
useful tools that make success obtainable,
rosslhlc and then render its possession
worth while. Having assured himself
ina, capable business men are at their
head. that the statute regulations are
nronrr. that his service is good and bills
are fair. the average citizen looks upon
his gas his electric company in
"A b~enignant attitude.
The mere matter ~ supply Is not the
only task ~ the lighting company. II
must provide for it's own expansion, and
i, must lead the way for the town 10
exraud. For without the latter It's
greater growth ceases; and vet until the
| latter happens no revenue can come from
advance expenditures. In short. ii is