The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1925-06-26
THE GAS QUESTION

week renewed the contract with the
Union Gas & Electric Company to
furnish, natural gas for one more
year at so cents thousand feet with
the privilege of extending the con-
tract for an additional four years at
the same rate. That was common
business sense as the existing con-
tract expires July l, and there was
nothing else to do.
But why the majority council mem
bers insisted on holding up the enter
ing of a ten-year contract with the
Hamilton Furnace Company when an
attempt was made to suspend the
rules and give the ordinance second
and third reading is beyond the rea
son of all sane minded citizens. The
question has been so thoroughly in
vestigated and gone into until every
one interested is so conversant and
acquainted with every angle OF it that
there is no reasonable excuse for de-
laying further action on it other than
for some reason the boss of council
is holding off final action until the
last possible moment.
| There isn't any question as to the
sentiment of the people as a whole
in this particular situation. Mayor
Kelly and his service director, after
| investigation recommend giving the
contract to the Hamilton Furnace
| Company. The citizens committee
appointed by Mayor Kelly, made up of
some of Hamilton's most prominent
trustworthy business men, after ex-
haustive research and investigation,
recommend the same. The various
Improvement associations throughout
the city, after thorough investigation
and seeking of information on the
subject. recommend the same. Coun-
Gilman Pyles, of the First ward, al
the meeting of council declared II
per cent of the people in his ware
favored natural gas, yet at meeting
the very next night at which wa:
organized the West Side improvement
Association, and at which fully q
persons were present, on vote ap
proving entering contract with th'
Hamilton Furnace Company, the vot'
was unanimous. The people presen
at this meeting were from every par
of the First ward According to tina
: vote the people of First ward are 1O'
per cent in favor of entering into
contract with the Hamilton Furnac
Company.
And so it is everywhere. Everyon
seems to favor the furnace compan
contract. 1t is safe to bet that full
= 80 per cent of all the people feel tina
way. Council members know this, bu
for some reason the boss is able +
hold them in line his way.
The people are tired of being toll
every year or two that they ought t
consider themselves much favored tina
they are getting gas and that n
assurance can be given that the con
tract will be renewed when the exist
ing one expires-that the natural ga
supply is running low. Now that tn
chance is here to settle the questio
: for at least ten years they want
settled.
Another thing, the people are pleas
ed at the prospect of another in
mense industry, employing hundred
of men, at our very door in case tn
Hamilton Furnace Company is aware
ed the gas contract. 1t is not
: cheap concern that is knocking at OF
door for entrance, but one that WI
spend several million dollars rigl
at the very jump with fine prospect
of immense growth. A concern iik
the Hamilton Furnace Company doe!
MT spend millions for its health
knows pretty well what it is doin
when it spends all that money an
knows lust about what is before l
That means it expects to grow an
that means big things for Hamilton
future. 1t means the locating here {
other iron industries which will war
to get close to the base of material
Altogether it means much to Hami
ton that the furnace company get tn
gas contract, and there shouldn't b
the least bit of hesitancy or delay o
the part of council awarding the cor
tract. The excuse that some Civ
that they want to look further int