The evening world. Newspaper, March 14, 1903, Page 5

THE WORLD: SATURDAY | EVENING, MARCH 1. 14, 1903, CITY TO CRUSH GAS TRUST BY BUILDING tah Ratan Parescen Oba Cary T. Hutchinson, an Electrical En- gineer, Selected by Commissioner Monroe, Under the Direction of the Mayor, to at Once Draw Plans fora Building. ‘City Administration, Aroused by The Evening World’s Exposure of the Shameful Acts of the Extortioners, Is Using Its Entire Power to Crush the Ring and Afford Relief, Mayor Low started right in to-day on the work of fight- ‘ing the gas combine by establishing a city lighting plant. Acting under his direction, Robert Grier Monroe, Com- \missioner of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, employed Cary T. Hutchinson, an electrical engineer, of No. 56 Pine * street, to draw plans and estimate the cost of the plant. This is the first real move in the fight against the greed, the extortion and the arrogant tyranny of the combine, and the whole power of the administration is committed to it. The city plant once established, there is hope that private consumers may be freed from the grip that makes them bow to the demands of the Trust or sit in darkness. ROUSED TO ACTION BY EVENING WORLD. The city authorities have been roused to action by the stories of bru- {tal outrage of private rights and insolent robbery of householders, month {in and month out for years, which have been told for a week past in The : Evening World. The bitter murmurings and complaints which have been made in pri- vate by the three and a half millions of people dependent for their light on whims of a lighting combine controlling practically every gas and elec- tric plant in the five boroughs of the greater city have been in vain. The ¢ombine answered appeals for justice, for fair play with indecent, insulting {Brevity until the community, driven beyond mere private complaining, has jfisen to public clamoring and stirred the authorities to action. t -The transportation companies have recently learned a lesson of the power of the public when once it rises to exert it, and their grip and greed shave not been commensurate with that of the lighting combine. 10 FIGHT WITH DETERMINATION. Now that the outbreak has come the force of the explosion will be the greater for the feeling is more bitter, and with three ~i!lions and a half of citizens embittered by the abuse of years indignantly and unitedly de- manding the clipping of the combine’s claws, it must look well to its “‘priv- fleges” of the past, _ . The campaign was started yesterday by a letter from Commissioner ‘Monroe to the Board of Estimate setting forth officially the extortion of the combine as practised on the municipality. ‘Commissioner Monroe's letter furnished absolute proof that in every ‘Porough of the city the gas combine is in control and that the lighting gosts two and three times as much per light as is icing for similar purposes in other municipalities. €ITY PLANT THE ONLY REMEDY. * When this letter had been read Comptroller Grout said: “Municipal +--g 1S then the only solution and the city’s safegus7d.” “I agree ba ww. . -+” said the Mayor, and the other members of the board nodded in ” &§ arsent, ¥ “Yes,” said President Swanstrom, “let us do as Detroit did, and es- aa | a municipal plant. That will prevent extortion.” “1 am certainly in favor of establishing a municipal electric lighting ' plant,” repeated the Mayor, “in view of what Commissioner Monroe has said.” 4 “Yes, and I can back up every word of my statement to this board a by facts and fi igures,” declared Commissioner Monroe, The board voted unanimously on the resolution, appropriating $1,000 to pay for the services of the expert who is to report on the plans for >, > the municipal plant. \j The Mayor declared that he would personally draw up to present to the Legislature a bill asking that the Board of Estimate and Apportion- ment be empowered to build the plant and extending the Commissioner's £21 > in the matter of le!‘ing contracts, GROUT FOR CITY OWNERSHIP. Comptroller Grout, when seen to-day, declared he was in favor of + ‘Commissioner Monroe's proposal that the city construct and maintain its ‘wn plant for lighting the city. “T have always been in favor of municipal owneship,” said Mr. Grout, _ _ ™Mr. Monroe's suggestion is a good one. The city must do something, | Whe prices we are now paying are exorbitant and the only real method of i, relief to my mind seems to be in municipal ownership.” . Just what the Board of Estimate will do with the recommendation ‘of Commissioner Monroe that the city reject all the bids of the various hy lighting companies is uncertain. If the board should decide to do this the city would be probably placed in the position of private consumers and ss might be compelled by the lighting companies to pay for city lighting at oy consumers’ rates.” TRAORDINARY !"’ GASPS TRUST OFFICIAL, When President Gawtry, of the Consolidated Gas Company, was seen by an Evening World reporter to-day he had just finished reading | Commissioner Monroe's letter to the Board of Estimate and Apportion- “Of course we will issue a statement,” he said, “Such extraordinary figures as are presented in Commissioner Monroe's letter demand a reply, ‘The figures are really extraordinary; but before the Commissioner can fe eiwered by our company we must make an investigation, But we make reply. When? Oh, | can’t just say,” and President Gawtry, eating Somnath more about “extraordinary figures indeed,” returned Cas edi declined in the market to-day, Consolidated G; 34 a potas and Brooklyn Union 5 points, m a6 dropped » MONROE GIVES PROOF OF Pils BIG PAGE TING TRUST. TTT vn CITY OFFICIALS WHO AGREE IT IS TIME TO CURB GAS MONOPOLY AND WILL HELP PETITION THE LEGISLATURE TO OBTAIN RELIEF.|| 4#0W NEW YORK IS ROBBED AND. COMPTROLLER GROUT‘, CITY OFFICIALS DENOUNCE THE HOLD-UP METHODS PRACTISED BY THE GAS COMBINATION, — I will assume the responsibility of having legis- lation passed in favor of an electric light plant to be owned by the city and which will supply the streets and municipal buildings with light. , —MAYOR LOW. I heartily favor the immediate steps for the ac- quisition by the city of its own lighting plant. We have taken the first step. There is no retreat now. —PRESIDENT C. V. FORNES, ofthe Board of Aldermen; formal consolidation the territory has been apportioned. In the Borough of Manhattan both illuminants have been absorbed by ‘a single corporation, and there is no rivalry even between producers of gas and producers of electricity. “The Consolidated Gas Company of New York controls all the gan and electric light facilities in the Borough of Manhattan, as well as all gas and electric light facilities in more important sections of the Borough of the Bronx. As far as gaslight i» concerned, the price remain fixed, but all improvement in the utilization of gas In retarded. “A wide extension’of street lamps provided with incandescent mantles Is greatly needed. By this method the same consumption of gas produces three times the illumination given by the open burner. It costs Chicago $2.40 a year additional for a lamp with an incandescent mantle. It costs the Borough of Manhattan $11.50 additional, and for the same improvement we must pay $15 a year in Brooklyn. HIGH BIDS ALL, AROUND. “The Consolidated Gas Company agrees to furnish the ordinary street lamp with open gas burner at $17.50 per year, and its bid for gas lamps with mantles is $29 per lamp per year. Neither the Standard Gas Light Company nor the New Amsterdam Gas Light Company (both controlled by the Con- solidated Gas Company) bids for incandescent gas lights. Both agree to furnish the ordinary gas lights for much less than $17.50—the Standard for $13.04 1-8 per lamp per year and the New Amsterdam for $12. “Their bids are for such lights as are or may be on the line or lines of their mafns. These comparatively low bids are induced bY restrictions in their charters; but the city is virtually prevented from getting the benefit of these lower bids as far as incandescent or mantle lights are concerned. If it is desired to substitute on a Standard or New Amsterdam lamp an incan- descent burner for the ordinary open burner, it is necessary to transfer the lamp from the mains, or, to speak more accurately, from the books of one of those companies to the books of the Consolidated Gas Company, paying, of course, the latter company’s price, “No independent gas company In any district has bid against another independent gas company; no independent electric Night company has bid against another independent electric light company. In the entire five bor- oughs there have been no opposing bidders for supplying the same class of light to the same district—unless we may consider the Welsbach Company, which has put in a bid, bu* higher than that of the Consolidated Gas Com- pany, for its own Welsbach mantle lights, WANTS CHARTER AMENDED. “I therefore, recommend that Section 530 of the Charter be so amended that the Commissioner of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity may make such contracts without public bidding and for a term of not exceeding three years when authorized by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. amencinents he passed the Board of Estimate and Apportionment can con- sider all questions relating to the cost of manufacture and distribution of the suppiles under consideration and contracts fair to both parties can be en- tered into, “I have called your attention to the fact that the mantle or incandescent g + light is a great improvement over the old open burner. Electricity is tho illuminant, however, of the greatest importance for public lighting. Sixty per cent. of our entire appropriation for this year, or about $2,000,000, will be expended for electric lights, “In the borough of Manhattan the price bid for a 2,000-candle-power lamp is $146. The price in Brooklyn for a 1,200-candle-power lamp Is $124.50, 41 have secured from sixty-eight cities throughout the country the prices paid to the variouns electri@light companies for supplying these cliles with 2,000-candle-power lam d the average price ts $59.60, In twenty-three other cities using 1,200-candle-power lamps the aver- age price ts $81.08. “The combination which now imposes exorbitant prices upon New York is formidable, but to my mind its strength is nore apparent than real. “On Dee, 24, 1887, Chicago placed in operation its first municipal lighting station, and on Dec, 24 last completed its fifteenth year of municipal owner- ship and operation of an electric lighting system. For the year 1902 the tot: cost per lamp of 2,000 candle power per year is stated by it to be $63.51. WHAT CHICAGO HAS DONE, “The city of Chicago alap publishes a repcrt showing al! that has been expended for construction and operation of its electric-light plant from 1887 to 1902, It has cost that city during sixteen years $3,400,663, The total amount rented electric lights would have cost Chicago for the corresponaing FOR ot only does SHIPWRECKED MEN IN PORT. Crevot Bark Ararat Lout on Cuban) Const Brought by Ward Lin Bapera | which arrived today Hayana, | brought nine shipwrecked peamen, The men were the crew of the Norwegian bark Ararat, which went ashore near Zaza, Cuba, Feb. 2%, and became 4 total joss. The Ararat was from Dela- goa Bay vie Barbadoes, for Jucaro,) Dr. Greene, $ 6 tL Ward line steamer from The MAYOR LOW. This is a matter that should have been taken up Jong ago. The city must throw off the yoke of the lighting monopoly and have its own lighting plant. —COMPTROLLER GROUT, The city should own its own lighting plant. It can supply its own light not only cheaper, but ata saving which in a few years would pay for the cost of the plant. The city now is in the grip of a huge monopoly, —COMMISSIONER ROBERT GRIER MONROE. period is $3,535,875. 1 do not know that Chicago gives us the most success- ful example of municipal lighting, but their statement does not involve in- tricate questions of bookkeeping. It does show that Chicago has earned the cost of its electric plant, which includes the cost of considerable subway construction, The plant at present provides 4,640 arc lamps of 2,000 candle Power. “Detroit has also a municipal plant, In a report dated June 30, 1902, the cost of a 2,000-candle-power lamp for Detroit is given at $63.82. “I believe that New York with its own plant could provide electric lighting for public uses at a cost much below what is now charged the city. Whether reasonable prices can be obtained from private companies or whether the city can with better resulta maintain and operate its own plant is for you to determine. 1 do, however, urge th:t legislation be immediately asked and that you be given the power to establish and maintain an electric plant fer street lighting In case later you decide that it Is in the interest of the public so to do. “R. G. MONROE,” MORE COMPLAINTS FROM VICTIMS OF THE GAS TRUST. Overcharged consumers of gas in this elty have by no means exhausted their complaints. In the letters herewith pud- lished are mentioned several new forms of oppresrion. Just One Example. To the Editor of The Evening World: Will you please print this complaint in your paper as a good example of st | can't help yourself, What are you going to do about It?" I the lied to the State Inspector for jus nd paid the Uttle charge of > cents and was told by his repre- sentative the matter would have “prompt attention.” Several days passed, when New Amsterdam Gas Company's caine and removed the meter, re- placiog it with a new one, which regis- tered still more than the old one had doe, notwithstanding we used fewer burners than previously. After a few days more I recetved a [printed slip from the Btate Inspector stating he had tested my meter and found it perfectly correct. ere is no use applying to the State Inspector when he allows the gas com- robbery of the Gas Trust?, January bill $8.40, whereas February's bill was $1, M 8. Nothing But Complainta, To the BAitor of The Bvening World: ‘The gas company says \t receives mw complaints, does It? Every one of the many people I have recently spoken to| obbed il has eae Pan saapiea ie Bi pany to handle the meter before he does last few months, There's no doubt in{ 9nd then sanctions thelr charges. my mind that the gas company officials hat good Is ie Beate Insyector under and directors are robbing the people) ‘hese conditions? JUSTICE. mercilessly. You will be entitled to great commendation If you can put a chéck upon the gas corporations’ cu- pidity'and criminality. I have thought that the gas question ought to be made an issue in the next and succeeding campaigns and candidates compelled to declare thembelves in favor-of legislation A REMARKABLE CASE, BROOKLYN LADY Cured of Consumption After She Was Given Up to Die. If these’ The Best Medicine Is “M. bysician ip Broek iy orderea, me ug MiB ena PRL for say 50 cent gas and official super- roy ie ary Perret ye vision until some substantial relief ts had. Keep up the good work. G. H. B. How Would You Like Itt To the Editor of The Evening World: How would you like to be the gas man? Most people think he has a light Job because he wears & uniform and ts always out in the open air, but it an't such a nice job as it Is cracked up to be. Now, here are a few facts con- cerning the indexers, The indexer’s salury a few years ago was 8.00 a day, but today they get from $1.60 to a day. When the indexer gets his book It] [) will take in both sides of One Hundred and 1 pl ebicees became ong thought that 1 could “That terrible weakness jeraduatiy cue year 1 9p, The up in bed with pillows, boild hardly breathe. My lubes pained me. {raised from my lungs qua itities of mi streaked with blood, ahd my tamtly ‘cave Iie upto rr. Mandel, the noted French spectali rh 1 dake the. Koch IBsstatos Investigated wnd found that the cures were genuine, I therefore began to breathe into hy Hugs thove ‘ealing, olly vapors of the and ‘Thirteenth street from Fitth ave- | {oh treatment, nue to the Bast River, He is allowed ull] “In ‘ess than thirty days I could see an 215 P. M. to finish, He has to look at | improvement. In three mouthe T was as 500 metres, Lf he can't finish his book | ™' I will prove to any one who will write me on Ume he will guess at the indexes vay Ft sat, Kook doctors at just to get in on time, for If he Is late he gets laid off for @ week, AN OLD GAS MAN te Inspection « Farce. To the Hditor of The By I, for one, am thankful you are put- ting forth efforts to check the unjust oharges of the gas companies, It te time this matter ts righted. Finding my bills have nearly doubied while using (he same number of burners and no incre; in size of Ups, pealed to the New Amsterdam pany for redress, and was told: fork, cured me whem | everything elée tallea’® s Ss. WM MR ‘192 President St Brooke. EURALGI CAN BE 4 GRIP (init TIMETRIED $ VALUE PROVED | NERVURA PRI 1S OTHER CITIES SAVE MON: WHAT NEW YORK PAYS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS, Open are lamps, 2,000 candle power ... Inclosed arc lamps, direct current, low tendion Inclosed arc lamps, 900 candle power - Double arc lamps of 900 candle power WHAT OTHER CITIES PAY FOR SIMILAR LIGHTS, Chicago, 2,000 candle power. Detroit, 2,000 candle power... Allegheny, Pa.; 2,000 candle power. Jacksonville Fi: 000 candle power - Evansville, Ind.; 2,000 candle power --.. WHAT IT COSTS NEW YORK FOR GAS, Open-flame burner, 22 candle power (in Manhattan) Other boroughs, 20 to 25 candle power Mantle burners (Manhattan) Double mantle burners (Manhattan) Other ‘boroughs, mantle burners, single WHAT OTHER CITIES PAY FOR GAS, Wilmington, Del. (lowest) - t. .4 Haven, Conn. (highest) - Average price for ten cities, Including repairs - A Half Million People Wrote Me and Got Well. And I took the entire risk. They simply gave me their addresses and stated which book they needed, That is all I ask of you. I will then mail you an order on your druggist for six bottles Dr. Shoop’s Restorative. You may take it a month on trial. If it succeeds, the cost is $5.50. If it fails, I will ry ihe druggist myself. And your mere word shall de- cide I have the records of nearly 550,000 sick ones who heve recepted that offer. They were all difficult cases—some’ of them desperate. People don’t write me about mild attacks. They buy one or two bottles, get well, and I never hear from them. Yet 39 out of each 40 who secured those gix tottles paid for them gladly, because they were cured. Cn Jan. 11, 1908, I published in the Chicago epere names and addresses of one thousand people in that aly alone whom I had cured of chronic diseases in just past six months. I need not tell you that no other remedy ever made @ record like that. And no other remedy for chronic diseases could be supplied on an offer like mine, without ruining the man who made it. The reason for it all is that my Restorative strengthens ~ the inside nerves. It brings back the power that operates ' the vital organs. It is the result of my lifetime's work. Common treatments fail because they alm to doctor the organ that {s weak, and such results at best are but tem= \/\- porary, A coy organ must have more nerve Beaded just as a weak engine must have more steam. that is all tat Is needed—all that medicine can do. i CUT OUT THIS COUPON. For we all resolve to send for something, but ar fet. Mark the book desired and mail this wi Your name and address Dr. Shoop, Box 740, Racine, Wis. Book 4 for Women. Book 5 for Men (sealed). Book 6 on Rheumatism. Book 1 on Dyepeosis, Book 2 on the rt. Book 3 on the Kidneys. Mild fooass not chronic, are aften cured by one or two bottles. At all Druggists. Read To-Day’s Home FOR TO-MORROW’S HOUSE-HUNTING, THE WORLD: SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1908. Fomaied Ress w Lt Forided Ree t Lat cI a =F: . Ses