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About The Alliance-independent. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1892-1894 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 1892)
1 THE ALLIANCE-INDEPENDENT. J x. PUBLIC OWNERSHIP. A Bostonlan Discovers Important Facts in an English Horoush. Charles E. Haven, a Boston Nation alist has recently relumed from Eng land, where he has been making some important investigations as to the practical working of public ownership in cities. The Evening Transcript prints an article written by Mr. Haven concerning the gas works at Aylcston, a suburb of Leicester. The Leicester gas company was incorporated ns a private company in 1821. The plant was transferred to the borough of Leicester in 1888, since which time there have been three reduction in the price of gas. Over $1,000,000 was paid for the good will of the com pany. This was the price paid for the false step taken in 1821. The profits realized during thirteen years of public ownership have been $1, -480,540. Of this sum over $77,000 per year has been paid into the treas ury of the borough. A sinking fund has been established, which will pay off the cap tai debt in 1934. Mr. Haven continues his account substan tially as follows: The price of gas to private indi viduals to-day is 5ft cents per 1, 000 cubic feet. A reduction in favor of the lighting committee of the borough has been allowed for many years, of 4 cents for every 1, 000 cubic feet; so that the corporation pays its own gas works 52 cents per 1. 000 feet. A meter is attached to street lights. Since 1878 the price of gas has been reduced 12 cents per 1,000 feet During the thirteen years the wages of the work men have been advanced 20 per cent. "The cost of coal at the work3 to day is $2.94 per ton, and the e.ctual cost to manufacture the gas ready for distribution is 26 cents per 1. 000 feet, and at 44 cents the corporation could have sold the gas without loss or prolit, so that 18 cents represents the cost of distribution and the interest on each 1. 000 feet. The corporation claim that by the year 1934 they will own their own magnificent gas works, clear of all in debtelness, and from sa!o of the resl duals will be able to furnish gas, if it is thought desirable, free. "Special attention, too, has been paid to the comfort of the workmen by the provision of moss rooms, lavatories and baths, also a reading and recreation room. This latter room is well provided with papers and magazines, and ha9 a library of several hundred volumes. During the winter months, entertainments, organized by the engineer, Mr. Alfred Colson. or members of his staff, con sisting of concerts, readings, lectures, dramatic entertainments, etc, are ffiven every fortnight. These are always well attended and appreciated, In connection with the works there are also a well organized band, a cricket club, an ambulance division and a sick and funeral allowance society. In 1885-86 residual works were erected in the southeasl corner of the land adjoining the gas works, and abutting on the river and canal. These works deal with the wholo of the tar and ammonical liquor obtained at these works, consisting of sulphate of ammonia, sulphur, crude naphtha, oil, carbolic acid, heavy naphtha, creosote, naphthalene, light green oil anthracene oil, anthracene and pitch. "In connection with the gas works, there is a fitting department in which some forty men are constantly em ployed. This was formerly tho busi ness of Mr. S. C. Robinson, engineer and manager previous to Mr. Colson, from whom it was transferred to tho corporation in 1882. It in no way enters into competition with the gas fitters or ironmongers of the town. A schedule of prices has been fixed by the gas committee, practically tho same as those charged by the best tradespeople in the town, and these . PUcej ,are rigidly adhered to, No THE AULTMAW & TAYLOR Machinery Company. V S OUR MOTTO: THE BEST IS THE CHEAPEST." F. L. LOOMIS, Manager, Omaha, Neb. WRITE FOR PRICES" work, under any circumstances, is tendered for, the department merely carrying out any order or work that may be entrusted to it In connec tion with it are two show rooms, in which are exhibited chandeliers, stoves, burners and other apparatus, all of the best of their several kinds. in no town in the kingdom have gas cooking stoves bo:ome more popular than in Leicester. The num ber of stoves on hire at present time is nearly ?, 00. and tho quantity of gas consumed by these and the private stoves amounts to at least 61. 000. 000 cubic feet per annum. The con sumption of gas by the stoves during the summer months is nearly 20 per cent, of the quantity consumed. Tho stoves give tho greatest satisfaction, and are increasing in popularity with all classes; in short, they are rapidly coming to bo looked upon as a necessity, and many architects make special provision for them in design ing new houses. They are placed in private residences at the request of owners or occupants free of charge, and kept in repair for. a nominal rental, the price ranging from 12 to 72 cents per quarter, according to tho size of the stove. "In the fitting department may also be found gas burners for fireplaces. Many houses are heated in this man ner, and as they can be lighted or ex tinguished in an instant, they are economical, and have the added ad vantage of being free from dust and dirt Many of the mantels about tho fireplaces are draped with tapestry, which can be done without fear of burning or so ling, and the effect is extremely pleasing. "The total population of the area of supply by the gas works is 180, COO, and the present number of consumers is 24,053. The corporation has re cently obtained a provisional order, empowering it to establish an electric light plant" A Substitute for Awnings. A cozy idea is that of hanging cur tains of blue denim on the sunny side of unsheltered verandas, a pair of cur tains between each post. These are looped back with bands of crimson cloth and seem more picturesque, while affording protection from the sun, limn awnings. Bags of scarlet cotton slurred up on drawstrings, overlaid with fish net and generous in size, are convenient receptacles for the fancy work and books, glasses, and things needful for the morning on tl. veranda. , She 'Will Impersonate tlie Pioneer. Miss Laura N. Ford, a Philadelphia authoress, has purchased ten acres of land on one of the highest summits of the Green mountains. The location is now a wilderness and Miss Ford is to impersonate the pioneer. The forest is to be cleared and a number of sum mer cottages will be built on the- sfte, to furnish a summer retreat for herself and friends, bhe has christened the place "Rome," because of the seven mountain pinnacles that tower above it It is six miles from the railway station of Dan by, Vt, and is a proached by a picturesque mou road. Made of a Packing1 Bo When a woman will s that was how the first b made of a packing box an a clever woman who cou suitable place for her be any other way. After ntted with shelves a she covered it hersel blue matting, edging' with the split half of a nailed in place with fan naiis. From a brass r she hung a curtain cloth, with a border of 'brown-eyed Susans," call them, which she wo In coarse long stitches. When Thimbles Came to England. Thimbles were scarcely known in England before the reign of James I., when John Loplin, a mechanic,' came over from Holland, bringing with him a stock of them. Finding very soon that the demand for his ware's was in creasing and would soon exhaust tho supply, he established a factory of thimbles in. Islington and invited over several of his countrymen to assist in working it. The success and profit of the undertaking were greatly beyontf his expectations. ' For Dainty Feet. ' . . No woman can make a mistake as to the correct footgear for the season. For everyday wear white canvas ties and boots are the style. They are tipped and trimmed with patent lea ther; white. canvas ties have also a white kid tip. Russet shoes and those of tan leather are also much worn. A novelty is the walking boot of Russian leather, with the uppers of white buck skin. Slippers of black suede are per fectly plain, save for the presence of some remarkable gilt buckles over th instei r r if 4 1 v. 1 1 " -