Two of the London gas monopolies have gone out of
town, the Imperial Company to West Ham, and the Chartered Gas Com- pany to Beeton, near the northern outfall of the drainage. This company is spending about £700,000 on its new works, but so enormous will be the saving in ordinary expenditure that it is believed its profits will be doubled. The difference is just so much clear loss to the citizens of London, who would have had it all had the Companies been bought up last year, and the monopoly handed over to the only body which ought to have it, the rate- payers themselves. In the City gas from 1st January will be sold at 3s. per 1,000 feet, and must be of 16-candle power, but outside the Companies may charge As they like within the old limits. One serious squeeze of the Metropolitan Members, and we might have 22-candle gas, that is, gas without sulphur, at 3s. ; but London electors have not energy even for that.
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