People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1897 — municipal Ownership in Belfast. [ARTICLE]

municipal Ownership in Belfast.

Washington, Mar. 9.—The city of Belfast, Ireland, has been making a large profit on the gas works controlled by it Last year’s profit was £67,377, ($336000). It has been decided to lower the cost to consumers, although the present price is ridiculously low, according to American standards. Hereafter gas will be sold for 60c per 1,000 ft. instead of 66c, and there will be a discount of from 5 to 20 per ct. dependent upon the amount consumed; all this, too with coal at $3.09 a ton.

When a dozen of eggs or a pound of high grade butter equal or exceed in value a bushel of corn, as they have for several weeks past, the farmer’s wife arises to a position of business import that is alarming to the head of the family, who sees he gets more for a case of eggs than he does for a load of corn. He feels this statfe of affairs more when he reflects that eggs are practically nearly all profit while his corn is raised at very little, if any profit, if his labor is counted. Alas! has it come to this, that there is more yearly profit in an humble, industrious, neglected fowl than in one of those rich, broad acres? And just notice how the tiller of the soil raises his hand in horror when his good wife asks fora dollar’s worth of lumber to shelter her chickens, but notice also that he will buy a whole raft of it to build cribs for corn that brings 16 or 17 cents a bushel. We know it is true on many farms this year the wife’s butter, eggs and poultry money has saved the family from real financial embarrassment. This department of the farm is at present attended by the women, the men being busy with other affairs v or perhaps thinking it too trifling a thing for them. It might be a good thing for them to give some time and assistance to these always profitable things. —Democrat Journal, Winnemac.

The big Chicago merchants unite in displaying an elaborate appeal to all the people of the country to unite in diffusing “confidence” throughout the land. A trick as old as confidence games themselves, pledging prosperity conditional on confidence, then appealing to the tribute payers to furnish the confidence. This is an age of “con” men, “con” games, “con” politics, and “con” politicians. It cannot exempt the machinery of any party from partaking in its sham pretension. Confidence! Confidence, and homeless idle victims.