Two years ago a foreigner by the name of Little first started electric lights in the Settlement. He began with five or six Jamps as an experiment; then gradually the three Settlements adopted them, a1 not less than seventy are now large th electric lighting, now very much used to thi mode of lighting, Before the electric lights came into vogue, the gas, with which the Settlements were wont to be lighted, was certainly far brighter than the lights which the Chinese have been accustomed to use from an times till now. But since the electric were introduced, the yas has been eclipse mits brightness, Moreover thoelectri are placed higher than gas, and the rays of course shine to a greater distance and over broader space, while the gas could tis row i ight only to a radius of eighty or a hu foot. For that reason some enterprising Chinese intended to introduce a few electric lamps into the city to' light the streets, because where a place is thickly populated there muar be lights for the people's use at night, Street lamps are not only for the pedest benefit, but are good defences against thieves. Since Settlements have been lit with electric lig pick-pockets have not dared to show their skill within hundreds of feet of people also attribute the of thieving cases to electric lights, hough auch opi be believed in their entirety, within the bounds of reason. Lut us yo back a little, When it was first proposed to have electric lights, some apprehen were felt leat electricity mill or attract the natural Huid during storm. Many indeed doubters of the new introduction, for the simple reason that such an invention had been unheard of since the creation of the world, Besides, some accidents did occur from the use of electric lights in foreign countries, and the possi turally looked only to the dark side of anything good. At that time Mr, Little tried in vain to set forth the benefits and the harmlessness of electric lighting uow the lights have flourished three years, all the dangers apprehended have failed to make their appearance, and the dangers not thought of were not protruded into public notice. The only dissatisfaction they have afforded to the people is by flickering, Sometimes the lights are bright and sume. timos dark; this indeed is the only fault one can tind with the electric lights, The people now at last begin to perceive how true were Me. Little's words, and how beuelicial are the lights. To our great astonishment we har that the Municipal Council will stop electric lighting in the Settlement at the end of June, and will not continue the contract with. the Shanghai Electric Light Company (xs ix accordance with the decision of the ratepayers.) We first took it to be that the Shanghai Electric Company on account of business reverses desired to discontinue electric lighting of its own accord. We hear, however, that these are the real facts of the case. "The Gas Com-riy, finding that the introduction of electric lights into the -Settlements decreased that Company's profit, and that (were electric lights allowed to exist) they would ultimately sweep gas entirely off the Settlements, took the opportunity to tigate the ratepayers to cease having the streets lighted with electric lamps. These indeed are the rumours afloat concerning of the discontinuance of electric lighting. It seems strange that the rate-payors should have been moved by the representations of the Gas Company 'Phot the Gas Company entertains a great deal of antipathy towards the Electric Company, no one can doubt, When electric lighting was frst brought before the ratepayers' meeting, it was decided to keep both kinds of lighting in the Settlement, showing to 1 1y feelings of partiality, because the ratepayers were fully ric lights would give good that the Gas Company, which has been in existence for over twenty years and made a good deal of money, could well afford to share the profit with its new rival. People, too, considered the ratepayers' decision to bea just one. How is it, then, we uow hear of the proposed discontinuance of the electric lights? In our opi we discover the electric ights to be superior to gas in many ts, The electric lights are brighter gan escapes park causes an explosion; for laying or fixing gas pipes, the ground must be dug up, to the great inconvenience of pedestrians, while the smell of a leaking pipe is something unbearable. The electric lights are free from all such evils, As gas has existed for a long period of years, it would not be fair to abolish it all at once the fairest way that could be arranged is to have both electric and yas lights, Moreover the Gas Company in winding up their annual accounts always make a very good profit, so even if they were to permit the streets of the Settlement to be lighted entirely with electric lights, yet that Company would have a splendid income. Why should they wi to hold ao tenaciously to their monopoly? Why should payors listen to their representa ti remember while the electric lights were in their infancy in the Settlements, people already thought that gas was losing its bright often when the electric lights were not lit pedestrians would express much wonder and regret. And now that the lights have been in use for thr great loss in them, Though gas lamps in be increased to a great extent, the afreets in the Settlement never can be ay brightly lit as under electricity. The ratepayers as a rule generally follow the lead of popular feeling; so in the present case it behoves them to keep both gas and electric lights in the Ssttlements, The Chinese proverb has it: Since it is started let no one dare to abolish it." May the coming meeting of the ratepayers ponder well on the subject, and permit electric lights to continue to shed their lustre Pexvect Hzatra Restonep Wiraovt Mepicixe, Poxeine, ox &xeexss. 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