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ortion； because the only works and services undertaken by the Council were such as did not yield revenue。 Every public service capable of returning direct profit was in the hands of private companies； and the shares of the private companies were in the hands of the members of the Corporation； and the members of the Corporation were in the hands of the four most able and intellectual of their number； Councillors Sweater； Rushton； Didlum and Grinder； each of whom was a director of one or more of the numerous companies which battened on the town。
The Tramway Company； the Water Works Company； the Public Baths Company； the Winter Gardens Company； the Grand Hotel Company and numerous others。 There was； however； one Company in which Sweater； Rushton； Didlum and Grinder had no shares； and that was the Gas Company； the oldest and most flourishing of them all。 This institution had grown with the place； most of the original promoters were dead； and the greater number of the present shareholders were non…residents； although they lived on the town； they did not live in it。
The profits made by this Company were so great that； being prevented by law from paying a larger dividend than ten percent； they frequently found it a difficult matter to decide what to do with the money。 They paid the Directors and principal officials … themselves shareholders； of course … enormous salaries。 They built and furnished costly and luxurious offices and gave the rest to the shareholders in the form of Bonuses。
There was one way in which the Company might have used some of the profits： it might have granted shorter hours and higher wages to the workmen whose health was destroyed and whose lives were shortened by the terrible labour of the retort…houses and the limesheds； but of course none of the directors or shareholders ever thought of doing that。 It was not the business of the Company to concern itself about them。
Years ago； when it might have been done for a comparatively small amount； some hare…brained Socialists suggested that the town should buy the Gas Works； but the project was wrecked by the inhabitants； upon whom the mere mention of the word Socialist had the same effect that the sight of a red rag is popularly supposed to have on a bull。
Of course； even now it was still possible to buy out the Company； but it was supposed that it would cost so much that it was generally considered to be impracticable。
Although they declined to buy the Gas works； the people of Mugsborough had to buy the gas。 The amount paid by the municipality to the Company for the public lighting of the town loomed large in the accounts of the Council。 They managed to get some of their own back by imposing a duty of two shillings a ton upon coals imported into the Borough； but although it cost the Gas Works a lot of money for coal dues the Company in its turn got its own back by increasing the price of gas they sold to the inhabitants of the town。。。
End