The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-17


coal fresh from the mines only costs
seven and half cents per bushel, lime,
eighteen cents per bushel, water rent,
nine hundred and fifty dollars per year;
a bushel Of coke can be sold for each
bushel OF coal carbonized by using
slack under the retorts, which costs bu'
two and three. fourth cents per 6ushel'
and a much less sum is required to Sc
cure the real estate on which to accom-
modate gas works; besides no fund is
required to be invested in coal. or in
real estate and buildings to store a sup
ply. The capital stock Of the Pitts
burgh Gas Company. is limited to six
hundred thousand dollars, but the stock
issued only amounts to four hundred
thousand dollars.
1.-The smount of coal carbonized dur
ing the current year ending June 30,
1869, was Asa, 429 bushels, and total
amount Of gas distributed, l44,91S,5 i5
cubic feet, being little more than half
the amount distributed in Cincinnati,
the greater part ofwhich was sold to
private customers at one dollar and
sixty cents per thousand, but no dis
count was allowed for prompt pay
ment.'
But, it may be said, there is no neces-
sity for bringing coal from abroad to
Wheeling, why not use Wheeling
coal2. We answer that we do: but the
coal found here requires more labor for
the manufacture of gas and yields less
quantity per bushel than the Pittsburgh
coal. One pound of Wheeling coal will
yield from 3 to 81 feet OF gas, while the
same quantity of Pittsburgh coal Yields
from 1 to ~ feet. Owing 20 the large
quantity OF sulphur in Wheeling coal,
the gas made from it requires much
more lime for publication than is re.
quired when Pittsburgh coal is used, and
one man can easily do the work for
which three are necessary when our
home coal is employed. The Wheeling
Gas Company has often used Pittsburgh
coal in fact the gas made during the
past month has been mainly from
that coal. 1t costs here about
Is cents per bushel, while Wheeling coal
costs about Q. 1t has generally been
the policy of the Company, however, to
purchase coal at home, preferring TO
spend the money here rather than send
it abroad.
As regards the q,,Ihy Of gas furnish.
ed, Notwithstanding oft repeated asser-
tons to the contrary, the gas consumed
in Wheeling is As pure and has as great
illuminating power as any MANUFACTURED
in the United States. The defective
and insufficient light which is COM
planned OF here is not owing to impuri-
ty of the gas or negligence in its manu-.
iacture. 1t is due mainly, if not en-
tirelv, to the lack of sufficient pressure
at the Works. Every citizen has Oh
severved that when few jets are lighted,
the light is as clear and full as may be
desired; but when great number Of
jets are openel the supply OF gas at
each is comparatively less. This can
only be remedied by the construction
ola larger and heavier gasometer at
the Worke so as to afford the requisite
pressure, and perhaps the laying Of
larger mains in the princi pal streets.
These improvements the Company has
had in contemplation and they expected
to make them during the coming sum
mer. The improvements designed will
cost about $4,000.
The scheme into which few men are
trying to push the city will result, if
consummated, in keeping the price of
gas TO private consumers either at its
present figures or at so inconslderable
a reduction as will be scarcely apprec!a-
bic. In order to provide for the pay
ment OF interest upon its bonds; estab-
fish a sinking fund for. the redemption
OF the principal; light the streets
aud alleys and public buildings /;
make necessary repairs at the Gas
Works; extend the pipes and
be prepared 10 remedy what.
ever accident may occur (and this last
is no small item, as the Cincinnati Gas
Company can testity,) it will have to
sell gas at a higher price than 81 81
which is the net price contained in the
Gas Company's proposition. Is this
what the people desire? We are will
ing to continue the manufacture OF gas
at the price named; any less price will
not afford us fair remuneration for our
capital We have figured the matter
over as carefully as the editor OF the
Lnteifgencr has, and with probably a
little more knowledge Of the business
and the private affairs of the company
to guide us than he possesses, and that
is the result. We contend that we can
run the Works at less expense than the
city can, and any competent business
man will acknowledge the fact. Then,
if the motive OF the City Council is to
furnish cheaper gas 10 the people, why
not accept the proposition we have
made?
FAIR Play.