The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-01-05

present cost of similar property and
works would be II purchased and erected
and laid entirely new. From the fact
that D large portion Of the works have
been In rse twenty yeafs, we think they
have d6teriOrated in value and will re-
Quirc considerable repairs ina short time.
The price asked for the real estate, In
Guiding buildings. and excluding the ma.
Chinery and works, we think largely in
excess Of their real value. II tho proper
ty OF the company, excluding their fran
chises, is us valuable US now claimed by
It, great injustice has been done TO the
city and It's tax payers In the valuation oil
Improperly ofthe Company for taxation,
which amounts In the aggregate to the
sum of $102, 275 only, including stock on
hands, cIedits, &c, This Is u large dill:
ference between the taxable and real
value Of the property II the latter Is not
now greatly oyeF:estlmated by the Com.
tiil regard to tic second proposition Of
the Company, 1t will be seen that whilst
the proposed price Is reduced to the Citi.
zens from s. 80 to 50 80, per thousand
cubic feet, or from So 10 to s. SO II paid
ut the office within ten days. the price 10
the city is raised from 81 '09 for the gus
consumed in the street lamps, and from
81 50 for that consumed in the market
houses and city buildings present con-
tract price, to Sc 81 to 50 Sous to the
citizen. According to the estimates Of
the Gas Company, the city consumes one
eighth Of the entire amount furnished by
the Company, or 1000 900 cubic feet by
the city and IA 100000 cubic feet by the
citizen per annum; and they therefore
claim that in the aggregate they propose
q considerable reduction from present
prices; but an acceptance Of their propo-
sitiOn would add TO the expense Of the
city $4,000 per annum, and greater
sum It the consumption Is increased, as II
probably will be. BY the chatter Of the
gas company, It Is required to furnish gus
10 the city ut n rate not exceeding that
charged 10 the cltyof Pittsburgh by the
Gas Company Of that city, the lamps,
posts and meters 10 be furnished by the
city. Your Committee arc informed the
city Of Pittsburgh docs not pay to It's gus
company over one dollar per thousand
cubic feet. '-s y -''
Your Committee have examined the
reports OF the prices d gus charged in
muny cities anil towns ii other States,
and although In general the price Is high.
or than that proposed by the Company,
YET considering tEelow price Of coal and
the large number of consumers. for the
quantity Of pipe required, owing to the
compact manner in which our city Is
bnilt up, we arc Of the opinion Tint bet
ter quality Of gus than lias heretofore been
distributed to ns Gun be furnished to the
citizens ut u lower rate than now pro.
posed 10 the city at the present rates, and
yield q iair profit on the capihl invested,
estimating the present works ri their real
value. 'l1' l'...
We arc therefore Of the opinion that the
said propositions oftllo Gas Company
should not be accepted by the city; and
that the interest Oi tho city and
Of the citizens will DO promoted by the
purchase Of the property Of the Gus Com.
I,any ut such price as may be determined
by arbitrators, In accordance with the
17th section of the COmpanys charter.
We therefore recommend the adoption oil
tho following resolutions: ~.
HeAOlrei, That the proposition OF the
Wheeling Gas Company to sell their
property to tho city NJ the prices asked
for the same, be rejected.
ResoIptd, That the city Of Wheeling will
not accede to the proposition made blythe
Wheeling Gas Company, dated December
90, 1870, proposing to furnish gus to the
city and IFS citizens for ten years from and
after January l, 1871 ut the price asked for
the same. 1u.I
heWlral, That the time llascome when
tho city OfWheeling has tho right, which
1t now demands, To purchase the lots or
grounds, works, apparatus, fixtures and
property OF the Wheeling Gas Company
ut the, price to be fixed, AscetNined ind
determined by tho award in writing OF
three persons to he chosen, tho first by
the directors of said Company, the second
by this Council, md the third by the 1.-TWO
thus chosen, in accordance with the 18th
section Of the net Of the legislature Of Vir.
ginia, passed March 18Th, 1850, entitled
ian act TO incorporate tho Wheeling Gas
Company" and TINT the Council is now
ready and DESTROYS TO proceed TO the up.
pOintmcnt ofarbitrators in TIC manner
provided by saidact, and the Mayor Of
the city is directed to have copies OF this
and the foregoing resolutions served upon
said Company and request saia Company
to appoint the first arbitrator as proyid.
ed by their charter .....
Resolreti, That the Committee. on III.
nance are hereby instructed tu prepare or
cause TO be prepared by counsel, an ordi.
nance toncgotiate loan To my for tho
gus works and to create Il sinking fund for
The redemption Of tho same, and to secure
the payment OF the principal and interest
thereon, upon the revenue 10 be derived
from such works, ind that they report tho
tbnrcrf "iTfl1G ''Im5fT ATil q
Respectfully submitted, 4
G. W. b. ALLISON, Chairman.