The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-20
FOR THE EDITOR
OFTHE .LEADER."
An Open Letter from the Gas
Trustees.
Editors of the Register

Trustees.
Editors of the Register.
Under the caption "The Gas Burden" 4"
the Sunday Leader has an editorial pre-.
terring some very heavy charges against
the officers of the gas works. The writer
of the above named article says that
after thorough inquiry, the conclusion Is
inevitable that there is fraud or ignorance
somewhere, and that the citizens OF
Wheeling want to know which it is.
That there is ignorance somewhere is
very evident, from the article itself; for
if the the writer were not ignorant on
the gas question he would not attack the
Commissioners, who have nothing to do
with the matter; but would address his
remarks to the Trustees of the gas works
The fact that he does not know the
difference between these two boards is
proof conclusive that his inquiries have
been exceeding superficial.
When men prefer charges against an
individual, or corporation the "o"tS
prsJandi' or burden of proof rests with
the accuser; for, according to all law,
every one is regarded rs innocent until
his guilt has been established by
conclusive testimony. Now what
proof has the writer advanced TO
establish his charges? Let us see what
his proofs are. He says that in hundreds
of instances the gas bills for Decem'
ber. 1875. are at least II third larger than
thcy were IN Necember. 1874, and in
MANY cases doubtless Notwithstanding
the fact that the price of gas has been re-
duced from $3.50 to $3.50 per thousand
feet. Now. such loose and vague testi-
mony would not be accepted in any court
of Justice in the United States. lie falls
to specify single case, taking merely the
loose statement of some dissatisfied CIT
izens who would, perhaps, complain II
the gas were given them for nothing, be-
cause the trustees had failed to put orna-
mental chandeliers with patent burners
into their houses at the cItys expense.
If the writer of the aforesaid article
wishes to establish his charges, he must
make very different investigation from
that which he Processes to have made.
He must calculate the Increased pressure
produced by the addition OF II inch
main to the 8 inch main previously used j
he must bring up number of cases In
which an accurate calculation mas
been made, properly certified, OF how
many hours the parties burned their gas
IN December, 1874, and how many hours
the same parties burned 1t IN December
1875; be must, moreover, ascertain now
MANY additional burners have been used
by the aforesaid parties; nor must he for
get to inquire in how many instances
feet burners have been substituted for 4
or 5 feet burners. He must recollect
that il is common IN our country for peo-
ple to use everything more lavishly
when they can get it little cheaper, often
making the aggregate outlay much
greater than when the article WAS more
extensive. Take, for instance, the pos.
tsge in the United States; compare the
revenue from that source at the present
time with the same when we paid ten
cents for a letter. There are perhaps
hundred letters written now where there
were five under the old law. The same
holds good in regard to gas; individuals
will burn twice ms much when 1t is ~ ~
per | 600 feet, as they did when 1t when
Il was $3.50, and then complain because
il cost little more. really believe IL
the city were to furnish gas tor nothing
there would be loud comp ANTS
IN regard to ITS quantity and quality
Let the writer Of the article under con-
sidarat;on first enlighten his own iSno-
rance as to everything pertaining to the
workings of the gas office, and thsn II nc
Ands ANYTHING wrong and will call upon
the properly constituted authorities IN q
polite and gentlemsnly manner, can
assure him that no efforts Will be spared
20 do Justice to all concerned. A little
common sense would teach the gentleman
that the otficerso of the gas works can nave
no possible interest IN detrauding the
community, for the money paid Tor gas
does not go into their pockets rs any one
NAV see for himself if he Will take the
trouble to inspect the books, which arc
at all times open to those desiring IN
formation. The meters can also be ex-
amined by the inmates OF the houses, ana
any man with half an ource OF brains can
learn hew TO read gas meter In ten
minutes. The vague and unsubstant'ai
charges contained in that article are
altogether unworthy of notice, and
reply was entirely unnecessary.
Nevertheless the Trustees are anxious
that the people should be satisfied, and
We have volunteered this reply IN order
70 let the community know that we de-
sire TO see justice done ii.
xny civil inquiry, made in gentle
manly manner to the properly consn
tuted authorities will meet with q
prompt and, 1 hope, satisfactory response.
JUsTICE.