The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-17


Neither did predict that the present
price OF gas could not be maintained, BuI
there were many citizens who thought thai
the debt incurred by the purchase Of the
works should have been paid of before
making reduction TO the present price
In that opinion | may have concuTTed.
Mr.. Dillon states that should have de
manded access 10 and examined the book
in the Gas Office. When aud by whom
was l instructed or authorized TO MAKE
such examination? 1t was no part Of my
duty. Those examinations were made b.
} the proper committee OF Council each
quarter, when the quarterly accounts anC
the books Of the Gas office were examined
and reported on by the committee,
would here inquire how many quarterly
accounts showing receipts and s&pendi
lures have been presented for exGmina
ton and report by the present Gas Trus
tees2
Ihayealways, notwithstanding the many
duties ! had to perform, but from Rll Of
which duties, except the keeping Of the
mems time, Mr.. Dillon has been relieved
furnished every report and all the inlur
nation within my own sphere that was
called for. For instance: By order Of the
Trustees furnished to Mr., A. ]. Sweeney
q statement OF the cost, in given time, Of
making and storing gas in the holders
And regarding that statement, would say,
In passing, that o reference to 1t would
show that there is no need for maintaining
the present price Of gas in this city,
There are other prices and charges made
now, respecting which 1t might be well
TO enquire II they are transacted by the
authority OF Council. The charge for lay
ing service pipe is nearly double what II
was in my time. Three service pipes have
been laid for the Hess block on Market
street. The charge for two Of these Ia 50 90
each, for the third one 81 %. As the line
OF pipe from the Curbstone 10 inside the
cellar wall measures II feet inches the
price, to make 50 90, must be 20 cents per
foot, and in accordance with o resolution,
adopted by Council on the 10Th Of June,
1873, the gas consumer was to he charged
only for the pipe across the sidewalk TO
the meter, and that charge was 10 cents
per foot, Mr.. Hess's bill don't specify the
number Of feet or the rate per foot. They
read: "For fee for laying service pipe,
&c" l have always specified the number
Of feet and the rate per foot, and II Ia the
invarlable rule to do so, Gas companies
don't charge their customers for readiust.
Ing stockcop boxes on the sidewalk, that
have been disturbed by freezing Of the
ground or by the curbstone getting out oil
position. IL the gas consumer responsible
for thisP II not, why 10 1t charged for in
WheelingP
1t ig not true that Mr.. Coverdale super.
intended the work done here in 1872, nor
was the work done In 1876 executed under
the supervision OF Mr.. Otto Bender. de
come to the works one day to get the di.
mensons Of the building | had prepared
for the new apparatus, long before that ap.
paratus was received In Wheeling, So
much for Mr.. Dlllon's VeraCity.
The crack In the centre seal that Mr..
Dillon has referred to Is but slight, being
In one Of the interior compartments OF the
instrument 1t was not noticed until after
had passed some gas. II is easy, with q
little skill, 10 fix 1t 80 that It will not i'm.
pair the action oil the centre seal.
Mr.. Dillon boasts that he "inyented
method for transferring tar by the use Of
steam." Probably he may apply for q pat
ent. There Is no invention" about 1t,
That method was used some years ago al
a gas works In England, but had 10 be
abandoned owing 10 the injurious effect
oil the steam on the tar. They lost, for
the time being, their market for the tar,
and had TO return TO what Mr.. Dillon OF
his scribe calls the primitive method" OF
pumping. This method, Mr.. Dillon states,
was accomplished at an expenditure OF
labor which the value Of the tar would
not justify" A laboring man will pump
about 40 barrels Of tar day, which at the
lowest price, 66 to 70 cents per barreb will
amount 10 500 or $50, less one day 3 wages,
say 81 90. | would have the present man.
agement understand that employed etIeo.
tive laboring men.
Regarding economy, Mr.. Dillon "be.
lieveB the affairs OF the works are as well
managed as ever those Of any gas works
were" Well, 1t is said that the brick
some hundreds OF thoussnds-for the new
tank were purchased for S. thousand,
when they might have been purchased at
81 so, viii Mr.. Dillon state what was the
price, and was that an economical trans.
aOtion2 ..,
Mr.. Dillon, / am informed, Is not re.
CURED to perform any Office duties at the
Works, save keeping an account Of the
employees time, all the other Office bust.
ness having In consequence, 10 be attend.
ed to at the Gas Office, which go increased
the duties there that the services o. all ad.
ditional clerk we're rendered necessary. |
would inquire OF Mr.. Dillon how much
economy there is In that arrangement. Is
1t not rather expensiveT 49,,
Mr.. Dillon charged me with "astonish.
Ing ignorance" Ia he capable Of judging
OF any mans ignorance or inteligenCe2
How much OF the latter quality he pos.
sesses let the following gem from his pen
determine. 1t Ia appended to q Bill dated
October 14sh, 1870, for ST. So, signed
Jointly by Mr.. Dillon and by Inc, aud is
on file as voucher at the gas Office.
"Cennot tel ony thing back oil Sept. 18th.
From then 10 date is correct, Oct. 18th.
Trimble sails he will swair to the former
part OF this Bill. D. Dillon"
Mr.. Dillon has failed to answer my In.
uuiry: Why the ten or twelve men were
discharged from the Works-two OF them,
NJ. OKeeffe and Z. Flaherty, holding ex.
cellent testimonials OF character signed by
Mr.. Dillon himself, day or two after their
discharge. Will he please state the cause
over his own name. care not on which
side Of the page Mr.. Dillon may put his
signature. Respectfully,
ARTHUR BROWNE.
Wheeling, Feb. IL. 1881.
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