The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-07-14

.peEteueed hands, a. gas'ptpe should AL
VBys be laid. While this drawback eI-
lsts Il 10 eounteFbAlapced BY the TACT that
In storage capacity and some other 70.
spects the works are prepared Tor and
adapted TO q larger consumption
From what has been said the Trustees
think that II your honorable body hx q,
price for Raa such % will afford 4 margin
on present consumption Of 5000, that
price (yiE: 81 90 per 1000 feet less the
usual ten per cent diacount) car be main.
tanned. As has been indicated, 1t will
probably be necessary Of times 10 borrow
money for short periods for purposes of
investment, butths profits, starting at this
amount $4,000 and increasing as they
doubtless will with the consumption,
may, We feel sure, be relied upon to wipe
the debts out, ss the experience OF every
gas company has been that the consump-
ton Of gas increases in faster ratio (much
faster ordinarily than the investment
which 10 necessary to provide for 1t, and
We may reasonably expect the profits In
this case TO increase In at least As rapid
ratio as the consumption does, II your
honorable body contemplateB, as has
been suggested, placing the care and ex.
pense oil the oil lamps upon this depart
msnt, the Trustees would recommend that
the price Of gas be not reduced to the fig
uTeG above suggested, 9 o the expense Ol
the oil lamps would leave 60 narrow Z
margin Of profit that the works might be
placed by Q slight ~iuCtuation In prices oI
material and lab1rin the position Of OPP
erAlipg alta loss or Of least be seriously
embarrassed for iunds to do necessary
work. We cannot believe, however, thai
the Council will c~ouutenauce Q project
involving 90 much injustice to Q class o.
citizens, (gas consumers) who, BY sheil
esrnipgs, have purchased Tor the city THU
splendid property, the gas works, .upor
which she has been receiving Q DIVIDEND
oiot $1,000 to 5000 per year without {
dollar Of investment
The trustees respectfully suggest tina
your honorable body appoint . treasurer
Tor the funds Of the Gas Works will
duties similar to those which have beer
60 satisfactorily performed by the Com
mlssioneTB OF the Gas Loan. This plAI
would involve the monthly settlements
which have been Q satisfactory feature o
the previous arrangement, aud would SO
cure the separation OF the gas tunda from
the other city money and their available
lily when needed. II the price Of gas i
reduced, II 10 not likely that any largl
fund will accumulate In this officer
hands, but an arrangement could be pro
yidsd that II such q fortunate eircumstanc
should occur, the money could be inveate'
temporarily for the benefit Of the work
until 1t might be needed for improve
ments-such action being taken by tn
treasurer with the advice and consent Q
the Council Committee on Finance. II
) conclusion, the trustees respectfully sub
nit their opinion, that the true principlt
/. on which the Gas Works should be run !
to tx the price Of gas from time 10 time, q
such rates as will barely pay for Ito manu-
faCturs and provide for the necessary ex
tensions and improvements. Such an ~
rangement properly carried out will IeavI
J but small balances OF money on hand O
any time, and II money for improve
ments has 10 be borrowed az any time, an
~tiCipRting Receipts, the officers will econo
mizs more closely 10 order TO get out o
debt. The trustees have the honor Il
. recommend that the price OF gas be re
/ duced TO one dollar per 1000 cubic leel
, subject 10 q discount oil ten per cent II tn
bill be paid at the Gas office on or beior,
/, the tenth day Of the month In which 1t be
comes due. This recommendation, to
gether with that Of the appointment oil
} treasured, we respectfully request you
honorable body to refer to the COMMITTEE
on Ordinances, with instructions to repoI
such amendments TO existing ordinance
. 10 may be necessary 10 carry them Int
effect g. BAIRD.
:. GEO, K. WHEAT,
81 WIZ. ELLINdHAM.
) Trustees Of the Gas Works Of the City c
! Wheeling.