The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-03-31
Ghe GHteuigenter,
once: Nos. ao and n ROurtesnth street
The Gas QnestIOn.

the city in 1873 in the purchase Of the Ga
Works has been paid oF-a debt ot $76r
50O-the question comes up once more q
to the disposal OF the revenues aCcruinl
from the manufacture and sale oil gas BY
the city 10 gas consumers, 1t is to be rec
olleCtedthRt not only have the Works paIc
of the debt represented by the purchase
price, but also quite as much more, in
cnrred in the extension oil mains to the
Island and other parts OF the city. The
'ity also owes the Works large amount
rRas consumed in the city lamps and
ubliC buildings. On the lst Of January
$40, she owed the worksSll ,s49 50, and on
Ae lat oi. January, 1880, this debt had in
creased to $40, l44 6S, and on the lst eI
january, 1881, it had been still further in
creased to $50, 1924.
J So that the Works have not only paid
for themselves, but have carried the cost
OF all extensions and repairs in addition,
and also supplied the city with free gas
for several years, This has been done al
the expense OF gas consumers. They
have footed all these bills, They have,
in effect, paid bonus for tho privilege oI
using gas.
We know that it is customary to say,
ON the part Of some people who believe
that the Gas Works should be made a
source oI revenue to the city, that gas con.
sumers have been proated by the City's
purchase OF the Works, and the sub.
sequsnt reductions in the price OF gas,
This is true. They have been pro6ted,
and well they might be, alter having for
so many years paid an extortionate price
for gas, reaching as high at one period as
So so per 900 cubic feet, The answer 10
this position is very plain. The city
stipulated for the right to purchase the
Works at the end Of twenty years from
1851. This stipulation was made In the
interest and for the protection OF the
public, and not as q prospective speCulR.
tion on the part OF the city.
Had the city alter having purchased the
Works levied tax on the general public
for the payment Of the bonds, or had she
levied tax for the forty odd thousand
expended in extensions, or for the pay.
ment OF the gas consumed by the city,
there would be force in the plea for max.
ing the Works source Of revenue to the
general treasury. But nothing OF this
kind has been done. Instead Of that the
consumers oigss have been taxed at every
step OF the way to pay the purchase
money, to pay for all extensions and re.
pairs, and for the gas consumed by the
city. Therefore they, and they alone,
have footed the bill, and therefore they
are at length, now that the bonds have all
beon paid, the extensions made, and tho
city handsomely requited with free gas,
entitled to such reduction as will impose
on them the lightest possible tax In the
future.
1t was lately estimated by one Of the
Gas Trustees that At one dollar per thou
sand tho Works could be run at a profit.
There ia no doubt oi this fact in the minds
of those who are in a position to know
whereof they speak. At one dollar-1O
per cent of for prompt payment-the
Works would accumulate all the money
necessary to keep them In effective con-
dition. Why then should higher price
be chSrged7 To charge higher price Is
to debar portion Of the people from the
use OF gaB. Tho cheaper gas is furnished
the larger and more general will bc It's
consumption. In this way tho danger
from oil lamps will be imeasurably over.
come. This is an important consideration
OF itself, Rnd'should have itB weight with
Council.
Gas consumers should not be subjected
10 double taxation. They pay taxes on
their property the same as other people,
for the benefit OF The general treasury, and
why should they be forced to light the
city free at their own expense, seeing that
the whole public Is thereby benefited, and
in addition pay bonus into the treasury
for the miscellaneous use OF the city. This
is really Furnishing one class Of citizens
for availing themselves OF the privilege ol
using a light that conduces in every way
to the public safety and the public In
terssEs.