The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-24
Are Boards Of control Tco1omIeal.

Editors IntellIgeucer.
The ward politicians, office seekers, and
placemen who compose the little anti.
commission party which is striving hard tt
defeat the peoples plan for more efficient
administration Of the city's business in
tefests as involved in her water works anI
streets and alleys departments, are endeay,
oring to raise public sentiment in oppo
sition to the commission project by making
Misrepresentation respecting the manner
in which the business of tho gas works wa.
attended to during the time OF the gus trus,
tees whose term recently expired. The
Interpretations referred to are made by
those wire pullers" and demagogues not
in public speeches nor in the public prints
wherea refutation would speedily follow
their publication, but are circulated
on what is known as the "still. hunt
plan; that is, the yarns are told privately
and seem to have been varied carefully to
suit the intelligence, information and pre-.
JUDGES Of the person addressed, Now, the
writer has acquired some information
about the work Of the late trustees, appre.
ctates the honesty Of their intentions, and
can and will state facts which will show
that the interests Of the city did not suffer
intheir hands. The correctness OF his asser.
tons where he refers to figures can be
proved by reference to the books OF the
Gas Works.
During the eight years nearly of the
frst trustees the profits tinCiuding interest
paid were in round numbers S225 600
During the two fiscal years which CORES.
pond closest to the term OF the late trustees
the profits were nearly S53O00. During tho
first named period the prices Of Gus were
Huccessively So 50 forfour years, then s. 10
then 81 81; but during the two YEAR, NJ
the last trustees it was only 81 20, or 81 0S
net. So it seems that money was made
about as fast at the low price as at the
higher ones. OF course this was done M
greater relative disadvantage than tho nro.
portion Of the prices indicates, becanse
the margin Of tho profits decreases in n
taster ratio than the price does. Assuming
/. 90 cents as the cost OF gas then the 81 %
price would only give one-fourth tho pro-
ut per thousand that these S0price would
When the price OF gas was reduced 10
81 20 II was believed by many shrewd per.
sons that price could not be maintained
and II was not the increased consumption
(Which was in small ratio to the reductions
In price and marHins) which made reduc.
ton success, but the Jealous action Of the
Trustees, who instituted a most rigid ocon.
ony, inspected the necessity OF Mi az.
spenditurCs and So far as in them Law, saw
that no man got dollar OF the gas,gorkS,
money without giving full equivalent for
Il. Every bill against the gas works was
read and acted upon by the full board
praise and cenSure were given freely 10 Inc
officers accordingly as they deserved either.
good rules Of working and systems Of az.
counting were devised, and an effort was
made 10 make every employe labor as
faithfully for the interests Of the concern as
hit belonged to him. No person, interest
OF clique was deferred to or favored on 40.
connt OF politics, personal influence or In.
fiuence with Council. And what was the
fesnlt2 The story is told in the low price
81 gas kept up, the considerable repairs
made, the improvements made and the
profits made.
Complainthas been made by the critics