Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-25
EXCLUSIVE GRANT
Knocked In the Head by Council,
Last Might.
The Trustees Authorized to Drill-That
Exclusive Ordinance introduced
and Referred, But Its End
Is Evident.

Without even touching ii, Council put
quietus on the exclusive grant to the gas
heating company. Both branches voted
to authorize the gas trustees to sink a well
for the purpose Of obtaining natural gas
to be used for lighting ndheating purposes.
1t is, therefore, impossible to give an err
ciusire grant to any one else. Council may
allow this new company or any other to
use the streets and alleys, but cannot per-
NIT them an ~e1cEusire grant. This settles
the monopoly.
THE TRUSTEES AUTHORIZED.
The Committee on Lights submitted a
report authorizing the gas trustees to sink
a we'll, as they had requested. The Second
Branch passed it without a dissenting vote.
In the First Branch, a motion 70 table was
defeated by a vote of 9 to 5. The report
was then adopted by the same vote, but
ChsirmaL Myles ruled that as the we'll in
VOWED an expenditure OF money, a two
third vote was necessary and, therefore,
decided il not carried. In this decision he
was manifestly wrong, as the expense does
not come from the city treasury. An ap-
neal from his decision was taken and it was
reversed. So the trustees are clothed with
authority to drill for natural gas and furn-
ish it to gas consumers for heating and
illuminating purposes.
THE EXCLUSIVE COMPANY COMES.
In the Second Branch, DR.. Jepson laid a
paper on the clerk'Sd desk and said:
without now committing myself to its
support, l offer this ordinance, as l have
been requested
1t proved to be an ordinance in relation
to the Wheeling Natural Gas Heating Com
psny, and there being no objection it was
read. Starting off with the title, it pro-
ceeds in the first section with
THE EXCLUSIVE GRANT.
That, subject to the restrictions and con.
di.iOns hereinafter contained, there is
granted to the Wheeling Natural Gas Heat.
ing Company, a corporation formed in and
incorporated under the laws OF the State OF
West Virginia, the exclusive right for the
period of years, to lay and maintain
pipes in and under the streets and alleys
of that part OF the city of Wheeling that
lies north Of Wheeling creek, fOc the pur-
pose Of conveying natural gas to be used
for heating purposes only.
FIRST CONDITION..
That within four months after the adop-
ton Of this ordinance, the company shall,
in good faith, proceed to drill for the natu-
raj gas.
SECOND CONDITION.
That when the company shall tear up
any street or alley to lay pipe. etc, it shall
re ay ami repair the Same 40 the S~Itisfac-
ton Of the Board Of PIb ic Works.
THIRD CONDITION.
That before any such digging shall be
done. the company SHALL give bond to in
Gcmnify the city from any loss, by reason
II suit, damage, etc, or by reason OF its
failure to comply with any condition in
this ordinance.
FOURTH CONDITION.
That the city will enact necessary laws
for the protection OF the company, deClar.
ing it unlawful to break or injure any OF
the pipes laid by the company or to shut
oil or turn on the gas, except as may be al
lowed by the compsny's agreement with
contractors.
FIFTH CONDITION.
The company shall not be entitled to the
right herein given, unless il shall, before
- time, file its own resolution, in
proper form and with seal and signature,
accepting this ordinance and agreeing to
all conditions and provisions.
Scarcely had the clerks melliluous voice
died out and the first reading of the ordi-
nance" was when
THE ATTACK BEGAN.
Mr.. Gavin opened the bail by moving
ilstly to reject the ordinance.
Mr.. Jspsun was as'Onished. lie was as
tOniShed INTO O repetition Of the exCldma
tion. He wds astOnished that a man
coming here To represent the city, in
terest should thus, On the first hasty read
ing, attempt To thus throttle a move that
might be fraught with much good. n
committee, at least, might examine IL.
Who could say what good was moi in this
plan? Was it not L furnish cheap iuel to
the poor AID Tighten their burdens? VA
were the men who were here asking this
privilege? Were they a pack OF scGnndrels,
who wanted 10 beat the city, Were they
not the b,st of the city? IN fact, the
doctor was 50 surprised he could not talk
much He would not commit himself,
now, but thought the ordinance at least
demanded attention and not to be thus
summarily kicked ont of Council.
Mr.. Gavin made a good point when he re.
piled: al made my motion, simply be.
cause we have
ALREADY GIVEN AUTHORITY
TO the gas trustees to bore for gas, how
therefore could an exclusive grant be given
to any corporation? However, he WAS
ready to let it go TO the committee, an1
would withdraw his resolution.
MIR. Haberieid made one OF his old time
speeches, in the course Of which he re
peated some OF DR.. Jepspn'S statements,
End was constantly CORE ted by the Third
warder. Mr.. Habertield objected to any
in,imation by DR.. JepSon that he, in op
posing this monopoly, was not subseTviug
The interests of his constituents. He knew
what the people wanted, aud he knee they
wanted no such franchise as this given to
any company.
Mfr. Stanley said the press Of the city had
so enlarged on this matter that everybody
understood it. For himself he was in favor
of publishing the ordinance in the daily
papers and Su~ pending action until every
body had read and understood just what
the company wanted.
From this on, the only discussion was
in relation to the proper com mittse 10
which the ordinance should be referred.
Some wanted Lights snd some Ordiaance3
and finally the latter prevailed. However,
it was easily to be seen that the Branch.
had a vote been taken, would quickly have
repOsed on the exclusive grant.
MORE GAS WELLS.