Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-18
THE PROPOSED GOBBLE
Of tho Streets and Alleys by a
Private Corporation
For Gas Heating Purposes-couneiPs Duty
in the Premises What Is Thought
Generally Of the Proposed
Monopoly.

DR.. r. W. Hazlett, Henry K. List, Nor
gan L. OFT, J. n. Vance and Alfred Paul,
have secured a certificate Of incorporation
from the Secretary Of State, for the purpose
of supplying the citizens of Wheeling with
natural gas for heating purposes. The be-
lief seems to be well founded that this
city is built on a vast reservoir OF natural
gas sufficient to furnish all the light and
fuel required by all the people in Wheel
Jug. So strong is this belief that several OF
the large manufacturing establishments
have, at their own risk, arranged TO make
practical tests Of the matter. With the ex-
oeriments now in operation or soon to be
put in operation by private parties, the
public will SCOT know b is in store for
Us in this q
If the gas is found in large qua ntities,
coal may be virtually dispensed with for
heating purposes, and q cleaner and more
economical fuel may be supplied to the
house as well as TO the iron mill and the
glass factory. Large man ufacturing con-
Germs will tap the reservoir OF gas Tor
themselves, while companies will be found
10 supply private residences and small CON-
Germs. Competition will spring up in the
business as it has in the coal business, this
iron business, and in other industries, un-
ill the consumer will reap the advantages
that are naturally his.
Bearing this in mind the City Council
will net be in haste to grant this new com,
PAW any erclusire privileges. As well
might the Council have granted, many
wears ago, the e~rcLusire right TO a single
company to supply the entire city with
its coal.
In addition TO denying an exclusive right,
the Council never should allow the streets
and alleys of the city to be turned over 10 a
private company TO be torn up at will
without receiving a Just compensation
therefor.
As an application will be made to the
City Council for some extraordinary privi-
leges in this behalf, we regard it as our
duty to call the attention OF the members
10 the matter at this time. Our advice TO
members Of Council, when approached on
this subject, is: Think twice before you
commit yourselves"
Wheeling people enjoy to the full the
American blessing OF freedom OF speech and
liberty of thought. The candor with which
municipal matters are discussed is COM
~mendable, and the drift Of public opinion
is not difficult to discuss. Among those
who yesterday knew Of the proposed gas.
heating scheme a lively discussion took
place. The practicability of the plan, as
well as its probable reception by Council,
were freely talked OF, and some of the ex-
pressions were picked up by the REGisrER
scribe in his rounds. 4 gentleman not in.
frequently found in the lobby of Council
said.
"a spade might as we'll be cal. ed a spade,
snl this thing is q monopoly. Ii there Is
my one tendency manifested in political
economy all over this country, il is the
anti.monopoly tendency. | believe both
Of the great political parties will embody
an ~anti.monopoly plank in their platforms
next year. Our Council has had its Till OF
exclusive grants and will not, | think. be
in q hurry to make another"
as this promises to be, should be en-
couraged?' asked another.
Not at the expense OF everybody else
Private corporations, fostered by exclusive
rights, soon become giant mouopolleS, anu
now, when this gas furOre threatens to rev.
olutiOnize industrial matters, Council can
not be too careful how it acts. | think
Council should never, in the interest OF a
private company, shut off competition by
an exclusive grant. Here is a company,
started by wealthy men, for the purpose OF
making money. II is no philanthropic
scheme. They know there is money in it,
and by an exclusive grant they may be
sure there is. Wellsburg has been COB.
bled, Martins Ferry has been gObbled, and
now they want to gObole Wheeling aud
Bellaire. But Council should never do it.
Give everybody a chance, with a fair field
and no fayors.'
Bat they say they won't start unless
Council makes the concession they ask.
arr A.. Ia. - E.,g,h1n nnl q ha ~ NADIA
profitable, they or some other corporation
will undertake it and without attemp ting
to hog it. There are yet great possibilities
in the gas question, and the end Is not yet.
/ really do not believe council has the
right to grant them the exclusive use Of
the streets, and could be restrained by in.
junction, but at any rate | have no idea
they will do it. 1t is a gobDle OF the first
water
Another gentleman said he thought the
exclusive grant 10 the street railway com
pany and its exemption from taxation
made as large a dose as Wheeling cared to
swallow for some time. He believed in
fostering industries backed by home CAPT.
tai, but not TO the extent OF giving them
the exclusive right 10 tear up the streets
and alleys without compensation.
Exclusive rights" said another, ARE
wrong in principle and Council should
never lend itself to making m~onOpOlieS
There is talk of limiting the prices to be
charged by this new corporation, but it
would be like limiting the old gas Company
70 81 per thousand for gas that could be
made for % cents
One of the projectors Of the ga' helti lg
scheme said in defense of the demand:
This is an immense undertaking an in-
wolves, besides the OUTLAY of a greatamount
of money no little risk. IL inyOl yes the
cost of ground, OF experimental boring. of
tests, Of miles of gas pipe and laying Of it.
besides involving the securing Of sufficient
subscribers, at a moderate figure, to MAKE
il pay. Then the gas supply may sud
denly become exhausted. after all the ex.
pense has Deen incurred. This is important
TO the city and deserves as well as requires
a fostering grant. Without protection it
cannot be undertaken