Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-11

Editor q ne Register:
WEILsBURG, W. Va, February l0-In
yesterdays paper noticed in the editorial
column some comments on Col White 5
bill, now pending in the lower House, asking
the privilege of piping gas from Wellsburg
to the city of Wheeling, that the following
language is used: "Fhe statement was
made that Hellsburg was literally saturated
with gas underground because of the de-
fectiye pipes and as consequence the town
had been deprived Of the benefits OF insur-
snce, most of the companies having csn-
celled their policies Allow me to say
that whoever made such an assertion IS at
fault in every single instance. In the trSt
place the gas is carried here to the mills
factories aud houses In metal pipes perfectly
solid and tight; the gas companies defy any.
one TO find lFs& IN their pipes. as now
arranged excepting from such slight occur
rences as q valve or bolt becoming little
loose, such as might occur to manufactured
gas, steam or water as used for manutsctur-
ing purposes.
It is true that when the pipes were first
laid, owing 10 the ground not being proper
~ leVeled, some of the pipes sprung little,
which caused further plumbing. Since that
time no trouble has been had. We will also
say right here that no well informed citizen
will say that the recent alarms OF IRE
here were caused BY anything but extreme
carelessness, and such as would more
likely occur from the use Of gasoline or car,
bon oil, and in fact more property was de-
stroyed By IRE in the Ave years preceding
the gas than since that time. Some men
ton is also made Of the manner Of using
the Gas in East Liverpool
and New Cumberland. In the
former town the gas is carried through the
town in the old pipes laid by former COM
~pAny for manufactured gas. The amount
so used is, however, so small, compared to
Wellsburg, that no reasonable comparison
coald be made. New Cumberland has no
regular gas lines, and therefore peed not be
mentioned.
The plan alluded to erecting escapes
| suppose is intended to mean the escape
valves which are used by the company here
located in different parts OF the town, and
whenever 9 certain amount Of pressure IS
reached sufficient to 90 the work in the
mills the rest is allowed to escape through
these valves.
In regard to the town beng deprived OF
insurance BY any company on account OF the
gas, is equally false, absurd and unjust. 10
talking with DR.. Cooper and other agents
here. they informed me that not
a single policy has been voided
in their company on that account The
only move made here was one approved OF
by the Citizens Insurance Company and
everybody, to prevent carelessness in people
who are not accustomed TO its use. en-
close You one of the printed clauses attach ed
TO insurance policies which explains itself:
Permission TO use natural gas to- taei,
heating and lighting purposes, but 1t IS IN
derstOOd and agreed, and made part OF this
policy, that no cooking stove be LETT burning
during the night, or heating stove crate,
or gas let in any house, office, or store
room, in the absence of some person or per-
sons capable Of looking after or taking care
of the same.
In regard to the value Of this gas it is
only necessary to say that some OF the
wealthiest manufacturers of our city are
interested in wells here, and are doing all
in their power to get the advantage OF It
for manufacturing purposes; hence the OBJ
iect of Col. Whites bill Property here has
increased $50 per cent. in three years, on
account of this newly developed power, and
seems to hold its own.
Respectfully,
ClrIzES.