Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-10
THE NEWSLETTER CRITICISED.
An Enquiry Into Its Motives for Espousing
the High Pressure In the Natural Gas
MaIn

For seven years the Neics- Letter has been
the special champion of labor, and has
pointed with pride to its having been Sc
lected as the official organ Of all the labor
organizations in this section. Sunday S
issue announced in its first editorial col
umn that one of the standard bearers OF
labor organization which has contended for
more than a year with some of our
manufacturers, and which though
slightly disfigured is still in the ring, !"
had been associated with that paper, and
assured its readers that the Ners-Ldter
would be more active than ever in defence
of the rights Of labor. The remainder of
this same page was almost entirely devoted
to appeals To the laboring MEN to bring q
pressure on Council to compel the granting
of Il special and dangerous privilege to the
Natural Gas Company.
The miners, stablemen, drivers, laborers
and tiremen who will be thrown
out of work are asked to assist
in getting grant for this gas company
which will ruin them.
These men compose large class of un-
skilled labor, which is the first to feel the
effects of reduction in wages and should
be objects of special attention To labor
paper. In place of deyoting any time to
their interests we find, by his own state
ments, that the new Editor had, ut his own
expense, (?) yisited thirteen different places
in Pennsylvania where gas was used, and
had found il TO be right that the highest pres
sure should be allowed the Manufacturers
company here-not only doe: he advocate
this in the paper but at the labor meeting
Sunday afternoon he and his friends log
rolled some resolutions through calling on
Council to reject the resolutions about
pressure now before it, A committee ap-
pointed to visit Council is composed in
part of one of the Neirs- Letter staff and an
employe of the Vice President of the Gas
Company. This is mentioned here 10 show
how unbrokcn the ring is which seems TO
be betraying unskilled labor.
The editor does seem to acknowledge
that there is danger from high pressure
when he mentions that it is right that q
good and sufficient indemnity bond be
taken before the gas is turned into the
mains; this is done i'll all places visited by
him. If not thought impertincnt let us
ask if the Editor is not a little inconsistent
in suggesting the providing of remedy
for a danger he asserts does not or cannot
exist In its zeal in serving its new
masters the Capitalists, the NGirs- Letter
charges those members of Council who
oppose high pressure, with having been
bought with stock in another gas company,
and that their opposition is inspired by the
desire to get large dividends. This does
not agree with the rumors on the streets,
which say that not only some COunc!lmcn
and other officials of the city have stock in
the Manufacturers Gas Company, but that
one of our editors has been rendered u
liberal amount of it to secure the support
of his paper. The manner OF giving
out its work by this gas company
shows that it has no sympathy with labor.
We agree with the NcrS.Lcttr in its de-
mand that proper bond bc demanded be-
fore the gas is turned into the mains. But
i'm the Manufacturers Gas Co.'S case, Ol
whom will it be demanded Is there such
a Gas Company? Who are its stockholders?
How much capital stock has been taken
and paid for and To what extent IL this
company liable for damages?
To say rs some COuncilmen do, "Oh! it's
all right; this company is composed of our
own people and they will do what is
right is all rubbish. The people liable
to be damaged by explosions are our own
people. and Councils first duty Is 10 pro-
tect them. Should an explosion occur hc
city is frst hdbic, but il would be unjust Ia
permit company Of capitalists to Use
our streets TO enrich themselves and then
impose any damages resulting from their
traffic in the streets, on the property OF the
persons injured. If the Manufacturer =
Gas Co. is not the proper one 10 give bond,
is the Wheeling Gas Co. the one? That
company lays the gas main tothe northern
line of the city, across TO Martins Ferry,
Bridgeport and Bellairc, and will continue
the main laid through Wheeling from
Forty y-cighth street to Benwood and Bel
laire, thus making n complete circuit.
BY some hOcus pOcus rs soon M
the company reaches the city 10 disappears
and is not again seen until il turns up at
Forty-eighth street. II is the Wheeling
Gas Company at all places but the one il Is
named for.
The President Of the Wheeling Gas Com
pany is the contractor who lays the mains
in our streets, but he endeayOrs TO prevent
his company from any liability if he fails
to do his work right.
This matter should bc Thoroughly looked
into by Council. No appeal instigntcd 10y
a company Of foreigners should bc
allowed 10 interfere with the demanding
from the Wheeling Gas Company good
and sufficient bond 10 save the city harm
less.
That company is the real owners Of the
mains now being laid in our streets. The
game of NOW you see us and now you
don't. :" though backed by portion Of our
press and some other people, is too danger
Gus for the city's interests. If this Wheel.
ing Gas Company is permitted TO use our
streets free of charge rs part Of its right oi
way 10 Benwo0d and Bellaire, is not a
guarantee against damages as little ~ II
could give?
At its last meeting the highest pressure
permitted By Council First Branchl was
twenty pounds. If this action is adhered
TO and when the gas is turned into the
mains il is found that the pressure is not
sufficient to supply our our" people 1t can
be increased. II more pressure il needed
20 reach BenwoOd, then IL should not bt
granted. The gas can be car
nd across from BelIaire th'
same way it is carried ovei
to Martins Ferry and no damage result
to us from extra pressure.
In conclusion, can the Eeirs-Left.T give
a single reason which will justify it as
labor organ in advocating this goS
monopoly? Is unskilled labor to be bene
fited by il? Will any laborer's wages be in
creased by the introduction Of gaP vii
not the profits of capital be largely in
creased by the use Of gas and the chance
in any. future contests between labor and
capital be largely in favor Of capital b,
reason of it's increased wealth? Will thi'
effort Of the Nens-Lsfter be accepted by
labor as an honest one in its behalf o.
will it not be thought to have very
suspicious smell Of gas about il?
LABORER.
The Yacht Race.
NEW BEDFORD, Mass, August 9.-Th'
yachts arrived in the following order: Pur
itan, first; Mentauk, second; Priscilla
.k;-J. n.,anvsy fnnrth and making tn