Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-15
Want to UssNaturaI Gas for Fuel.

The following was read:
To the Trustees Of the Gas Works Of the city
Of Wheeling:
GENTLEMEN:-The undersigned man
uiacturers of the City of Wheeling respect
fully request that your honorable Board
| will secure from the city Council the pas
sage of an ordinance permitting us to use
natural Gas in our works as an illumination,
or in such parts thereof as such use can be
made without injury to the revenues of
your trust.
The city's gas, rs you ale doubtless
aware. is not used in many parts OF our
manufacturing establishments, being insult
fcient for the purpose of Illuminating,
while in such places the natural gas can be
used with great advantage to our business
without the slightest injury to the city.
We do not desire to bring the natural
gas into competition with the city's pro-
duct, and are willing TO suggest that the
ordinance shall contain provisions to pre-
vent such competition, such rs providing
that a permit he secured from your Board
before any natural gas company can fur.
nish gas rs an illumination to a manufac-
turcr, combining its use to the parts of the
w~Orksspecified in the permit, allowing no
permit 10 any ont except manufacturers,
and any other safeguard your experience
may dictate.
This was signed by the Belmont Nail
Company, Schmulbach Brewing Company,
La Belle Iron Works, Standard Axle
Works, Hobbs, Brockenier & Co., North
Wheeling Iron aud Nail Company, River
side Iron Works and A. J. Sweeney &Son.
This brought on quite n lively discuss
ion. Mr.. Harrell thought it was but the
entering step in a scheme which would
eventually destroy the value and useful
ness of the City Gas Works.
Mr.. Caldwell thought the matter ought
to be referred to the Board Of Gas Trus-
tees, which, being the natural guardian
of the Gas Works, could lie depended upon
to make q report which would fully pro-
tect the interests of the city.
Nh. Sweeney made a long argument in
favor of granting the prayer of the petit
TONERS. 1t was not designed to haye the
permit TO use natural gas interfere with
or enter into competition with the City
Gas Works. A better light than that al
fOrded by the city gas was absolutely nee
esSary to many manufactures, and the
natural gas filled the bill, and filled it
cheaply.
Mr.. Cruise thought great
caution should be exercised
in the matter. The scheme might be an
entering wedge of a very undesirable kind,
yet at the same time he was in favor Of
giving the petitioners a respectfully hear
ing.
Mr.. Harrell again took the floor. He
did not believe in carrying the manufac-
turers around on a chip. Who were they,
that they should be nurtured, and petted
and INDUCED? The scheme was a stepping
stone of n most perniciOus character, and if
encouraged, would come back to plague
the members.
Mr.. Scott made an earnest plea in behalf
of the petitioners.
Mr.. Pickett was strongly in favor Of re-
ferring the matter to the Board of Gas
Trustees.
The matter was so referred by an unani-
nous vote.
Taxation Of Railroad Property.
The following was received from the
City Solicitor:
Il beg leave to report to you, in reply
to a recent inquiry, that, in my opinion,
such parts of the Hempfeld railroad lots,
lying iii the square south of the Public
Building, as are not used for railroad pur-
poses, are liable to assessment for taxes by
the city officers. l am informed, how
ever, by the Attorney General of the State,
that all the lots in that square now belong
ing to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, have been assessed by the
State Board Of Public Works, and my in
formations that the assessment has placed
the value Ofthe property at such figures
that no advantage would come to the city
by any assessment which il could lawfully
make, at the usual rate Of valuation. /