The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-24
MIR, WHITAKER RESPONDS
To Col. George II, caldwell's card-Gas
Pressure Again,

MIR, WHITAKER REsFONpS
To Col. George II. oaldwell's card-Gas
Pressure Again.
To he Editor Of he IRtellgeHsr
slR;-No doubt the patient public have
grown tired Of the gas" controversy, and
hesitate to tax their iorbearauCe with
another epistle, yet cannot refrain from
the effort to correct some Of Mr., Caldwell's
statements, and like him, will endsayor to
make this my last.
Without thanks to any one but himself,
Mr., Caldwell has succeeded in placing
himself in a position that few men would
enjoy, and which from his efforts towards
extrlCation, It Is evident does not prove as
enjoyable as even he would desirei to d.
vert attention and cultivate sympathy he
starts out in his last by referring to ian
attack Indignantly and personally" by
interested parties" assertions in no wise
borne out by the facts, for no corespon,
dencs that / have read on this subject
contains half so much malignity as does
Mr., Caldwell's last Snd II will avail him
nothing to attempt To have 1t appear that
the controversy Is Of personal character
although unfortunately personal feeling
was brought into tho matter by Mr., Cald-
we'll alone, when he Cowardly availed him
self OF his position to prevent his
peers from balng heard on question OF
the gleatest interest to the entire Commu-
nifty, simply because they differed from
him and to satisfy his personal spleen; II
he has not been misrepresented, land 1t
can DO proven by reputable and unintor-
ested persons, as resp .Ctable and veraclous
as Mr.. Oaldwell) he declared his purpose
to prevent us from being heard on the
floor OF Council, and afterwards boosted
Of 1t, alleging, however, at the time that
II was owing TO the lateness Of the hour
and extreme heat, that he was induced to
make his objection Inconsistencies, TO
say tho least, but showing his perfect will
ingness to prostitute his position TO serve
his personal malice, and his forgetIulness
Of his responsibilities and duties as o pub
lie servant in his sudden and most re-.
markable anxiety to reach his little bed"
Much as early habits arc ConmendabIe
there are few persons holding public office
who are not willing to set aside their
sCruples In the performance OF their du'
ties, particularly where question OF the
greatest importance Is before them, inter-
eating not only one or two, but every In
terest in the city.
= n nj a
In the pockets of Mr., Brockpnier or my
self. We were not there az personal rep
resentatives, but as members OF corpora
tons, the one to bring and offer that great
boon "Gas" TO the public through q COM
peting line, tho other as users OF the
Gus" whose welfare, well doing and
prosperity go hand In hand with every In.
terest Of the city, employing hundreds Of
lRboring people whosO happiness and vel.
faro are part oil our own; we were not
aud are not now alone in this representa-.
ton, but nave behind US, and with US,
every material interest Of our little com.
munity; people all Of us, who take pride
In our work our town and our people and
who are unwilling to have the personal
spite OF o few, bar our way to the front, In
the severe strife aud competition OF the
world.
So far as know, aud I believe 1t a fact
not to be galnsaid, there has been no ef.
fort, desire or demand for "unllnited
PRESSURE" but the simple proposition that
the matter should be left open for future
action and decision, the necessities oil the
occasion in the mean time being fully
developed; this and nothing more was
asked In petition signed by Mr.. Brocku-
nler aud myself, not alone, but with some
Of our best, moot respected and most con-
sentative Cltizsns.
II 10 a well known fact that considerable
outlay Ia required in preparing for the use
Of the gas; pipes and tittingsarein position
ut no small cost, furnaces are radically
changed, the whole requiring time TO
change and reChange-let all this time and
money be apsnt, and what avail is 1t with.
out the gas? Hundreds OF workmen are
thrown idle for the time being, the mills,
factories and workshops are idle, and the
entire industries OF the community tenn.
pOrarily paralyzsd.
II We are to have gas we must have 1t in
sufficient volume, and II would be but the
volume Is, then legislate 1t.
very seriously question whether II has
been demonstrated that twenty pounds Is
sufficient, else why are fifty or sixty
pounds carried Ut certain lOcalitiesP In
none OF the correspondence that now
reGollect oil, has any mention been made
OF pressure, except 1t DO In certain mills
in Pittsburgh, and mono on pipe lines save
one, the largest yet known; II this infor-
nation has been 30 thoroughly sought Of
ter, why are We not told OF the pressure
III lines similar 10 our own
1f20 lbs. are sufficient, do not believe
any one desires more, but II not sufficient
and 1t be fixed by ordinance not 10 exceed
20 lbs. what are our manufacturers 10 do
with their works fitted for natural gas aud
mono to operate With wait for such OBJ.
as Mr.. Caldwell 10 remove
tho prohibition?
So far as money 10 my pocket or that OF
Mr.. BroCkunier may DO concerned, II any
there be, II Is not there from any effort or
aid from Mr.. Caldwell, or through any
questionable means, nor do we thrive on
or Of the exponse OF community, but are
dependent on our own efforts, and II we
and 1t necessary In defense Of our bust.
ness, our works and our people, 10 appear
before Council, II is not TO Mr.. Caldwell
we would appeal, and he plays q poor part |
when he attempts to gag" US, when We
have the temerity TO assert our rights.
Unjust question the gentleman'B asser.
ton that be has mo adverse Interest," II |
he hasn't, his actions have been most uu.
Tor they contradict his asSur.
anCes, and his efforts to divert attention
from himself TO others fall far short OF the
purpose and leave him still 10 q most TN.
enylable aud equivocal position.
The gentleman Is mlsinformed about
my having threatened" him with poll.
cal extinction Such threats would be on.
llrely useless, since he ig:aS politically OK.
tinCt "a a man can well be.
In conclusion II 10 not q question OF
Mr.. Fllnn's "sins OF omission and com.
mission" In Pittsburgh, whether he has