The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-25
THE CITIZENS MEMORIAL
In Connection With tho Increase In Price
Made by the W. VIZ. Gas Co.

Gil last evening by the committee ap
pointed at a meeting OF citizens held
some time since to protest against the
increase in rates made by the Natura,
Gas Company OF West Virginia, to pre-
pare and secure the passage by Council
Of an ordinance regulating the gas com
pany in it's charges. Tho ordinance
heretofore printed, accompanied this
prayer for it's passase.
To III Honor he Ndyor, Pre,idrN. ami Gendc1AtT
Of the CRy Council
GENTLEMES:-The undersigned, aeon.
mittee appointed Mt a meeting Of thu
natural gas consumers Of this city, on
the 9th ult., respectfully present for
your action an ordinance controlling the
price OF coal, bread and natural gas.
II is believed by the committee that
every member OF your honorable body
is cognizant OF the fact that the Natural
Gas Company OF West Virginia has in
creased the price OF natural gas to house.
holders twenty per cent. Consequent
upon this action, the patrons OF the Gas
Company held meeting on the 9th u't.,
and appointed committee, instruCting
the same TO present an ordinance TO the
City Council, controlling the Gas Com
pany-looking to the protection Of the
citizens. In accordance Herewith, the
committee respectfully present for your
consideration and action an ordinance
controlling tho price Of coal, bread and
natural gus, or fixing prices for these
several articles, beyond which no one
shall DO allowed to go. .rs ...
In presenting the ordinance for your
action, many reasons can be advanced
in its support on the one side, and th2
shortcomings OF the corporation that it
is designed TO control can be shown on
tho other. A few will be selected that
may be salient in your minds-even ut
the risk OF being considered tedious.
1t is believed by the committee, de-
duced from investigation, that there is
concerted action among the several gas
companies occupying the Ohio valley, to
advance the price OF that commodity,
existing rates being considered too low
BY them. This conclusion OF the com
panies may arise from what they con-
bider q general low charge, Or from de-
parture from a uniform rate in some
instances, and a desire to make charges
uniformly high. The committee would
here state that it is generally recognized
that the gas companies sustain to the
public the relation Of common carriers
and il they undertake to discriminate
against any OF their patrons, they vii!
do 80 at the risk OF being compelled to
pay damages TO the persons disCrimina-
ted against.
The committee is advised that the
company named is thus discriminating.
While the public cannot object to the
companies agreeing or combining to
eaualize prices, objection can reasonably
be made to their entering into combina-
ton to wiring from the consumers Of gus
the highest figure obtainable. Indeed,
any such attempt must end in failure,
since tho people are in no mood 10 sub
nit to corporate extortion, tho low price
OF coal being an important factor in de-
termining this. More than month ago,
as already stated, meeting OF the
patrons OF the gas company was held
the proceeding OF that meeting, includ-
ing The proposed form Of ordinance, was
made common property by publication
in the daily papers, thus offering an
opening for, indeed inviting al answer
from, the gas company, but that coEpor-
alton, true to its record here so far, has
chosen to remain silent, and has refrain
ed from giving the public any Informs
ton or presenting its side Of the ques-
ton, practically saying TO its patrons,
ave, the management, don't intend to
give YOU any information or enter into
AIRY explanation Gs to why we make this
advance. You may take the gus at the
increased price We have fixed on it, or
you can let it alone. You and the City
Council are powerless to do anything in
the matter by way OF redress, and we
propOse TO manage our own business
This, in face OF the heavy outlay made
by the citizens in piping their houses
probably more than $75,O00-and I'M
pliOdly contract with them, is little
short OF an insult in addition 10 being
IN imposition on them, as well as de-
tiance OF the City Council-by the way,
not the first time this aforementioned
feature has been shown, as an inspection
Of the streets of the city will reveal
And in support OF this statement gen
tIeman connected with the Board o.
Public Works declared that $9o,00t
would barely cover the damage done &c
the'strsets and alleys by the pipe line'
resulting from noncompliance on tht
part OF this and the other. company will
tue terms and spirit OF the ordinances
or contracts.
TO another point in this connection ]
is desired that the attention OF Councl
be called: The Trustees OF the Cit!
Gas Works applied to this company to
gas to heat the retorts. This was re
fused by the company, chiefly on The
ground that it was for manufacturing
purposes, while Mt the same time th'
company was supplying gas for the boil
ers OF the works. You may draw you
own conclusions as to the value oftheiI
reasons for the refusal. There ar
very few persons, II any, in this cit!
who would have gone to the ex
peuse Of pipiug their houses, il it hat
been understood that the company fur
nishing the gas would ut this early day
demand an increase OF twenty per cen
on the price then offered and no guar
antee given as to a sufficient supply
with the probability Of another increas
in the near future, il not controlled a
this time, =,
The committee think it well to stat
that special inducements in the way o
reduced rates have been offered by tn
gus company to parties disposed to re
fuse continuing the use Of gas on accoun
OF the increasedprice-thus fayoriug til
opposition to the charges, and securing
| their good will at the expense OF thos
who quietly yield and pay the increase
demands, being y plain departure tror
uniformity in price, and in treatment
persons. Whether this be violation Q
contracts or not, you will be able TO dc
termine. In considering this subject
one thing will prominently present il
self, to.wit: How will the passage c
this ordinance affect the obligation o
the part Of the Natural Gas Company
West Virginia to supply the city buiIc
ings with gas for heating purposes
The answer is, that this supply bein
given as consideration for the excIuly
right IN the atr,aNts and ALLEYS ot0 III