The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-11
THB NATURAL GAS RATES
To be Regulated in the Future
by a City Ordinance
AND ALSO BREAD AND COAL.
This is the recommendation of the
Citizens Committee, which Pre-
scnts to Public Meeting
nm Ordinance Draft.

The meeting Of consumers of natural
gas which assembled in the city police
court room Saturday night upon the call
Of the committee appointed May 90, to
hear that committees report, was at
tended largely by representative men.
Capt. G. j. Rawling, chairman Of the
committee, called the meeting to order,
and on his suggestion ex.Mayor j. w.
Grubb was made chairman. Mr.. Henry
b. Miller was chosen secretary. Capt.
Rawling read the report, which is ap-
pended:
THE Committees REPORT.
Wheeling, June s, 1883.
The committee appointed at the meet
ing OF tho natural gas consumers on the
23d ult. would respectfully report:
That the committee met the following
day wnen, after discussing the question,
the necessity OF consulting counsel be-
came plain to all. A subcommittee was
theretoreappointed, consisting OF Messrs.
Gutman, Moore and Rawling, whose
duty embraced the employment ofcoun-
sci, il possible Messrs. Hubbard and
Russell, to lay the whole matter before
them and advise with them as to our
action. After securing counsel named
a meeting was held and an investigation
made rs to the mode adopted in secur.
ing the ordinance from the City Council
blythe Natural Gas Company otWest Vir-
ginia, the terms OF the ordinance itself,
the compliance on the part OF the com
pany with the conditions therein named,
and the rights ofthe people under it, and
US to theCompOny's constituting itself the
sole Judge OF what these rights and privi-
legcs are. 1t was soon revealed that
there were many rumors current on the
street respecting the methods adopted ia
secure and make permanent the valua.
Bile franchise supposed to be possessed by
the company named, some with, Others
without, foundation. The committee,
however, is not prepared to advise any
action touching this point at this time
looking to the fnvaifdation OF the 0rdi-
nance itself, questionable as these
methods seem to have been.
1t was further ascertained that the
company has not fully complied in one,
il not more, particulars with the spirit
indeed the terms-of the ordinance but
MS counsel did not attach the importance
to these evasionsl or violations
OF the contract that probably
more careful scrutiny on their
part might justify and which would be
given provided n contest should follow
or issue be determined upon, these
points were for the present passed.
Early in the investigation the import
ance If not the necessity of ascertaiffing
the quantity OF gas consumed in the Or
binary CRATE in given length OF time
became apparent. A suitable place was
therefore selected, n fire place with CRATE
was built and attachments made with
meter for measurement. After fair
trial OF two or three hours several times
during the day for three days it was dis
covered, us was ut first feared, that ow-
ing to the want of regulator, accuracy
could not be arrived ut and the result
was not conclusive.
In this connection, however, it may
be stated that u test with meter and
Nlcrrel's regulator has been made in AL
legheny. And taking the price fixed by
The gas company there for heating the
buildingin which the test was made, it
was found it was greatly in excess OF the
amount OF gas actually consumed at the
price per Thousand feet, rs stated was
charged by the company there; and,
indeed, in excess OF the price which the
company is limited TO here. After sew
eral meetings OF the committee it was
concluded that to secure data for the
meeting it was necessary to send one OF
the committee to neighboring cities to
obtain the prices ruling there, which was
done accordingly. 1t was found that
the prices heretofore charged in Pitts
burgh were from to 10 per cent lower
than has been charged here; but upon
heexpiation OF contracts consumersd dis
coverthat an increased price is demanded,
running from 40 to 60 per cent, or an aver
age Of 50per entadvancc. Very closeIn-
spection is the rule there, and the rooms
or space heated governs the charge or
materially affects it, regardless Of the
number OF fires. Much complaint has
been made by parties here using the
81 AlAOAG Vi AAIAbllk -
house generally recognized us one OF the
best methods for ecOnOmiZing heat yet
adopted, and much used for this reason.
It was ascertained that the inspectors in
Pittsburgh regard this heater as n great
fuel saver, but the company charge for
its heating uses, notwithstanding is, il
it heats two rooms two fires are charged
for. From rs to so per cent OF this
amount per annum that is charged is
paid during the six cold months-thc
remainder during the othcrsix. Anum.
Der OF people in Pittsburgh have return
ed to the use OF coal, and when present
contracts expire many more propose to
follow, as they deem the price fixed by
the company an imposition.
In Allegheny, where great dissatisfaC-
ton prevails, the rate heretofore charged,
owing chiefly to the fact that there were
three companies operating there and
competing for the business, has been
about One-half the price that has
been charged here, but now for
charging purposes the three companies
are practically one, and it follows that
the days of cheap gas there are number
ed. The increase ranges all the way.
from 10 per cent to l25 per Cent-there
10 be lack Of uniformity in
tho increase, owing probably to the fact
That former competition being keen re.
suited in q cutting Of prices, which now
the companies propose toremedy by max
ingthempniformly high. Asthe old con.
tracts expire the citizens arc confronted
with this great increase, and the cost to
them hereafter will be about the same MS
IN Pittsburgh.
The City Council OF Allegheny has
taken the question in hand, and so far rs
piping new streets and supplying resi-
dents on streets not heretofore piped is |
concerned, the Council proposes to con.
troll the price. The question is now be-
fore the court, and pending its final set
Element contracts are made with the pro-
vision that thirty days notice fromeither
party is sufficient to cancel.
At East Liverpool there are two com.
panies, on the same footing SO far as
rights and privileges are concerned. The
prices ruling there are from 10 to Is per
cent less than the rate that has been
charged here, and while the consumers