Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-10
Proposed on Behalf Of the Natural Gas Con-
sumsrS.
An ORDINANCE TO GO TO COUNCIL,
By Which the Price of Gas is Regulated
Specifically.
SUBSTANCE OF THE REPORT READ.

The Committee of Seven, to which had
been delegated the Investigation of the
whole matter involved in the increase of
rates, and which also had the authority Of
the meeting to employ counsel to aid them
in arriving at a proper conclusion, and in
framing a proper report to the citizens.
The meeting, while not as large as that
which responded to the first call, was still
quite good-sized meeting, and was main
ly composed Of very prominent citizens.
The meeting was called to order by Capt.
c. ]. Rawlings, who moved that ex-MsyOr
J. w. Grubb take the chair in the absence
of Mr.. Myles. This motion prevailed, and
Mr. Grubb appeared upon the platform
and stated that the object of the meeting
was to hear the report of the committee.
Mr. LETTERS, the Secretary, being absent,
Mr.. Henry Miller was chosen to fill the
duties of that Office.
Capt. Rawlings. from the committee, an
nounced that be was prepared to read the
report Of the committee, prefacing it, how
ever, with an apology for the delay on the
part of the committee in getting its data
in proper shape. He then proceeded 10
read the committees report, lengthy
document, of which the following are the
leading points:
After the usual formalities, the report re-
cites that the committee met the day follow
ing its appointment and proceed to carefully
look into the questions committed to its
charge Ii speedily became apparent to
all that the services of counsel were essen
tial, and q sub committee Of three, consist
ing of Messrs. Gutman, Moore and Rawl
iugs, was named to select suitable legal
advice, with a preference for Messrs. Hob
bard & Russell, if it was pos
sible to obtain them. This firm
of attorneys was secured, and work
was at once commenced by an examination
into the ordinances Of the city under which
the Natural Gas Company of West Vir-
ginia was working, and the rights Of the
people in the premises. The committee
had not proceeded far before il began to
ture, and these were supplemented by va
rious rumors upon the streets, some OF
them with and others without foundation;
but the committee did not deem it proper
to 20 into these things ut this time, al
though admitting that questionable
methods seem to have been used.n Two
OF three things were vaguely alluded to as
affording good ground Tor future develop
ment, and the report passed on to some
thing more definite
1t became evident, early in the inyesti-
CATION, that some measurement of the
quantity of gas burned in au ordinary
crate per hour or per day, was necessary as
affording data upon which to base a calcu-
laticn OF the present price. and the COM
mittee, realizing the futility OF applying
openly for permission 10 make such a
measurement, selected locality quietly,
had a CRATE constructed, and made test
ofseveral hours per day for period of sever
al days. The experiment, however, was
very unsatisfactory, owing to the absence
of regulator upon the line, and secoud
and better test was made at Allegheny
City, with a regulator, and there it was
found the charge for gas there was largely
in excess of the price par foot allowed by
ordinance.
The eommitte held several meetings,
and at last concluded to send one of it,
members upon tour Of the neighboring
cities and towns where natural gas was
largely used for domestic purposes. Pitts
burg was the first point visited, and there
il was found that the original price of gas
was from five to ten per cent. lower than
in Wheeling, but that consumers. as their
contracts run out, were being saddled with
an increase OF from forty to sixty per cent
The regulations there were very strict, and
the company were especially hard upon
owners of heating stoves, with registers,
basing their charge upon the number of
rooms heated by it, rather than upon the
amount of gSs burned. A great many
people in Pittsburgh had returned 10 the
use of coal, and others would do so rs soon
ss existing contracts ran out.
In Allegheny City there was great popu-
lar discomfort There had orig nslly been
three competing companies in that city,
and the rate was at first but about one
half the old rate here, but now the
three companies are practically one, and
the DAYS OF cheap gas are over IN that city.
The increase has been from 40 to rs per
cent. As the old contracts expire, the
citizens are confronted with this great in
crease, and the result is many will go back
to coal, as in Pittsburg. The Allegheny
CITY Council has taken the matter in
hand, aud s. new streets are piped, and
new lines laid down, the city will insist
on strictly regulating tae prices to be
charged in the new districts. The matter
has also got into the courts, and is In
process of settlement there.
At East Liverpool the member OF the
Committee found two companies, and the
rate to the domestic consumer 10 to 10 per
cent. less than htrs. The people were not
directly threatened with sn advance, but
the air was full of rumors of trouble to
come in that direction.
At Wellsville the same two companies
a. are operating at East Liverpool, are
supplying the town, originally at the same
prices, but one company has put on an in
crease of ten per cent, and it is but q
question of time when the other will fol-
low In its footsteps.
AtStsubenyille the committeeman found
one company with the rate for three fires
about the same rs for the same number Of
fires here, but as the number Of fires in q
house increases, the rate per fire decreases.
The prices appear to be satisfactory to the
consumers, and no trouble is looked for.
In none of the places WISHED by the COM
mitteeman was there complaint of an in
sufficient supply.
Proceeding, the report says:
''In some cities, notably Pittsburg, it will
be seen that the prices were at hrst less than
those'here, but that they are now higher.
This looks like unity Of action, but If it
il not, it is 8 case Of remarkable coinci-
depean The report then goes on to set
forth that il is little remarkable that, in
The face of the increase in the price sought
IN he jnforced here, there is no guarantee
by the company of an increase in the
.snnIv oi gas, or Of better results
in aov way. The consumer has no
s.ssousrds. There is no apology
Tor pass short eominge, nor prom
isa for the future. It may be aFged, says
the report, IN justification of the In
crease in price, that ths investments