The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-11

to such degree that the question sug'
gests itself, has there not been unity OF
action among these gas companies, even
amounting TO combination, to advance
the price where the demand is the great
est. If not, there certainly has been
remarkable concurrence OF views, pro-
duced it may be by the increased de-
mand and the decreased supply.
II is little remarkable that in the
face of the increase demanded by the
Natural Gas Company OF West Virginia
there is no guarantee attached that the
supply will be sufficient, or even that II
will be increased in any measure or
better service secured. No assurance is
given the public that new territory is
available, new wells drilled, or old ones
cleaned out; in short, no apology for
past shortcomings or promises for the
future are offered, while it is a well
known fact that many people dependent
on this fuel were compelled to take a
cold meal very often during the cold
weather of the past winter, and even in
their houses resort to oyercoats and
wraps in the effort to get warm, owing to
the very deficient supply, for which
pay was demanded all the same.
1t may be urged that the investment by
this company has been very heavy and
the business a very uncertain one, so far
us the supply holding out is concerned,
This we are ready to admit, but wien It
is considered that the receipts OF the
company from consumers in this city
amount to fIom $l50, 900 to $4,000 per
year, we haye no hesitation in assert
ing that this sum will pay very hand
some percentage on n large investment
and allow for the element OF uncer-
tainty in addition. Referring to in
yestments, all concerned should bear
in mind that the consumers in this city
have invested some $4,000 in piping
their houses-induced TO do so by the
prices offered by this company, and
dlured by the hope that the prices
would be permanent. The investment
| it will be observed is not confined to the
stockholders Of the company.
In concluding this report it may be
well to state for yorr infocmPtion that
the generally recognized valuable fea-
ture OF the franchise granted this COM
pany is, we understand from excellent
authority, the most vulnerable feature
of it THE exClusiveprivilege is, OF course,
referred to. and there remains only the
opportunity to test this to show all con-
cerned the unstable character Of this
claim.
The individuals comprising the COM
mittee, have felt it to be their duty to
ascertain facts and present them TO you,
and in addition to recommend course
OF procedure based on the information
gained and to occupy tenable ground in
case OF legal contest. We would
therefore recommend for your action the
acco. np.Iny'1g 70 Ii OF ordinance, which
we have abundant reasons TO believe
places the cause OF the gus consumers on
ground that can be maintained.
Finally, the committee would suggest
to the meeting the importance OF select
ing five (5) good citizens in each ward
whose duty It shall be to urge upon their
respective members OF Council the pass
age of this ordinance by the City Coun-
ell; and would further suggest that
either the present committee be Contin-
ued, or, if deemed better, that like
committee to have the matter IN charge
for furthering these efforts be appointed.
AN ORDINANCE
To establish and Rtorce lrthinhG CRyot Wheeling
an dssi:e n bread, coal aud natural gas limiting
heprice " hhe same.
BE 1t ordained by the Council OF the City OF
Wheeling:
SECTION l. The price of bread to the
domestic consumers within the city OF
Wheeling shall not exceed five cents for
-, a,,nnn,nJ 1oof 30 brno1 nor TOW raNtS
for two-pound loaf.
SECT Of .. TIE price of coal to do
nestle consumes within the city OF
Wheeling shall not exceed, for each
bushel Of eighty pounds]: Of clean coal,
ten cents; mixed coal, nine cents; nut
coal, eight cents; slack, five cents.
SECTION 3. The price Of natural gas to
domestic consumers within the city OF
Wheeling for the months OF October,
November, December, January, Februa-
ry, March and April, shall not exceed:
for each cooking stove, 81 75per month;
each laundry stove, 90 cents per month
for one heating stove or CRATE, 81 90 per
month each heating stove or CRATE after
the first, 81 45 per month; each Balti-
more heater with registers connected,
81 50per month; each heating furnace
with registers connected, s. 10 per
month and for the months. OF May,
June, July, August and September, shall
not exceed: for each cooking stove, 65
cents per month; each laundry stove,
SO cents per month; one heating stove
or crate, 30 cents per month; each
heating stove or CRATE after the first,
% cents per month; each Baltimore
heater withregisters connected, 80 cents
per month each heating furnace, with
registers connected, 81 10 per month.
SECTION 1. 1t shall be unlawful for any
person, firm or corporation to contract
with any domestic consumer within the
said city for any greater price for any Of
the things named in this ordinance than
the price hereinbefore prescribed for
such thing. Itshall be unlawful for any
person, firm or corporation, except un-
der contracts heretofore made, to re-
ceive or ask from any domestic con-
sumer within said city any greater price
for any OF the things named in this ordi-
nance than the price hereinbefore pre-
scribed for such thing. Every corpora
ton and every person, whether acting
for himself or some other person, or for
some corporation, who shall offend
against any OF the provisions OF this
ordinance, shall for each otFense forfeit
and pay to the city Of Wheeling fine
OF not less than S. nor more than $50, |
and the costs OF prosecution. But q
Judgment in favor OF the said city against
any person or corporation in any pros
ecutioR under the provisions Of this
ordinance shall be bar to the prosecu-
ton Of any other person or corporation
for the same act.
SECTION 5. This ordinance shall be in
force from its passage.
G. ]. RAwLtNG,
p. II. MoORs,
n. L, VIZ TAHER,
NJ. GuTMAE,
J. E. HUGHEs,
Committee.
The report of the Committee, with the
regarding the ordi-
4 l. A. a 4