The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-10-05
THE NATURAL GAS WAR.
Captain Bachelor Talks Of Evils
That May Come
IF WHEELING SHOULD INSIST
In Enforcing the Recent Ordinance
Fixing the Prlce-what is Said of
1t Iere-Thc other Company's
Woes Over in Ohio.

the Pittsburgh Dispatch, embodying IN
interview with Capt. Bachelor, Presi-
dent of the Natural Gas Company OF
West Virginia. Last evening Superin-
tendent McGrew, OF the Wheeling COM
pany, referring to this, said to an INTEL.
LIGEHcER reporter that if Wheeling aud
the towns over the river persist in re-
stricting the gas companies so closely,
both companies will shut off the gas
from here aud turn it into the Philadel.
phia Company's pipes, where it would
be appreciated. Prominent citizens here
intimate that if the companies or either
OF them, go TO playing baby they will
get spanked"
Following are the main portions OF
the Diypdich article:
A D1pdich reporter yesterday enjoyed
an interview with Captain Bachelor,
the head and center Of the Natural Gas
Company OF West Virginia, a Pittsburgh
CORPORATION, which is liable soon 10 be
forced out OF Wheeling, II an ordinance
limiting the price Of natural gas there is
to be finally enforced. Moreover, the
Captain, in speaking OF this act on
Whoeling's part as one OF reputation,
added gentle hint or two, the effect OF
which was thatmunicipal scandals might
come tc light in Wheeling soon that
would astonish the natives. The inter
view with the Captain is appended:
"What is tho difference between you
and that city?"
"The principle involved is very great.
The city OF Wheeling, by the attempt TO
enforce the assize ordinance on our
company, has placed itself in the posi-
ton OF repudiator. Our gas company
has a contract with the city OF Wheeling,
giving us the exclusive right for twenty
years to lay pipes in the streets and
alleys OF the city, to sell gas for domestic
purposes. For that privilege We are 10
furnish free gas to tho city, to run all
public works and buildings OF the city.
The gas company had faithfully per-
formed its part OF the contract, and has
for two years been furnishing gas for all
the city works and buildings, which,
from the hest information we can obtain,
is saving to tho city OF about sic, 600
per year in fuel, "
"Is there anything in your contract
with the city as to the price to be charged
for gas"
"yes, sir; we are not to charge over 10
cents per ! 900 feet"
"At the price your company is now
charging, iEsold by measure. what would
it amount to per 1000 feet?"
at would amount to less than cents
per 1000. Yet you will observe that
our contract allows us to charge 10
cents"
"What does your company propose
doing about this suit?"
"Well, sir, OF course we will be COM
PEELED to maintain our position by legal
process. Rather than submit to the ordi-
nance, it would pay the gas company to
take the gas out OF the city Of Wheeling,
and sell it to the mills and private con-
sumers outside OF the city limits"
"You speak of the city OF Wheeling
giving you the exclusive right for 20
years, and requiring you to furnish free
gas to the water works and the city pub
lie buildings, and not to charge the citi-
Sens over Is cents per ] 900 feet. Under
what circumstances was the contract
made?'
"Well, it was in this way: "A great
deal OF attention has been paid outside
Of Pittsburgh TO the advantages possess
ed by our city here in natural gas, and
Wheeling has been laboring under very
adverse circumstances, when some Of
their prominent citizens conceived tho
idea that ii they could induce capitalists
to build q natural gas plant there, the
prosperity OF the place would be revived.
A party called on Captain VANDERBILT
and told him that various efforts had
been made to bring natural gas there,
but had failed, and he believed that the
citizens would willingly grant some such
privilege as this TO the parties who had
the capital and the ability to carry
through the enterprise. We looked into
the matter and told him that il We we're
guaranteed such privileges we would
agree to the terms and find the capital
to make the investment. There was at
the time much congratulation about the
prospect OF Wheeling getting natural gas.
We went ahead and invested 81 100000
in actual cash and bona tide expendi.
lures, and have since kept every pledge
given to the city,"
"On what principle then does the city
OF Wheeling now propose to reduce
your right to charge below 10 cents per
thousand?"
"You must ask me something easier.
We have all been trying to figure this
out, and in view of the fact that we have
never yet charged half the amount we
are entitled to, their course seems to US
prepoSterOus in the extreme, and to
right minded people and the public, who
will look at tue matter without preiu-
dice, cannot appear anything else than
IN attempt 20 repudiate OH the part OF
the city, which We do not propose to
submit to-"
'At the outset did the proposition to
take gas to Wheeling come from you, or
from the citizens OF Wheeling to whom
you refer?"
ut came entirely from the citizens of
Wheeling. We did not propose to build
the line to Wheeling II they would give
US the contract, but they proposed to
give us the contract il we would build
the line to Wheeling, and, moreover,
they said as an incentive that great
many wells had been drilled around
Wheeling without finding gas in suiIi-
cient quantities, aud the people there
were discouraged, and would put no
more,money in it, which has since been
fully demonstrated, rs we have been
compelled to carry through our enter.
prise without any mid from local capital,
which did not seem to have any con.
fdence in it. Another feature OF the
so,called 'assize ordinance which shows
its character md purpose. is that the
Limitation OF the prices of both bread
and coal are put unreasonably high, and
it is very evident that these were only
added for the purpose OF striking us, and
not to protect the people in the matter
of bread and coal at all. This is not
generally regarded n very honorable use
Of power. Give us a price for natural
gus proportiOnate to the price allowed