Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-08-04

Council might delegate to the Gas Trustees,
in their capacity as private citizens, or
to any number of other gentleman,
power to supervise the construction and
operation of an electric light plant. but
such plant would have to be strictly con-
fined to the lighting of the streets and pub
lie buildings of the city. Before the munich
pality could proceed to sell electric lights
10 private consumers, it would be necessa-
~ for the city to procure from the Legls-
lature q special enabling act, enlargipg the
present powers of the corporation. Even
an ordinance providing for the construc-
ton of a plant for street lighting exclus-
lively might afford grounds for a legal con-
test By interested parties, because In max
ing an expenditure of this sort, the Coun-
ell would have TO limit the expense to
reasonable" amount, and the estimated
sum of So, 900 or SIS, 900, named as the
cost of plant, might easily be adj udged
unreasonable, in the absence OF any deh'
mite powers on the part OF the city, and bt
set aside by the courts.
In concluding his exposition OF the Legal
situation, Mr.. Caldwell said he had no doubt
the extra powers desired to enable the city
TO embark in electric lighting upon solid
basis might be obtained from the Legisla'
ture for the asking, the only opposition to
be looked for being confined to the Wheel.
ing Electrical Company, and he opined
that would not amount to much in the
face of a general desire on the part OF the
city for an addition to the charter.
A majority of the members OF the Board
were very much in favor Of the city al
once putting up plant for street lighting
making the thing of such size as to make
il certain there would be good supply o.
lights to be disposed of to private consum'
ers as soon as the additional Legislation
could be obtained from the Legislature
By doing this, the city would be gaining
time, and be early placed in position Il
head off the danger now threatening thu
yas works. The members Of the
Board, except Mr.. Jepson, adhered
closely to this argument, bringing Z
their aid quite an array OF iact'
and figures. They brought ont prominent
ly the fact that the Wheeling Electrical
Company was almost daily making In
roads upon the gas works-that they wer'
clicking up the best of the city's customer
one by one, and several instances OF Thu
kind were adduced, notably the Baltimor,
and Ohio depot and the Postothce anC
Custom House, the wiring OF which latte
building will be commenced to-day. Pole
are also being distributed through Ger
tain Fast Wheeling streets, and 1t vii
not be long until private residences
in that part Of the city will be wired io
electricity. Of course, other inrosds, pro
ABLY in an accelerated ratio, will b
made in the future while the city is com
PEELED TO stand by, powerless to prsven
the destruction OF the usefulness OF plan
which has cost the people half a million
dollars. Ii was admitted by the Trustees
that the number of gas consumers was In
creasing, but they offered in explanation
that the increase in the number OF con
sumers was met by 3 stationary or de
creased amount of gas consumed, for the
reason already given that the big consum
ers were dropping of. Admitting tina
the city could not 60 into the bush
ness at present, OF selling electricity U
private consumers, the majority OF tn
Board held that it would be better to pu
Old the street-lighting plant at once, get i
ready for operation by the time the Legisls
ture met, and then, having procured the en-
lsTged powers necessary, be in position {,
at once embark in the electric light bust
! mass. rather than wait six months until
the Legislature met, and then waste an
other six months in putting ny
q plant, thus consuming full year befor'
the light could be available, while durini
all that time the city's gas interests woult
suffer, and probably the best OF the electric
light trade be permanently lost. 1t wa
also stated that az present. at the cost pric'
of gas, it cost the city S13, OOs per year t.
light the streets and public buildings OF the
eity. The cost of running an electric Ugh
plant of sufficient capacity to do this worf
would be about 1900 year, making
saving of about St, 900 in this item alone
President Jepson OF the Board, and two
of the three members of the COMMITTEES
present, thought il would be best tor tht
city TO await action by the Legislature
and then 90 into the matter upon proper
basis, and with q tangible idea OF whs'
the city was doing, but the majority O.
the Board stoutly contsnded that this
meant q delay, which would hurt the city
greatly-that the menace to the city WA
such A to warrant the most speedy action
by Council.
OF course nothing definite could be
done, in the absence of . quorum OF the
committee, and the whole thing went
over.
Some of those present thought il would
be q good thing for the Council COMMITTEES
on Legislation to map out the desired
change in the city's charter, while Mr..
Jepson suggested that money could be
saved for the time being by shutting of
the gas from the street lamps. and con-
tracing with the Natural Gas Company OF
West Virginia to supply natural gas to
them, at IS per post per annum.
This suggestion, however, was purely a
money-saVing one, and offered nothing in
the way of checking the advance Of the
electric light.