Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-05-03
VARIOUS INTERESTS.
THE CONTEMPLATED INCREASE IN THE
PRICE OF NATURAL GAS.
Ard ths Row il is Making About TOwn-Ths Wheel
ing Gas Company and Its Ovg-ths-Rivr Pa
tons-Gsnsral Labor intelligence

Ind the Row il is Making About Iown-ihe no'l
ing Gas Company and Its 0vg-ths-River Pa
iruns-Gsnsral Labor Intelligence.
The REaIsTKR briefly alluded, yester-
lay, to the grumbling going on about town
,ver the contemplated increase In the Price
II natural gas to domestic consumers
There seems to be quite Q storm brewing
among householders who are patrons Of the
West Virginia Company, and the discon-
emit is increased by the difficulty people
re experiencing in getting ct the exact
of increase they are to be called
1pon to pay into the Golfers Of the compa-
ny. One man has one set Of figures, and
ais nsighbor another, and the increase is
,ated all the way from ten to fifty per
,ent. A reporter for the REGISTER
called at the Office Of the company
yesterday in the hope Of securing
tangible in the way of the new
rates to be asked, but be came away dis
appointed man. The officials were not In
> communicative mood, and the volume Of
extracted from them was not
large. It was broadly intimaled that they
were not expected by their superiors to do
much talking, and that the public would
have to wait awhile before the data was
forthcoming. In reply to q question, an
official said
1T has been alleged the new rate viii
be exorbitant--as high rs seventy-aye pen
cent above figures heretofore prevailing.
This Is long way from the truth"
at IL stated by q gentleman who was de.
sirous of making contract, and who wal
given figures here, that the rate for cook
ing stoves would be $l.75 in bulk for the
five summer months, and 81 50 per month
for the remaining seven months In the year,
making total Of $40 25, or about IS pei
cent. in excess of the present rats. Is thai
right2"
mo, sir; those figures are not right.
The increase will not be 80 per cent.--ii
will not be that much"
In response to question of how much
it would be, the official would say moth
ing definite.
II suppose the Company will notify con.
SINNERS holding contracts OF the increase Of
price. before the contract year begins?"
"Yes certainly"
And the year commences"-
"On the first OF October"
"Good day"
Good day."
It seems likely that the popular feeling
of hostility to the increase will continue to
grow. All over the city the matter is Che
daily subject of conversation, and there
have been no end of suggestions as to rem
edies to be applied and protests to be made.
What the outcome will finally be is some
thing for the future-but those who burn
gas viii probably have to pay the price
fixed.
In this connection, it will, perhaps, be
interesting to state that the organization OF
local and Philadelphia capitalists, at the
head Of which Mr.. G. ID. Robbins is sup
posed to be, is moving around in this local
ity, and it is predicted that the Company
will finally supply gas to manufacturers
here, and possibly private consumers as
well. Parties interested in this matter
have lately been engaged in an extensive
correspondence, and q gentleman is Mt pres
in the city in their interest.
On the Ohio Side.
The Wheeling Natural Gas Company has
been running things in lively way over
the river. First they shut off the gas from
two Bellaire factories, and now they posi-
lively refuse to give the Elson Glass Com
pany, at Martins Ferry, any fuel at all.
The Elson people are very much chsgrined
at this, and are relying upon the public
spirit of the citizens of Martins Ferry to
help them out. The Elson Company pays
S570 per month for fuel. This is about
81, 900 less than their coal cost them. 1t
Is now asserted that an increase Of 60 per
cent. will be asked by the Gas Company,
which will make the cost of fuel annually
3 per cent. of the capital stock Of the con-
Germ, or pretty fair dividend on the stock.
The Elson has an offer Of 500 and
free fuel II they will remove TO Findlay,
Ohio. With this 8 per cent. of the capital
stock invested annually in fuel this con-
Germ cannot hope to compete with factories
In the free gas district, and their only hore
in this section is the finding of gas or the
lowering of the rate by the companies that
furnish it.
The scheme to be tried over In Martins
Ferry is this: Tonight q public meeting
will be held in the City Hall, ut which an
effort will be made to induce all the pri-
yate consumers to discontinue the use of
gas, and thus make the manufacturing es-
the only consumers in the
Town, and thus force the gas company to
terms The plea of the gas
company now is, 1--WE haven't the gas"
There is o shortage Of gas" while the
Iact is there is q pressure of thirty-fve
pounds in the main pipes now, which Is
fifteen pounds more than the pressure
.sked 10 be allowed by WIN. Finn when
be asked for right Of way ordinance. 1t
,eems that the gas company has the best of
he Elson company in the matter Of con-
iract. Judge st. Clair Kelley examine
he contract, and said: cts good
contract for the gas company but poor
me for the glass company" The trouble
With the contract Is that it allows the
privilege o. shutting of the gas when there
8 q shortage and the shortage is caused
low by the heavy household consumption
md q desire to push up the price. The
las Company's collector and inspector in
ormed Mr.. Elson q short time sincs that
he gas he paid $50 for would bring
s, 900 If consumed by households. II the
Martins Ferry private consumers are will
ng to forego the use Of gas to keep their
actories here, the Elsou Company will
gree to stay and use coal, but if not, the
works will probably be removed to some
rec gas town, where they can get bonus
,early big enough TO build the plant. So
ar the Elson is the only place affected,
,ut it is only because the Gas Company
has had no chance 10 get hitch on the
,ther factories.
How Mailing Goes on Now.
Durins the past two or three years the
nail mills in this part of the country have
made very poor time and have donea small,