Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-05

supply OF the city OF Wheeling was in
terrered with. We let the city have the
gas as long as 1t was possible, and then,
having notified the Water Board and
others, as far back as September, we
shut off the supply"
SIN the event that, from the sinking
OF new wells, or from any other cause,
the supply should become more abun-
dant, would the city again be given
gas?''
81 can't see but that 1t would. We
cut the gas off because it was short, and
not from any desire to get the better OF
the city through working the abroga-
tion of the ordinance, and should we
have enough gas in the future, pre-
sumo the city could get it again. The
point is, that the Company must give
its domestic consumers all the gas they
ought to have. You can have no idea
of the complaint at times Of shortage.
Last Sunday and Monday, when the
weather was cold, and the supply ran
low, there was a constant stream Of tel
ephone calls from people who could not
get enough gas to cook with, or
keep their dwellings warm. That
situation we must remedy, il possible,
md to increase the supply to families,
we were forced to cut off the city. That,
as have said, was only dune after we
had reduced the supply to the two or
three manufacturing plants retained to
a minimum, and was with no Interior
motive whatever.
"What has been the value Of the gas
so far furnished to the city by your Com
pany?"
eve have been doing business in
Wheeling five years and two months,
and during that time the gas furnished
the city has certainly represented two
hundred thousand dollars-that Is, the
city has saved that much money. / may
say in this connection, that although
the contract between the COmoany and
the city was an improvident one for us
from the start, we have scrupllously
kept faith under it, and have supplied
the pound of flesh just as long as
1t was possible so to do. Now
that we are unable, from sheer inabili-
ty to get a sufficient amount OF gas, to
keep up the supply, we feel that we
should receive some consideration, and
not be proceeded against in the manner
adopted by the city. 1t will not do to
treat US in that way. 1t IS discourage
ing. We had expected to commence
work in the spring at sinking new wells,
to obtain a supply Of gas for consump-
ton next winter, but our people will
not feel like making the effort they
otherwise would under circumstances
different from those at present con-
fronting US"
"You are aware, Of course, that the
city has turned on the gas, and has Off
GERS stationed at the valves to prevent
the supply being shut off by the Com
pany?"
eyes, sir. As to that, we have this
to say: When the city takes control OF
our property, it passes out Of our con-
troll, and we do not propose to be held
accountable for accidents, Natural gas
is dangerous. We recognize that, and
have men stationed day and night to
watch the gauges, while the valves,
pipes and connections are handled by
men OF experience. When the city steps
in and forcibly takes control there are
grave possibilities in the situation, ana
we have given warning to all concerned
that we decline to be held responsible
for damages to property or loss OF life" y
These statements by Secretary Heard
were concurred in by President Batch
elor, who was made acquainted with the
drift of the conversation.
There was no change during the day,
either at the gas works or at the crema-
tory, except that, at the last named
place, the big pile OF garbage and DIAL
which had been accommodating since
Monday on the hilltop, was being haul
ed TO the furnace and consumed as fast
as possible. This pile of stuff was about
twenty-five feet long by eight wide ana
four or five feet high.
At half-past two o'clock this morning
Officer Terrill, who was on duty at the
gas valves in the First ward, reported
to the City Hall that the gas had been
shut off at some point other than where
he was stationed, and that workmen
were digging up Main street. The
Lieutenant on duty sent word to the
officer to stop the workmen unless they
could snow permit from the b. Z. w.
At quarter of three o'clock this
morning Mr.. Eugene Deiters, the fore
man of the Natural Gas Company 5
gang, and three of his men, were arrest
ed by the police at Main and Eighth
streets, while they were engaged IN