Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-11-06
BREAKERS AHEAD.
rBs Pun rHI GAS COMPANY IS HAVING IN
BILLIARD
Shutting OF the Supply Of Gas FROM 0as'ns
The Company Wants New Ordinance
From Council.

They are having a complicated and
lively time down in Bellaire over the
natural gas question, and there Is every
indication that the thing Is going to get
into the Courts unless a halt Is soon
called by the representatives OF the
company.
The Wheeling Natural Gas Company
has franchise OF an exclusive nature In
the town, the ordinance limiting them
to a charge of ten cents per 1000 cubic
feet to domestic consumers, and con-
tanning the stipulation that when ever
the company shall cease to supply gas
the pipes, ETC., now under ground snail
revert to the city Of Bellaire.
For good while back the company
has been dissatisfied with the revenue
accruing from it's Bellaire business. ana
began an agitation for q repeal OF the
ordinance by Council and the suostitu-
tion of new ordinance. Ihere was
some disposition to do this on the part
of some of the members OF Council, out
they contemplated measure whicn
wonld restrict the changes to be made
consumers to, say. twenty or twenty-five
cents. This did not suit the company,
which showed d preference for an I'M
limited ordinance. Many things were
brought forward against an ordinance
of this nature, one being that IN
case the supply OF natural gas
wholly failed the company, having noth.
ing to restrict them In the way OF
charges, might go into the manufacture
of some form Of fuel gas. and by holding
on 10 the exclusive franchise, par out
other companies or individuals VINO
might have cheaper service.
A few days ago, the company seems
to have determined upon an energetic
and aggressive policy, for their en-
ployes began to summarily shut OIL the
supply of gas from the residences OF
citizens, Notwithstanding the lat
ter had meters in their houses
and stood ready to pay
the bills presented for the fuel con-
sumed. This course has resulted ID sew
eral interesting episodes, and has oeen
productive of a good deal OF hard feel-
Ing. In fact, the relations existing De-
tween the citizens and the company may
be characterized as strained. For In
stance:
An employe Of the Gas Company call
ed at the residence of Union street
man with the intention Of entering his
cellar and shutting off the gas. The cit
izen refused to let the gas man In,
IL to tote n1 N
he was summarily bounced. DE went
for other gas men, there was a consulta-
ton, and they decided that the supply
of gas must cease, and that they would
dig I'D the street and cut the supply pipe
to the house. To this the citizen like
wise demurred, and he held his ground.
On this point the Independent OF last
night said, after quoting the language
of the ordinances:
sit will be noticed that the gas company
has the privilege Of opening the. streets,
alleys, etc, only for the purpose OF conrey-
ing and distributing natural gas. They have
no rights in the streets, alleys, or other
places for shutting it off. That company
has disregarded its every obligation to the
city of Bellaire, and it is shame
that few people-for their own
individual OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES even
ask the Council to change the con-
tract now. We have the natural gas
company now just where we should always
have had them. 1t was mistake OF their
own that gives the city the advantage now,
for they got just what they asked for by
their intrigue with and fraud upon the
manufacturers of the city. If that ordi-
nance is altered or amended now the gas
company knows full well that it will be
rendered useless and void before they are
through with it, and the Council will be
powerless, after they have taken hold Of 1T,
to prevent it,"
A representative of the company
went into the yard of another citizen
to shut off the gas. He was met by the
citizen who assured him that II he in
sisted there would be trouble right
there, and the gas man left.
They shut off the gas from the resi-
dence of another man, just as his wife
was preparing meal. The citizen got
a plumber, and turned the gas on again.
He says he stands ready to pay his bill,
and he proposes to have gas as long as
there is any in the pipes.
A well known resident Of the Fourth
ward has employed lawyer to look
after his natural gas, or rather the
natural gas company. Five business
men yesterday subscribed $50 to a purse
for the same reason. One consumer
asked President Diehl If there was any
way by which he could arrange to get
gas. The answer received was: "We
have no favors to ask Of the people OF
Bellaire. We will do nothing unless
the ordinance is changed" There is
going to be some fun If an effort is made
TO take out all the meters in town. The
gas company is supplying the First
National Bark, under special contract,
the city buildings and the glass fac
tories.