The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-10-31
eve Told Ynn So. ,,

The establishment OF an electric
light plant in Morgantown is now
virtually assured, sufficient amount
of stock having been pledged for
that purpose.
The introduction of electricity here
comes in the natural order of events.
1t is the best light of the age, and
the best will always supersede the
inferior in everything.
1t is only recently that gas super
seeded coal in this town as fuel.
There was no trouble or hesitation
about it when it was once demonstra-
ted that gas was a more desirable
fuel than coal.
Our hills were full of coal, and it
was cheap. Some of our people said
that coal was a good enough fuel
Beside it was plenty and cheap, and
was owned by our citizens. They
could see no propriety in piping gas
seven or eight miles to place that
was underlaid with good article of
coal Besides they argued that gas
is dangerous, and not a few declar-
ed they would not have it in their
houses at any price.
Nevertheless gas was piped into
town. Nobody was asked if he
wanted it or was pledged to take it.
But when it came it required the i'm
portation ofseveral firms of plumbers
to meet the demand for supply of
gas. Quicker than the fancy could
picture it, or the owners OF coal
mines could comprehend it, the coal
market was closed, the noise of the
coal pick and the coal wagon was
heard no more, the miners vocation
was gone, the mines have been al
most abandoned. and coal as fuel
is numbered among the things that
were.
1t was the operation of the law of
the better superseding the not-so.
good.
And as gas so quickly superseded
coal as fuel so will electricity SUI
persede gas as a light. and for the
same reason some of our people are
probably of the opinion that with an
abundance of gas we do not need
electricity. 1t was equally true that
we did not seem to need gas when
we had so much coal. But when a
gas light and an electric light are
once put side by side in contrast, the
demand for the electric light over
the gas light will be as general and
as eager as was the demand for gas
in preference to coal. AS a light
electricity is as much superior to
gas, as gas is superior to coal as a
fuel.
And the people will always have
the best thing in the market. The
poorestwill go to!the wall. The fttes,
will survive.
We will be fixed when we are
warming our toes at a gas fire and
reading our newspaper by an electric
light.
"We aoM be happy yet you bet"
There is not just now, probably
duy NSIy SCuCiai VI pressing uCuohS
for electricity. But there are enough
persons who will promptly take
it to support small plant. AS thu
popularity of the light increases
and it always does, and the popula
lation grows, the capacity of thu
plant can be increased, and there is
no question about it becoming q per
manent institution when it is onc'
established
Moreover it is good stock, as evi
dcnced BY our Fairmont neighbor'
in desiring to put in the plant fol
MS. They have tried the experiment
at home and demonstrated the re
suits. We are glad that our people
concluded to take at least part o
the stock. We are sorry that they
do not have it all. We do not oh
ject to our enterprising neighbo
coming in and helping us Blu
tit Is abont time our people wer'
downing some Of their public enter
prises.