Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-02
THE BUSINESS ASPECT OF THE CUES
TON.

I HUN
Strange to say, those who oppose the
REIMBURSEMENT by the city of valua-
bic municipal right in favor Of private
corporation, are accused by the bench
men of said corporation Of wishing to
keep out business capital!
They seem TO forget that among the
greatest inducements Wheeling has to
offer to business men are cheap water
and cheap gas. VIII any one say, that,
/ if the business of supplying water and
gas were in the hands of private cor
poration, we would to-day be able to get
them at the present nominal rates? The
city owns the gas-works and the water
works, and does not run them to make
money, but to supply water and gas to
consumers at cost.
So can the city supply electricity to
consumers at cost. To the present in
ducements Of cheap water and cheap
gas she can add cheap electricity.
These natural monopOlies should re-
main with the city-in the hands of the
people-and instead Of denying admis-
sion" to capital the REGISTER advocates
the Offering of still greater induce
ments to.capital to engage in business
i'm Wheeling-cheap water, cheap gas
cheap electricity. What greater induce
ments could q city government offer
business men? To-day cheap water
and cheap gas mean hundreds of
thousands of dollars saved in expenses
every year to the business community
Inducements which few other cities
in the country offer.
In the business and industrial por-
tions Of the city electricity is already
almost the only light used. The city
can supply it much cheaper than any
privats corporation can that must pay
handsome dividends on large capital
stock. Does anyone suppose that, if
we were now being supplied with gas
by a private concern we would be pay
ing only IS cents, or, il our water-works
were owned by private parties we would
be getting all the water we need at a
mere nominal tax?
II helighting monopoly is granted the
Edison Company-and that is what the
passage Of the ordinance would mean
our gas works would soon be driven out
Of the business, the original cost, and
future running expenses OF our 500, 900
Street-lighting electrical plant would be
saddled directly on the taxpayers and
the natural monopoly Of lighting taken
out Of the hands of the city aud given to
a private mOney-making corpOratiOn-a
prospect no intelligent citizen of Wheel
ing can contemplate with eQuanimity.
The city is in perfect shape to go
right into the business of supplying the
electric light to private consumers. The
splendid street lighting plant which
will soon be completed, will have en-
/ gines with power sufficient, not only to
run all the arc lights necessary for the
streets, but, in addition, every incandes-
cent light now in use in the city. The
plant was wisely planned with a view
to the growth Of the city, and is OF
double capacity" All that is Geces.
sary is the placing OF the additional
dyuamos, and the new plant
can supply the ineandescent electric
light 70 private consumers at the same
time our streets are lighted with the
arc light. The new plant is to be paid
for and will be entirely under the super
vision and management of the Board OF
Gas Trustees. Hence, If Council viii
take the necessary action the city car
glide smoothly from the gas light tC
the elactric light whenever the change
will be necessary, without any incon
venience.
Council has but to say the word, and
| Council cannot say It too soon.