The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-07
Voted down in Committoo. Gather.
ing of Representative Mon.
SUCH FRANCHISES WORTH MONEY.
Tho Council Committee on Lights
Hears tho Arguments of tho New
Edison Electric Light Company in
Favor orthc Ordinance.

OF council by the Edison Electric Light,
Heat and Power company had been
referred to the committee for inyestiga-
ton. Besides the members OF tlo'com-
mittcc the following gentlemen, repre-
scnting the company, were present:
Attorneys Henry NJ. Russell, W. II.
l!carno and John A. Howard, Col.
Thomas O'Brien and Mcssrs. Ben
Fisher, Alex Mitchell, a. Rolf and DR..
Charles NJ. Frissell. The ordinance
was first read, and the committee then
listened to the arguments OF the COM
pauy's representatives..
Mr.. Henry NJ. Russell explained at
length the wishes Of the company. The
claim, that the introduction OF electric
iucandrsccnt lighting would cause Il de-
cline IN the city's receipts from con
sumess Oi illuminating gas was charac-
tcrizcd BY Mr.. Russell MS groundlcss.
IN proof OF this he read u letter IRON
llr. II. c. Stiicl, Il stockholdcr in q st.
louis gas company, in which the writer
stated that the receipts from gas were
NJ less now than they had been before
the introduction OF electric lighting in
the city OF St. Louis. IN reply 10 a qncs-
ton Us TO which cities were using the
system proposed to be used by his conf
many, Mr.. Russell answered that pri-
waite corporations We're operating it in
New York, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chi
casc, Cincinnati and Columbus: in
Pittsburgh, he said, 4 plant was in
course OF construction.
Mr.. Frank lIcarne said that tho
bitches proposed to be used by his
company were twenty inches wide ut
the bottom; the pipes in which the
electric cables ere contained were %
inches in diameter, and twenty feet
long; along the pipe in front OF each
house, are openings, SO that, in case the
house owner wishes to have electric
light put in, all that is necessary to do
is 10 run Il service cable from the con-
duit into the house.
Col. Thomas O'Brien argued in favor
Of granting the company the ordinance.
lie asked il it was fair, for the city to
keep 10 herself the privilege of furnish
ing light 10 her citizens. The new
company was willing to bind itself
not to oppose the city or any private
corporation going into the clectriclight-
ing business ut any time. As the pres
cnt gas property, worth over 500, 900,
has been built with the contributions
Of the gas consumers, Council should
not be SO unfair rs to make the gas
consumers continue to pay more Tor
light than it may be worth. 1t is not
right TO pile up on newspaper offices,
on stores and manufacturing establish
mcnss, on the $500 consumers oil gas,
the cost OF building every twenty years
aplant worth 100000. The time has
come 10 open the doors to square COM
petition. The Colonel did not think
that the people would sustain Council
il it voted to reserve to the city 4 mon
CpOly in Lighting the houses OF her cit
liens. His company would ut any time
welcome the city in the business, but
he thought the company could give n
better and cheaper light than that now
furnished.
Mr.. Pollock %intcrposed the objection
that ii the city at any time wished to
60 into the electric light business, alter
having granted to the company the
privileges asked for, it would find that
the company controlled the Edison
patents, and, rs the city could not OBJ
tam the use OF them, could furnish a
better light than the city. Col. O'Brien
said that he understood Mr.. Pollock to
put himself on record as favoring the
continuance OF IN imposition OH tho
people, as he wished to maintain the
present monopoly, even though light
would cost more money than it could
be furnished for by 4 private corpora
ton. Mr.. Pollock thought none of the
gentlemen present would be mislead BY
Col. UBricn's statement, and showed
how the city had been continually lower
Ing The price OF gas; that he thought it
could be furnished for still less than the
present price, and that as soon rs tho
people asked for q reduction they would
get it.
Mr.. Alex Mitchell here showed the
committee 4 pamphlet containing illus
tFations OF the ccmpany's appliances,
explaining that the conduits are laid
within eighteen inches OF the curb, and
usually in alleys, so rs to reach the
houses easier.
Mr.. W. II. Hearne talked on the sub
lGct Tor some time, and thought that
the city would find the legislature Just
rs hard 10 move in the matter OF grant
M the city the privilege OF furnishing
electric light tor domestic use, as the
former legislature was difficult to ON
vince. Mr.. Pollock said that the CITY
WIS permitted to purchase the plant OF
lNe present company, at q price fixed
by arbitration, and thus 60 into the
llsht business himself. In reference to
Mr.. Po!lock's complaint, that the city
would be unable to use the Edison
patents, ii itgranted his company the
rights requested, Mr.. Hearnc asked
what likelihood there was that the CITY
would want to use them. Would YOU,
ne asked, prevent your own citizens
from going into q legitimate business,
because, iorsooth, you may ut n time
want to use the Edison patents?
Mr.. Howard also argued in favor Of
granting the company the ordinance
presented Tor consideration. Nh. How
ara thought the iact that the CITY dc.
yves q revenue from her gas plant
should be no reason why she should
prevent her citizens from settin. a
cheaper and better light than they are
now getting. no matter who furnished
iiSht, II it was better than that now
provided, the citizens ought to be al.
lowed to have it.
DR., Campbell remarked that tho cues.
uoh oil granting the ordinance seemed
% be turning about one point. He sur-
essted that it was about time that the
Guy get something Tor her valuable
franchises. She got nothing from the
street cGrcompany, nor from thcnatural
gas D nNrnnt a Mia f