Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-03

the gas to give to the city, the tax
payers will be called upon, in some
form or other, to make up the differ
ence between free fuel and coal at TIC.
per bushel; aud on the other hand, if
the city gets the free gas, there
will not be sufficient supply
for the glass houses and for domestic
consumption, and loss, discomfort and
annoyance will ensue. As regards the
carrying on OF the affected departments
of the city government, the officials and
Council will be presented with some
serious problems, requiring tact and in
genuity as we'll as,cash in their solution.
The crematory situation has already
been cited as an example of this, but
there will be q more serious problem
offered the Water Board. During OctO-
Der, the supply Of gas being 'short"
at the pumping station, $3.50 bushels OF
coal were burned, and in November,
when, by reason Of the increased gen.
eral consumption consequent upon the
colder weather, the supply was shorter
still, about $4,000 bushels were con-
sumed. With the gas off entirely, about
500 bushels of coal are burned per day,
or 292, 900 bushels per year, which, at
n cents per bushel. foots up S2l, S70per
year, not counting the extra men who
will have TO be hired. As the Trustees
have Just taken upon themselves con-
tract for new machinery, power
house, ETC.. estimated to cost
S133, 600, payment Of which extends over
the next six years, this added expense
of sol, $50 may be Of the greatest mo-
ment, and necessitate radical revision
Of the financial estimates.
The other side OF the proposition is
found in the short supply Of gas for
general consumption. If the shutting
off of the free gas from the city will in
crease the volume in the cooking stoves,
these cold mornings, it will not be an
unmiXed evil; and, aside from this, there
are industrial considerations of decided
weight. An instance of this is afforded
In the present situation of affairs at the
North Wheeling Glass Company's plant.
That Company was notified that the gas
would be shut of November 30th, but
after quite al effort, aud an agreement
to cut off the gas from the boilers and
elsewhere about the plant, the Gas
Company agreed to give them gas for
their pots "when they had 1t, and to
give q reasonable notification before
cutting il of. The supply during great
part Of the time, in cold weather, has
been very slack, and the Company has
secured several cars Of cord wood and
will tear out the upper portion OF their
furnace, so that in case OF cessation or
the supply OF gas they may be able to
keep the pots from breaking. The fur
naces are not adapted to the use OF coal,
and 10 change them would not only
mean the cessation of work at a busy
time, and the risk of getting bad job
of brick work in cold weather, but
1t would also mean the eX-
penditure Of sum OF money
in excess OF ten thousand
dollars. This expenditure the REGISTER
is authorized to say the Company will
not make, preierring to cease business
or TO move away. This being the stu
alton at this establishment, this propo-
sition comes to the front, along with all
the others: Which can the city bet
ter afford to do? Burn coal at the
water works and crematory, or cause
the tulOTCtu luicuCSS VI az ACoSO Ohoi
and probably several, industrial estab-
liShmentS?
II is probably true that the glass
works must, in any event, submit to
the loss OF their gas supply, but with
the city supply cut off, that day may be
deferred until next spring or summer,
when a fuel gas process, not available
now for glasS-making, may come TO the
front, or the conditions may alter in
other respects.
There is still another feature to be
considered, it being referred to yester-
day as a reason for the city's making a
fight against the Company. This is,
that should a fight not be made, and the
city allow the Company to go
on In the course it has mapped
out, it would vitiate the ordinance,
root and branch, and the price Of gas
TO domestic consumers, now limited to
fifteen cents per 1000 feet, would at
once soar upward in proportion as the
gas supply became more and more re-
stricted.
1t will thus be seen that the matter
is full Of complications and conflicting
interests. and it will afford fine field for
the legal fraternity when 1t gets into
the Courts.