Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-06
stated that the November consumption
was divided as follows:


ls!ano ...-..'.'.. --.'.-''''''' sssSSSsr1
Along pike, etc...........--, ....-s.... SooS'o"
Pursuing their arguments OF the in-
ability OF the Company TO longer live up
TO the face ofthe ordinance, as they had
conscieut tiousIy done for five years.
Capt. Batcheler dwelt upon the fact
that the city could not consistently
make stand upon the terms oil the
city ordinance comforting the franchise
upon the Company, for the reason that
the city herself had deliberately violat-
ed that contract upon three occasions.
And was when she passed the Manufac-
turers ordinance, which was not what IL
purported To be, as the Manufacturers
never intended TO bring gas TO Wheel
ing, but merely "beat the devil around
the stump" by buying gas from the
Wheeling Gas Company. at the corpora
tion line. The second violation by the city
was when the city passed the so-called
"assize" ordinance, AMI the third was
the passage of what was known ss the
citizens ordinance. Notwithstanding
these violations and acts OF bad faith
upon the part OF the city, the Company
ad kept right on fulfilling the strict
letter of the contract, and had continued
to do so until il became impossible TO
longer keep up the supply OF free gas.
Mr.. Heard said that as long ago as lsss
he had foreseen the impossibility OF
keeping up the supply, but they had
held on, and only went 10 the extreme
OF notifying the city after they had cut
off factory after factory and boiler after
boiler, until the loss Of revenue on this
account footed up between $4,000 and
So, 900 for months. At last things got
into such shape that even with
the factories of there was no
longer gas for both the city
and the domestic consumers,
and complaints poured into the Com
pany's office from prope who could
neither warm their houses nor COOK
their meals. Some relief had TO be OBJ
tanned: no more gas was obtainable,
and as the city had been notified OF
what must come In September, the gas
was shut off In December from the cltys
works. The result was an Immediate
Improvement in the supply to domestic
consumers, showing concluslvely that
the drain Of the Water Works and the
crematory had directly affected the con-
sumers all through the city. The rep
resentatves OF tho Company called
especial attention To the fact that there
had been an abundance OF gas during
the present cold snap, with the water
Works cut of, while In the early portion
OF the winter, with the Water WORKS
on, there vas an universal shortage
and general complaint from citizens.
In regard to the suggestion that per-
haps there was room for an investigation
by Council in the gas field itself, among
the wells and pipe lines, Mr.. Heard, for
the Company, said he would be perfect
ly willing 10 aid to the full extent OF his
ability, in any such inquiry. As for
the hint that perhaps the Company was
not selling all its gas in Wheeling, Mr..
Heard said that no gas was being sold
outside OF Wheeling, except limited
amount along the pike from West Alex
ander into town. The Company had
persistently refused to lay down what
is called field line. although perhaps
1t might have brought In large imme-
date return. He was now very glad
they had not undertaken TO supply gas
outside of Wheeling, for IL would only
have made the present situation worse,
while laying IL open to the charge that
the Company had wasted its substance
at the outset Of its existence.
In view OF all these facts, the Com
pany felt they were entitled to relief,
and hoped, because OF the great benefits
they had conferred upon the city, and
the exactness with which they had
lived up tot he ordinace, until physically
and financially unable TO longer do so,
Council would be just and come to their
aid.
About one o'clock the Wheeling party
were entertained at dinner at the Du-
ouesne Hotel, where they were joined
by Mr.. C. S. Howell, Of the Il. & o.,
Capt. Williams, OF the regular army,
and then they returned 10 the Com
pany's Office, where the discussion and
investigation was resumed and contln-
ued until late in the afternoon.
Several members OF the Commission
left for home this evening.
At $50 tonight, after an exhaustive
discussion, the Company so far modined
their position as to allow the cremstory
20 remain on until May. Mr.. Noise
will 20 to work on the books tomorrow
in the hope that he can get out report
I'm time 10 call the subcommittee Tor
Friday night, and the full committee
for Friday