Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-19
CITIZENS PROTEST.
NATURAL GAS CONSUMERS DO NOT WANT TO
HAVE IT CUT OFF.
rss Chamber Of Commerce 70 Petition the Second
Branch Of Council to Adopt the Resolution
Passed by the First

Branch OF Council, on the one side, and
The Natural Gas Company Of West Vir-
GINA aud the First Branch upon the
other, about twenty-five members of
the Chamber assembled last evening.
Among those present were Hullihen
Quarter, Howard Hazlett, Col. Thomas
O'Brien, John q. Hoffman, j. c. Brady,
Or. R. w Hazlett, B. f.
caldwell. Benz Kleiyes, q.
a. smith, Randolph Stalnaker, c. Hess,
w. b. Simpson, the MeSsrs. Schenk and
James McAdamS. The meeting was
called to order by President Quarter,
who said the object OF the session was
"to discuss the natural G as question as
between the City Council and the citi-
zens. think we ought to discuss the
matter, and see II some Gmicable ar
rangement cannot be arrived at. have
2 COPY of the measure pending in COun-
ell here, but all are doubtless familiar
with il. Col. O'Brlen, you are familiar
with this matter. We would like TO
hear from you, sir.
Col. O'Brien-Mr. Chairman, / had
something 10 do with calling this meet
ing, and l wish 20 say that IL was not
called I'M the interests of the Gas Com
pany. They had nothing whatever TO
DO with 70; and some Of the gentlemen
connected with the Company, hearing
Of the call. were afraid it might be cOa-
strued as a meeting called in their in
terests and would have nothing 10 do
with it. told them 10 was called by the
consumers OF gas, FOR their own benefit.
As 10 the affsirS of the Company,
the report made TO the Committee don't
20 far enOugh-it don't tell the whole
truth. / was a stakeholder in that
Company, I had ST. 900 worth OF stock
which l sold for $3.50. can buy il back
to-day for $3.50. That shows the real
condition OF the Company. Now, Mr..
Chairman, wholly upon my own motion,
! procured an affidavit from Mr.. Thomas
Cushing, OF Washington county, Pa,
which I will ask the Secretary 10 read.
The Secretary read as follows:
THE undersigned, citizen Of Washing
ton county, Pennsylvania, depOses and
says:
'That he IS familiar with gas wells, and
during the last i've years has had charge
q the wells and pipe lines belonging TO The
AAeAn AQAAA LieAAAf NA fhNoN AZ A--AeAf
in said county; that he is acquainted with
the gas territory under lease by the said
Company and the territory surrounding 10,
aud OF 81 the ga, territory In said county;
that the territory from which said Com
pany derives its supply is very much weak
ened by the CaugbIS made upon lt-SO much
so that the said Company with - wells
now connected with the main lines cannot
deliver as much gas in Wheeling as 10 could
and did four years ago with IL wells. This Is
couclusively proved by the fact that the
pressure on the lines at the source Of sup
ply is now out 90 pounds 20 the squire inch,
whereas four years ago il was 20 pounds.
"DepOnent further says that said Com
pany has made large expenditures each
wear for the past I'VE years, IN drilling
wells and LAYING branch lines thereto, and
that all OF the wells belonging 20 said Com
pany which produce gas are connected
with the lines running 10 Wheeling, and
that IL delivers no gas INTO lines running in
any other direction.
"DeDOnent further says that said Com
pany. in order TO keep up its supply OF gas,
viii De obliged 10 spend large amount OF
money during the coming summer In drill
ing wells ana LAYING branch lines IN such
territory as 10 has under its control. and as
10 a supply Of gas in the future, that viii
depend upon the discovery OF new helds
within piping distance OF Wheeling.
"DepOnent further says that the state
ments herein made are based on his own
knowledge, and not by anything said by
others. THOMAS CUSHING.
subscribed and sworn TO before me
this 18th day of March, A. d. lSg2.
JAMES A. WILEY,
"Notary Public in and for Washington
County, Pennsylvania"
Col. O'Brieu-I wish to repeat, Mr..
Chairman, that / got that affidavit from
Mr.. Cushing. whom / know, I'm reply 20
a personal letter, and not Ia any man
ner through the Natural Gas Company.
j sent 20 him, and asked II he could
give me statement Of the situation,
and he sent me that affidavit.
The Chair-What should be done?
CO.. O'Brien-I think whatever IS
done ought 10 be OF very deferential
nature as regards Council.
The Chair-Ges.
Colonel O'Brien-I think we ought
70 ask them. in view OF the facts pre-
sented, 10 pass the resolution as re-
ported to and passed by the First
Branch.
The Chair would like to hear
further discussion. This is a matter
which ought to have the attention OF
al present. I think a resolution ad-
dressed 20 Council would, perhaps, be
the best course.
Or. Hazlett-Mr Chairman, the diff
Guilty between Council and the Natural
Gas Company seems 20 be slight. The
First Branch has passed a series OF resO-
lutiOns. which are satisfactory 10 the peo-
ple and TO the gas company. There seems
10 be a difference OF opinion between
the two Branches, and IL IS well, some
times that such differences should exist,
for because Of them matters are SUBJ
iected 20 closer scrutiny, and sometimes
better understandings are arrived at. 1
think the difference Of opinion on the
uart Of the Second Branch Is an honest
one. and I would not Tor q moment say
ANYTHING which would initiate
against il. After an investigation the
Committee found that the statements OF
the Natural Gas Company were correct,
and that the investment was non-pay-
ing one. / want 10 say here that
have nc particular conSidera-
tion for the Natural Gas Com
papv. never owned q dollar OF us
stock. and am not speaking IN It's be-
half. On the other hand, am citizen
of Wheeling, and j want 20 see the city
get AN il can-but the Company is not
urosperinC. Its stock is quoted at 25c.
ON the dollar, and that is not an indica--
ton OF q very prosperous condition oil
affairs. The Gas Company asks for re-
lief because IL is impossible TO longer
fulfil the conditions originally MADE.
-Four years ago il was promising IN