Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-03
A STAND TAKEN.
-gF PROPOSITION OF THE GAS COMPANY RE-
JECTED
stTad Evenings Meeting at the City Hall, Alter a
Long and Exhaustive Discussion Of
the Whole Situation.

Water Board TO agree upon a report to
Coguc.l. When MesSrs. NJ. Pollock, j.
p,nock. Campbell, jefferson, Irwin,
Craig, Farrell and O'Leary were pres
ont. being majority of the fourteen
members. Chairman Pollock wanted to
o., ahead, but Mr.. Farrell didn't want
20 20 on until a quorum Of each Of the
three bodies were in their seats. There
was some little discussion on this, dur
t-r which Mr. Farrell said: can right,
gentlemen; DO as you please, and that
ended 10. Or. Campbell moved 10 pro-
coed 90 business, a motion which Mr..
Jefferson seconded, and which was
atouted. Mr.. Farrell, as chairman OF
rhe subcommittee, then made verbal
and somewhat detailed statement Of the
visit 20 Pittsburg, and the subse-
ouent proceedings, az the same
lime submitting Mr.. Noises type
written report and the opinion OF the
Cfrv Solicitor upon the contract feature.
Mr.. Farrell also read SUndry papers
drawn I'D or both parties during the ne
r1tiations. Mr. Heard being appealed
no 20 cOrroborate these statements, did
SO.
The Chair suggested that perhaps the
full committee would like 10 hear Mr..
Noises report.
Mr.. Irwin-Are we going on to trans
act business?
The Chair-Yes.
Mr.. Irwin-We might as well do it le-
ga.Iy.
The Cbair-Whcnever you want to
stop. say so, and Wen stop.
Mr.. Irwiu-There may be some OBJ
lection hereafter. The Gas Trustees
are not here.
The Chair-Suppose they sign the re-
port?
Mr. Irwin-And suppose they don't?
The Chair-Then the report won't 60;
that's all.
Dr. Campbell don't see why this
thing should be strung out any longer
In the name OF conscience, 10 has lasted
long enough. For my part, / am ready
20 vote and settle this matter, and sign
uD a report. II gentlemen differ with
Us. let them send in q minority report.
II these people don't want TO come here,
let them stay away, but we have no
longer any excuse for not going on.
Mr.. Jefferson-There is certainly
majority Of the Committee here; that's
enough.
The Chair-Some one spoke, awhile
ago. about sending up ito where the
gentleman loafed.' / don't see why he
can't 'lOaf' about here little.
IL was here announced that Mr.. Dun
levy was on his way TO the building,
and Mr.. Irwin moved TO go on with the
reading Of Mr.. Noises report, which
was accordingly read, as heretofore
published, by that gentleman, with an
occasional interruption from some mem
Der in the style Of a question. When
the reading of the statement had been
concluded, everyone looked at everyone
else for a time, aud then Mr.. Farrell
moved that Mr. Heard be given the
floor.
Mr.. Heard didn't know that he could
add ANYTHING TO what he had said, from
time to time. He thought the Commit
tee and the public generally was famil-
far with the situation, which was
question OF fact throughout. He didn't
know how the Committee would regard
the evidence. but he and the Committee
knew the Company's statements were
true. He didn't suppose that any
one In Wheeling wanted TO have the
Company furnish the city free gas,
and then sell what was left. The free
delivery of gas preSuppOSed a living
for the Company. That SuppOSition was
no longer a reality. IL was both phys
zeal and a financial impoSsibility to keep
il up longer.
81 "A
Ing?
Mr.. Heard-We finished a we'll a
month ago. This is now the worst sea-
son for field work, but in couple Of
mouths-perhaps in Aprii-we VIII re-
commence.
. Mr.. j. Pollock-What want to get
at IL YOU get a high pressure well,
will YOU again give US free gas-Or, II
once we are out Of 10, we are out for all
time?
Mr.. Heard-That question has been
pretty we'll discussed. Even when we
had the most gas we made no money,
and now we are running behind. II we
get new feld-and / sincerely hope we
wiIl-the expense Of laying new line
10 it, and the drilling OF new wells Ia H.
together with Our losses in the mean
time, will put as 10 such shape that we
cannot more than get even az the best,
and that will imply extraordinary good
fortune. 1 tel. you, gentlemen, the
Company is pulling heavy load.
NJ j. POUock-DOn't you think the
city is pulling a pretty heavy load?
Mr.. Heard-NO; I think she has had
the long end of the double-tree from the
first. Take any method Of analysis OF
our affairs you please and IL will bring
YOU 70 that conclusion.
The discussion was then. turned OIL
bv Mr.. Dunlevy upon the effect com
promise OF the existing contract would
carry with it, maintaining that 1t would
result IN the end in increasing the bur
then upon private consumers, matter
which Mr.. Heard said be was not COM
Detsnt to discuss. Mr.. O'Leary then
SHOT in q query about the s. each con-
sinner was required 70 pay for a metre.
Mr.. Heard said the metres cost SIS each,
footing uB a total OF S4S, OOO The set
ting cost s. 20 $3.50 each.
Mr.. NJ PolIock-How much money
did the Company eXpend before they
delivered any gas. Ihey ought nOV
charge up every cent they nave e1-
pended as cost Of plant.
Mr.. Moise-That's q hard question 10
answer. They delivered Some little gas
i'm 1ss6, but they did not sell much until
1857. The Company spent one Million
two
Mr.. PoHock-StOp-stop there-not
million.
NJ NTcjso-yes sir. q million.