Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-10
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE SOLVES TIE
PROBLEM.
The Unpaid Coal Bill to be Settled, Leaving the
Board Free Of Dsb!-Ths Cash Taken
Temporarily From the Unpaid Stone
Bridge Money.

The Council Com mlttee on rlndnCe
met last evening at the City Clerks
Office TO consider, under the resolution
adopted at last Tuesdays session OF
Council, the financial condition OF the
city gas works.
As preliminary the Committee took
up the matter OF the $4,000 approprl-
ated on account of stone bridge, that
sum being tied up in the Courts in It'll
CATION resulting from the collapse OF
the firm CT Paige, Carey Il Co. IL was
thought by several members Of the Com
mittee that this money would not Dc
needed for months, and perhaps not
this year-it all depending upon the &C
ZION Of the Courts-and IL was believed
that if this money could be used to SET
tie the existing Gas Board bill, amount
ing to about $500 it would even up
the Board, and do no harm in other re-
spects, the stone bridge money simply
having TO be provided for in the future,
when needed, and if was not needed
until January first, next, well
and good. This idea was
favorably thought of, but before doing
anything definite, the Committee took
up the general situation OF the Gas
Board, possible retrenchments, etc.
Several gentlemen made suggestions
wherein they thought money could be
saved to the works, and it was the gen.
eral idea that If the city paid last year.
deficiency Of S17, 600, tho Board ought
TO change the existing manner of doing
business to such an extent as, II poSsl-
bic, to close up a part, at least, OF the
deficiency of $4,000 antici-
pated for this year on
January 1st last. This discussion con-
tinued for quite time, and took rather
a wide range.
Then it was determined to invite
President Dunlevy, OF the Board, or the
entire Board, TO meet with the Commit
tee, and Mr.. Cruise took the invitation
10 the Board, which was in session in
its office. When Messrs. Dunlevy and
Schultze appeared, Mr.. Maxwell stated
the situation briefly, and asked Mr..
Dunlevy what was the least sum OF
money the Board could get along with,
and what sum the Board could
save by retrenchments dur
ing the remainder of the year. In reply,
Mr.. Dunlevy said the Boards only debt,
| and its Immediate need, was about Sl6,-
600 due Mr.. Florsheim, outside OF
freight. The freight had been paid by
the Board.
0. IBy MAXWELL would not the
running expenses OF the works leave a
margin, which the Board could pay
back monthly? A.-No; the Board will
have to have money outside Of the coal
bill TO meet running expenses during
the dull summer season, when our re-
ceipts fall short.
O.-How much would that takep A.
-Four or five thousand dollars.
O.-Couldn't the Board issue orders,
the same as the city does, and have the
banks take them? A.-No; there was
time when the Board stood pretty well
with the banks, but | don't think II
could get much accommodation now,
the way our affairs have been talked
about. We have checked our accounts
down, the balance in bank now being
s.. 400. and that is no margin to go on.
Last wear we bothered the banks d good
deal in that way.
O-Couldn't you save something
by retrenching expenses? A
We have been doing that for
good while now. We began that a year
ago last January, didn't we, Mr..
! Shafer? We saw where we were going
to land. l don't think the city could
get any of the relief money back.
Mr.. Shaier corroborated what Mr.
Dupleyy said, and the latter added that
affairs had gotten TO that point that the
electric light plant would have 10 be
shut down IN a few days, unless relief
was afforded.
O.-What are your monthly expenses
for labor, ETC.? About $1,000 per
month, at present. II varies from
month to month, according to the de-
mand for gas.
In reply TO a question about dollar
gas, by Mr.. Maxwell, Mr.. Dunlevy said,
as member of the Board, be would
never agree to it, and several members
OF the Committee said the same thing.
O.-TBy MAXWELL there are
three things to be done: Increase the
price of gas, cut off the electric light
plant, or provide money? A.-Ges,and
the light plant will be shut down In ten
days, unless money is provided.
In reply to question as to the cost
for fuel for the light plant, Mr.. Dunlevy
said it only footed up about $1,000 for
six months. The big cost OF operating
the light plant was In the labor en-
ployed. The total was about 81, 300 per
month for the plant, which was cheaper
than the city could buy electricity.
In a discussion as to the wisdom OF
the plant, it was agreed the big mistake
was in not issuing bonds for the full
amount, instead OF trying to pay s27, OOo
OF construction out OF the Gas Board
receipts. In reply to a question as to
the amount Of coal used at the works,
as compared with the time when the
streets were lighted by gas, Mr.. Dun
levy said nothing could be told definite
ly about the difference, as although the
lighting OF the streets had been cut OF,
the demand for gas from consumers had
increased, taking up part or all OF the
difference.
Finally Mr.. Cruise, after saying that
the Committee, as well as the Trustees,
had the best interests of the city al
heart, said he thought the way out OF II
would be to take up the coal bill, and
provide one or two thousand dollars to
hahn the Board out in meeting their