The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-10

When the special council committee
on natural gas prices got together last
night Mr., Heard, superintendent OF the
Natural Gas Company of West Nir-
ginIa, was invited to state his position
He was satisfied with the twenty cent
rate, gross, eighteen cent net, but he
wanted the privilege OF making slight
charge for gas used ut the cremHtory'
Mr., Butts objected. He wanted Ia
know what the company paid in taxes
and Mr., Heard said about $500,
Mr., Heard said II the company could
charge twenty cents net II would ray
the city per CCntHge on It's gross To-
CeInts, or II 1t could be left free Ia do
bushes us II could with the consumer
It would pay larger percentage Tor
the privilege OF doing business, -,
Mr.. Butts-"God help the consumers!
DIR. Taylor said coal could not be Sc
cured at the crematory, and Nh Heard
said he would furnish gas there at ten
cents.
Farther general discussion followed
Mr.. EaChmann brought out that the
company furnished some free lights at
Benwuod for the right OF way, MT,
lIeRrd thought the restrictions placed
on gas companies In this vicinity were
unwiscly severe. He said the increase
from nftecn to eighteen cents would
only mean an Increased income for the
company OF $4,000,
Mr. Heard again proposed to so TO
the consumers direct and ascertain
their views. lie said II the company
should take the bull by the horns and
raise the price OK Gas, aud the citizens
took the matter into court, the COM
pany would beat them at every point
DR.. Taylor said he would prefer to
have lower price for domestic con-
sumers and pay something for the gas
used at the crematory, so as TO relieve
the people and let the city stand ;he In
crease.
Mr. Heard said 30 per cent more gas
was used Mt the CremRtory than was
necessary; yes, he believed II was ~
per cent.
He read letter from the Philadel-
phia company, OF Pittsburgh. saying
that Its price to domestic consumers
was 22ts cents net, and to manufactur-
ers fifteen cents, with the privilege OF
disseminating the latter when the com
pany desired These prices are sub
ject to change upon reasonable notice
Mr.. Heard Insisted that the public
was In favor Of granting the com
pany's request. The gus consumers, he
said, were willing TO pay the Increase
Later he offered as farther compro-
mise. to carry the crematory TIL next
October, instead OF TIL Mayi, as he llrst
proposed. This would give steady
run OF ten years. There were children
now going to school who were born
several years after the gas was ilrst
furnished free to thcSUity.
DIR. Taylor asked II $500 would pay
for the gRs used NJ the crcmatory In the
year. He said II would with proper re-
strictIons. Probably $4,000 worth n
year had been consumed In the past
Mr.. Irwin suggested that the con-
sumption OF gas be properly restricted
by the company, as II Is claimed me
company has burned all the stuff with
half the gas before consumed,
Mr. Heard offered "A nine cent rate for
the crematory from October !, '9G Pay
ing any price would be an Incentive to
burn less gas
Mr. irwin said he wanted TO put tho
incentive on the other side, and Induce
the company to assist In saving gas.
Gait. Otto suggested that the COM
pany fix limit on the amount to h.
used free. and AK "A price on nll COn-
sumed In excess OF that. This would be
an incentive on both sides.
Mr. Heard again offered $500 IN cash
n year for the privilege of charging do
mestld consumers twenty cents net.
Mr.. McKclvey-"That would be un-
Just to the consumers
MIR. Butts-"Oh, what's the differ
ence? Make EN- pay like the devil
Everybody agreed TINT there was q
waste OF gas Mt the crematory, Finally
Mr.. Heard said: Go ahead and rec
Ommend your eighteen cent net rate.
and we will carry the crcmRtory TIL
next May. when that part OF the quCa-
ton will have to be rC-Opened again"
with this understanding the COM
mittee adjourned, the only thing new
being the understandings about rc-opon-
ing the question Of the crematory Eas
again next May.
There will doubtless be n great dis
cusslon Of the whole subject In council
again this evening.