The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-11-22

council appointed 10 consider the pro-
pOsal OF the Natural Gas Company OF
West Virginia. to surrender its fran
chlaa OF 1855, including the exclusive
right to sell natural gas-lu Wheeling
for domestic purposes II the company
could be allowed To conduct business
here on such reasonable regulations as
might be agreed upon, held It's FIRST
meeting, there being present Dr. Taylor
Capt Otto, Mr., Butts, Mr., podley, Mr.,
MGKelvey and air, Bachmann, OF the
committee, and General Manager
Heard and Mr. Hare, of the natural gas
company, and AIr. W, II, HeGrne, the
oompany's attorney. City solicitor
Royce also attended.
Mr., Bodiey moved that Dr. Taylor be
made the chairman, which was done,
Mr. Heard said the only suggestion
as % new rates was one by Capt
BatchelOr that the price be raised from
fifteen to twenty-five cents thousand
cubic feet. with u discount OF 10 per
cent for cash. This would make u net
increase OF 90 per cent In prices, He
thought the company had earned the
right 10 liberal treatment at the hands
OF the city. Besides this. u was, II
seemed to him, to the interest OF the
city TO have the s1S remain in use, II
would be great dstrimeUt to the COM
munity 20 have It taken out. The conf
pany had done q great deal for Wheel
Ing In Pittsburgh there never was
any restriction on the price to be chulg-
cd. He suggcsted
A EEy ORDINANCE,
-
way and epealing all existing provts-
ions.
One company In Pittsburgh had sued
the city ard the court decided that
there was no exclusive right and that
none could .be granted and that no spe-
clal restrictions could be affixed to any
ordinance granting permission to do
business In the city He thought
Wheeling had been treated too llber-
ally; her terms did not encourage any.
body to bring gas here.
Or. Taylor asked number Of perth
nent questions rs to the contract, etc,
which Mr. Heard answered,
In response to an inquiry by Capt
Otto. Mr. Heard said he believed the
other company already here would
gradually take on domestic consumers;
II gas were to be struck within ten or
twelve miles Of Wheeling, he had no
doubt new companies would come In to
supply the mill trade, and they would
gradually branch out into other fields,
The price paid here, fifteen cents. was
cheaper in proportion than bltumlnous
coal at Ave cents bushel. TO say moth
ing OF the advantages OF the use OF gas,
DR.. Taylor thought the cost OF gas Is
much higher now than when the com
paAy first came here air. Heard said
NhRp eNn1r Ia FVtn Fr1n
than now. but under the loose old con-
tract system, people burned more gas
by great odds thnn they needed He
believed the company could furnish the
An ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF GAS
II It's revenues were increased 50 as to
Justify the hunting up OF new base OF
supply.
Mr. McKelvey asked II the city OF
Pittsburgh did not receive n revenue
from the gas companies for the use OF
the streets. and Mr. Heard snid she did
not receive any compensation In any,
way He thought fright that corpora
lions should pay for privileges, but he
. thought that the Natural Gas Company
Of West Virginia had already paid n
fair rate The company Is IN debt, and
came TO the conclusion that there Is no
use 70 try TO do business at the fifteen
cent rate
AT the start the company had fur
nIahed the city with free gas worth at
least $4,000 year He figured that the
city had received free gas worth In the
aggregate 100000. Wheeling had
never received any compensation OF
any kind from any other corporation
for a franchise. so far as he could ind
out.
DR.. Taylor asked what would become
OF the pipes in the streets II the COM
pany ceased operations without new
contnnct, and was answered that those
Wonld remain the PROPERTY OF the COM
pany, and Mr. Heard intimAted that
they would be taken up and sold
AS TO a DAMAGE SUIT,
Mr.. Heard said that would open a wide
question II II was shown that the city
had exceeded her rights in granting the
privileges. then the company could
maintain suit FOR tho value OF the gas
tLruiShed free. His people. however,
desired to avoid litigation. II denied
relief, ns hV did not believe they would
ba, the company would quit They had
found the snd OF the road. and could not
loRFgr furnish gas at IL cents. To ruiss
the rates would Increase the supply OF
gas brought here. The company made
ANHn AAAthal NH'tNFN A+s ''a''N NfA'st fAA'N "s'
now In debt
II driven out Of the business here the
company would sell It's gas product In
bulk at Pittsburgh, and could get aore
revenue at ltss expense for operations.
Mr.. Hearnc sold the West virginia
euprtme court had decided TINT an cN-
elusive Franchise could not be granted
Mr. Butts En!d he he'd that view nt
the time II wal granted, but he was
ovaTrnlod. He did not vote FOR the
right. and he I'D not get my stock.
In response to this iuSlnuRtion NJ.
Hoarne ERi1 there had been good deal
OF loose talk 10 the effect that council.
men had received stock no gift. bot
thore WIS nothing In any OF IT,
The inquiry then cpmc ny whether m
exclusive franchise for which the city
RECEIVED compensation would no. hold
good In law, but no conclusion was
reached.
when the contract was made. Mr..
Heard RAID, the supply OF Ens wR3
about four times aH large Us II IL now.
II ives general idea then that tho gas
would not rive out, but this was shown
TO be erroneous
Thofe could bc no danger Of monop.
oily 1T unreasonable prices. for nov re-.
Btrlctlons would be proper Tho action
asked for would simply open the door
for competition. and he had TO doubt
the Wheeling company would also he
furnIshlnE private consumers at an
early dgte
ACTION FINALLY DEFERRED,
In reference to n report az to cumpc-
tltion offered on the same terms when
this frst contract wnH made. II was OK
plnlncd that the only OFFER was made by
behind hin.
Mr Heard raid bin company averages