Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-24

fucnce to secure the passage Of the pro-
posed charter be further empowered to
request the City Council 10 appoint
committee, or TO otherwise offer 10 the
Secretary of the Navy. in consideration
of the honor of having named a gunboat
after the City of Wheeling, TO offer the
equipment OF a silver service and china
of Wheeling manufacture TO the govern
ment. for said gunboat Wheeling.
Mr.. Walter Rinehart offered the follow
ing amendment:
Resolved That this same committee
shall advise with the City Council 10 take
action regarding the christening cere-
monies of the gunboat Wheeling.
Mr. Rinehart thought some person from
Wheeling or representing Wheeling
should Doe present, and also a lady from
this city. to take part I'm the exercises
The resolution. as amended. was adopted
ABOUT NATURAL GAS.
The Secretary read n communication
from the Wheeling Natural Gas Company,
reciting the fact Of the development of the
Cameron field and the inability of the
company TO furnish gas to consumers. on
account of a strict construction placed on
the city ordinance relating to opening the
streets for necessary connections. The
Wheeling Company has asked for an
amendment to the ordinance. The Cham
her was asked to lend its support and in
nucnce toward securing the passage of the
amendment in question.
The subject was debated at considerable
length. Senator Whitaker made some
very interesting remarks i'm opposition to
exclusive franchises. He was of the opin-
ion that such grants will not hold in the
courts. and I'm order to secure competition
and be assured of an abundant supply,
me hoped other companies might be all
lowed 10 pipe gas into Wheeling lie
gave some interesting facts m connection
with the history of the introduction II
natural gas into this city. and he held
that the Wheeling Natural Gas Company
is not entitled to any favorable consid-
Grafton at the hands % the people Of
Wheeling. The city should have insisted
upon a release of the exclusive right Of
the gas company. when 1t consented TO a
change fin the maximum price of gas. He
spoke of the arbitrary ana unreasonable
attitude OF the West Virginia Company to-
ward the city. and said the sare condi-
lions might exist again whenever il pleas
ed the mercenary interests OF the COM
pany.
Mr. c. d. Thompson. of the Board Of
Public Works made an explanation Of
that body's position i'm the matter. When
the Wheeling Company applied for the
privilege of tearing uu the streets. the
30 nd was unable to decide whether the
firms were manufacturers under the or
dirance. The matter was referred to
Council. and by Council to the City So
Ucftor. the City Solicitor ruling that the
concerns were not manufacturers He
was satisfied that Council would adopt
the amendment if the city were remuner-
ated.
Senator Whitaker told how the West
Virginia Company had secured an eXclu-
sive franchise without any restrictions
and ne asked with what degree of pro-
prfetv the City Council now asks the
Wheeling Natural Gas Company TO pay
for the privileges Of competing with the
present monopoly. The speaker warmed
up to his subject, and concluded with an
argument that the city should allow any
company 10 bring gas into the city, and
not lend itself to the maintenance Of a
graspinE monopoly. II any legal questions
are involved. they should be fought out
by the rival companies.
MI Baer offered a resolution directing
the President and Secretary of the Cham
Der TO notify Council of its endorsement
of the request of the Wheeling Natural
Gas Company.
4. Adjourned.