The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-12
COAL CONTRACT
At the Electric Light Plant Has
Been Much Misreprcsentcd.
MR.. TR0MPs0N,s STATEMENT.
TIE contractor Wa. No. DoinE the city
Ju.ttee and WIS Called Down Rsps"t-
sdiy-rhc Trustees Fi,,aiJy ordered New
MID. Inv,tcd-Anidavin which Cover
ms Case Completely.

There has been n Ereat deal Of talk
about the onnceling of the contract to
furnish coal to the city electric light
plant. The contract was let 10 Robert
Teasdale, the coal furnished to be run
of mine" Teasdaie printed a card In
which he made various statements, to
which Superintendent ThOmpson,of the
works, makes very complete answer
He says, first, that the trustees never
instructed him to notify Tensdale 10
furnish better coal. He did OF his own
motion tell Teasdnle he must do so; 80
did MFR. Pollock, OF the gas board. This
hnd no effect, and the board then d.
rected Secretary Schul 10 advertise Tor
new bids.
afr. Thompson says he has no doubt
that rs the coal was received here II
was all right, but Te0sdale took out
the Jumps, sold them as clean coal, ana
sent the city the rest Five dinerent
persons told Mr.. Thompson they would
be willing 70 Youeh for this statement.
Farther than this, he says he dehes
Teasdale to name a person connected
with the gas works 10 whom he ever
furnished free coal or whlskey. II any,
body ever did accept anything he would
like TO know II, and who they are.
Mr.. Thompsor's statements are back
ed UP By two atiidRvits bearing on the
subject, made by employees or the
works, and which are as follows:
State of West Virginia, County OF Ohio
to-wit:
ON this 10th day OF March, 1885, person,
authority James Bell, who being duly
sworn says that for the past etGnteen
years he has BEEN resident th t,S SIi,Jsn
that since November. 1856, he has been
employed as 4 fireman at the Wheehhs
Electric Light Plant; that Robert leah-
dale on the % day q F t ; !s s
said city. 10 furnish coal to the HRid Elee,
trio Light Plant. which was under saiu
contract 10 be rup-of-nllne coal OF nFst-
class quality, but AIlhnt aveIS -, me RAJ
part OF slack and dirt; that on OF noout
February the uffiant met the aaia teas
dale at his place Of business; anu Wnb
asked by him how he liked the cOAI ne
WaS furnishInR the plant. AtiRnt replied
II was not worth damn. Then Tehha9tle
asked ufflant TO say nothing about the
coal 10 give him the number OF ms lanl,,
send him 4 load OF coal. AfIlRnt further
says that In said last named conyetsatlon
the said Robert Teasdale told MN anu
promised him that II he continued 10 pnrn
his coal at the said plant and Kept nus
mouth shut about the quality OF the same,
saiS notbtnS to the saperiniendent OF, the
trustees about the same. he CTeataaiey
could afford TO keep affiant In coal Az the
lime. Afiant replied; ''Mr TeasdAle, l
don't feel like burning three 10 FOUR car
loads more OF your coal than otheL peo-
ple's (meaning thereby that the lhierloI
quality OF said TeaSdale'B coal required
4 greater consumption; that Is, more
coal to keep the steam up than u the coal
was OF a better quality. Afhant lnmeai-
Ately reported above attempt to brtbe MN
10 Trustee Buchanan. Superintendent
Thomas G. Britt, and n number oL NM
fellow workmsn at the plant: Atnant
further AYERS that 10 his knowledge ana
belief the said TenFdAle never 1T any time
furnished any empfuye OF the SAID E!eetf9c
Plant with either liquor or coal. unless
from him as they would from any coal
dealer. Afhant further says that he never
NaN the said TeasdRle Mt the said plAnt,
but understands he was there once day
or two after he got the contract. AS 20
the InSlnuAtlon OF said TeAsdnleS that
fhe men are running the works, atfnnt
Says that he simply and strictly - per
forming his work as fireman under tho
orders OF his boss and his observation
touches him that this Is true OF all the
other men: that the superintendent ls the
head OF the works, and runs the same
without the aid or assistance Of anyone,
and REQUIRES none. Atfiant further says
that he has neither purchased nor re-
ceived any coal from said Teasdale since
roinC 10 work at said plant In November,
iSg5 and further affinnt saith not.
JAMES BELL.
Taken, subscribed and sworn to before
me this sth day OF March. nSs' ,spv
Notary Publlc in and for Ohio County,
Vest Virginia.