Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-02
Totals -. .S424. 156 % $lg7. go 80
ESTIM ATED ENPENDITI-RE .S.

Total .............. ................Sf1.f6 f On
Excess of estimates over receipts 47.9iS IS
These figures were examined in de-
tail until the estimate of the Gas Board
was reached. The excess over estima-
ted receipts asked for by this depart
ment. not including the over-check Of
S1094207. was quite a snag in the
path OF the members, and they laid
down their papers and INDUCED in the
old familiar discussion about The way
the gas works is running behind the
injustice of making gas consumers pay
for lighting the streets, tha growth of
private electric lighting. etc. Mr.. Rob-
insOn thought the time had come for
the levying of a special tax for light
ing the streets, and there was n long
talk on the question, which resulted in
nothing new except a declaration that
the Solicitor had given it as his opinion
that no such tax could be levied until
additional powers were granted by the
Legislature. The talk was, as a whole.
one familiar to newspaper writer's and
newspaper readers. for it has been writ
ten up annually for half-a-dozen years,
during the few days when the Finance
dropped from sight for another twelve
months, until few members of Coun-
ell again have their attention especially
called to the general subject, for ordin-
arily no consideration is paid to this
matter Of great Importance. and no one
cares whether that venerable injustice
the lighting Of the streets by the gas
conSumers-iS ever righted or not, TO
say nothing Of other vital matters con-
nected with city finances. But this is
depression.
The Committee finally got back to the
gas works estimate proper. The
Board, as will be seen by the table
above, asked for a total of Sis, 1867,
as follows:
Gas and light plant. 49,. .$104S44 90
Over-check $50. 80. $50. 1892 OF
Secretary Schulz. of the Gas Board
was called in, and was questioned as to
the details, particularly as to such items
as repairs to apparatus, lime. labor at
works, etc. which showed an increase
over last year. AS to repairs, Mr..
Schulz explained that retorts were only
renewed every two years and as no new
ones were put in 1895, they must be re-
newed in 1896. There would be an in
crease in lime. because the use of iron
sponge as a cheap purifier, had been
given up; labor would be higher. be-
cause no natural gas was being incor-
porated with the coal gas, and so on
through other items. Mr.. Schulz said
the Board had made every retrench-
ment possible, yet could not get along
on its receipts, and as for the over
check, that could never be paid out OF
the receipts. Mr.. Schulz said that many
bills. and even wage accounts and sal
aries, had been held over. and once
wages were paid by an undated check
sent in to bank. and the date filled in
afterwards, when the appropriation
was made. This, it had since been as
certained was a violation of the re-
straining ordinance and made the off
cials liable 10 a penalty. and it would
not be done again. The works general
" had been run from hand to mouth,
with difficulties besetting it on every
side. people clamoring for money they
were entitled to, interest charges run
ming on, etc, while necessary work
could not be done. Secretary Schulls
explanation of the details of the situa-
ton was clear on every point, but it
did not give the Committee any more
money to work with. and by common
consent the gas works was laid aside,
and the water works and other matters
were taken up.
The following table of necessary and
dead sure appropriations was computed: