Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-30

REDUCED TO WRITING UNDER
1T THE CITY DESIRES TWELVE
MILLION FEET OF FREE GAS
PER YEAR.
The Council Committee on Health,
Mayor Sweeney, City Solicitor Nesbitt,
Mr.. A. S. Hare, of the Natural Gas
Company of West Virginia, and Mr.. R.
X. Giffen, of the United States Fertil-
izing Company, met last evening at the
City Hall for the purpose of again con-
sidering the proposed new relations
between the city and the Gas Com
pany, made necessary by the PROPOSE
ton to have plant constructed by the
Giffen Company. The session was en-
livened by several little episodes Of
personal but not offensive nature, and
was characterized by great good nature
all through.
The proceedings were commenced
with an enquiry of the Solicitor as to
the existing contract between the city
and the Gas Company, relative to free
gas at the crematory. In reply, Mr..
Nesbitt said the contract provided that
the Company should furnish free gas
to the city crematory, but it did not
designate any place or amount. The
crematory, as it now exists, was work
ing at the time this contract was
made. 81 believe the contract would
naturally be construed to furnish gas,
even if there should be an enlarged
plant, to such new plant, but l do not
believe it would be construed to mean
that the Company would be compelled
to furnish larger amount of gas than
is now used to larger furnace. / be-
lieve the present agreement would hold
good if the city should build a new
crematory, but only so far as an
amount reasonably sufficient to run the
present furnace, and | also believe it
would hold good if the furnace should
be removed to another site. The trou-
BILE is, how to construe contract, be-
cause no two contracts made are alike.
The point is, to determine the exact
status of the present relations between
the Company and the city,
Following thas verbal opinion
and explanation of the Solic--
itor, ther was a long dis
cussion between Chairman List and
members of the Committee, and Mr..
Hare, representing the Gas Company.
His Honor, the Mayor, also took part
in this, and suggested, among other
things, that the proposition of Mr..
George Heard Monday night, to limit
the city to 10000 feet day and
charge SC per thousand for the excess
over that figure, was little unjust, in
that it was price in excess of what
was charged manufacturing concerns
for gas. The figure thus charged was
not stated, but from the nature Of the
conversation, it is &c or SIC per 1000
feet, as against the SC proposed by Mr..
Heard.
Mr.. Heard's proposition of 10000 feet
of free gas per day would foot up TO-
950,000 feet per year, the city TO be en-
titled to this in the event that the
Giffen process should not be success,
or should break down at any time, or
have to be stopped, while to the Giffen
Company, in lieu of any gas at all to
the city (supposing the Gffen process
to be successful and unobjectionable)
he offered 10000 feet of free gas per
day, the excess to be paid for by the
Company. This matter was debated
for considerable length OF time, and
during the discussion the mutual adj
vantages to the Company and the city
from the proposed change were thresh-
ed over.
Finally motion to reject Mr..
Heard's proposition, which meant the
repair or enlargement of the present
furnace, and its continuance, was
made, but there was no second. Then
Mr.. Waterhouse moved that the city
offer to the Gas Company this
counter proposition: That the city be
entitled to $4,000, 900 feet of free gas
per year, and to pay for any excess
over that amount at the rate Of &c
per 900 feet, and this was adopted by
the Committee. 1t will be reduced to
the form of q contract, a copy sent to
Mr.. Heard, and the Committee called
again next Monday night, when II sat
isfactory, Council will be called for
next Tuesday night to take action, as
it is important that something be done
speedily.
1t must be remembered that Mr.
Warehouses; proposition of 10000 900
feet a year does not apply to the pro-
posed new plant. The agreement be-
tween the Gas Company and the Gift
fen Company, is for 10000 feet Of free
gas per day for that plant. The 12,-
000, 600 feet proposition is only a saw
ing clause, as it were. for the protec-
ton of the city. in the event it should
have. from any cause. to continue the
present furnace, either continuously or
from time to time, enlarge II, or build
a new one, either on the present site or
elsewhere. If the Giffen plant is a
success the dealings between the city
and the Gas Company are at an end,
so far as the crematory is concerned,
but if not successful. at any time, then
Mr. Warehouses; motion takes hold,
and the city Is entitled to twelve mil
lion feet Of gas per annum free. At
present the crematoTy burns anywhere
from 10000 to $4,000 feet OF gas per