Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-06
ence, meeting anything in the way OF
legal complications as it may arise.

There is still a third element inclin-
ed to a middle course. and willing to
accept the proposed substitute for the
pending bill as the best way our of
the trouble, and to prevent further
mistakes" in the future would favor
a law making it impossible for Council
to give away any public franchise in
the years to come, without the consent
OF the people and for a suitable COM
~pensation. This last suggestion would
be a good thing, and in force would
forever stop the railroading of fran
chise ordinances through Council for
the benefit OF a few people and at the
expense of the many. The present
muddle is a case in point. Twice has
Council, without regard for the inter
ests of the people, given away an cleo
trio lighting franchise destined to come
into active competition with the city's
gas plant, a public utility of great
value; exacted nc compensation for
the privileges given, and yet, when it
desires to rehabilitate itself in its for
mer rights, finds itself confronted by a
lobby and must buy for big money the
physical assets of something bestowed
without price. If the people could
have passed upon such a thing at the
polls neither franchise would have
been given in a thousand years. It's
easy to manipulate a Council, but not
easy to control the people, as some
small local cliques know to their sor-
row and regret.
Among the gentlemen interviewed
yesterday were found those who, while
opposed to the idea of the city pur-
chasing the plant of the existing Com
pany, still were somewhat reconciled
to the plan from the fact that after an
appraisement made and agreed upon the
city would come at once into posses
sion Of a completely equipped plant,
which could be operated right along
without the loss of ever a day, and
that value received in the way of ma
chinery, ETC., would be acquired. They
argued that if the city ignored
the existing Company and went ahead,
a plant must be erected, which would
not only take time, but perhaps much
more money that would be involved in
the purchase of the present private
plant under the provisions of the bill
as proposed. There's something in
this, as the said when she put
on her shoe with a mouse in it. and
perhaps the situation in is general
aspects is as broad as 10 is long, for in
the one instance the city would buy a
complete plant, and in the other would
have to build one.
Either alternative involves the rails
ing OF much money through an issue
of bonds, for there is not cash enough
on hand or in sight to meet the cost.
Just how much money would be re-
quired is very uncertain, but 500, coo
was a ~favorite figure with well-inform-
ed gentlemen discussing the matter
yesterday. These bonds would have
to read redeemable in ten and payable
in thirty-four years, and at four per
cent. 100000 would have to be expend-
ed for interest before a dollar Of prln-
cipal could be taken up. The total cost
principal and interest, to the people,
would be over $500, 900. Per contra,
we are told by the Gas Trustees that if
such a municipal plant was in opera
ton the price of illuminating gas could
be cut to 55c, or 20c less than the pres
ent net price, while there would also
be a reduction to consumers of electric
lighting, which would result in a very
large saving to the community. The
combined saving would probably reach
thirty thousand dollars a year in per-
petuity, increasing year by year with
the growth of the city.
The matter now pending at Charles
ton is one of the greatest Importance
to the whole people of the city. The
passage of any sort Of bill enabling the
city to go into commercial lighting
means an issue or bonds, If not to buy
out the existing Company, then to build
an entirely new plant. On the other
hand it means the restoration TO the
city of her rights in the lighting field,
a decrease in the cost of both gas and
electricity to the consumer. and in
creased revenues to the light depart
ment of the city government. 1t is a
large problem, and an important one,
and merits the grave consideration 1t
will undoubtedly receive on all sides.
cA