Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-06-08

she KENT Agreement.
Secretary IA. s. Hare, of the Natural
Gas Company of West Virginia, was
seen yesterday by representative of
the Register regarding the late determ-
ination of the Company to charge a
meter rental of one dollar per month
during the summer months. and very
fully explained the situation in re-
spouse to questions. He said:
1T has been claimed that this is a
great hardship, particularly upon small
consumers, but the Company is not of
that opinion. and l will give some Of
the reasons why. For instance, the Com
pany has to keep the same force of men
on duty, inspecting meters, ETC., in the
summer, when consumption is light. as
IN the winter, when it is heavy These
men sometimes have to visit a mouse
two or three times in the summer
months, because people are more often
away from home at that season, and
entrance cannot be had. Again, the
Company is doing exactly what the city
does. The city charges a meter rent,
ranging from 20c for small meters up to
$3.50 for large ones, and takes no ac-
count of the amount of gas consumed
below that figure, yet, and mark it, ,ne
gas burned, if only ten or fifteen cents
worth per month, accumulates, and in
time is paid for by the consumer in
addition to his meter rent when the
amount was too small to make biz
for it. We are content to let each
month square itself, and at one dollar
per month the fuel for households will
only amount to one cent per meal,
which surely any one ought to be able
to pay. Let me call your attention to
another feature: We make charge OF
one dollar per month, with ten per
cent of, 90c. The consumer may burn
eighty cents worth of gas during that
month, and he is thus about even, while
We have some small recompense for the
heavy expenses and the light summer re-
turns. This new rule will not affect
stores and offices, which are cut out en-
tirely in the summer because there we
save expenses and have no returns
whatever. There was time when the
consumer was very glad to pay sips
per month in summer, but now there
is some objection to paying 9Oc--ten
per cent off the dollar-for a very
much better service.
Every gas company charges meter
rent. and why not our Company? Let
me also suggest that Wheeling is get
ting cheap gas. Pittsburg consumers
pay 25c per 900 feet, and Wheeling
consumers but 1Sc, and yet it costs just
as much to bring gas to Wheeling as
to Pittsburg
Our Company has been a great BEN
eft to Wheeling. 1t is entirely within
the facts to say that we have given this
city 100000 worth of gas, absolutely
free, and we feel that we are entitled
to reasonable returns. Besides If you
will read the contract with the con-
sumers, you will find that in making
this charge we are strictly within the
agreement, for it gives us the right to
make a monthly bill for meter rent OF
one dollar, but We render no bill for
gas when it amounts to less than that
sum.
There will be no rent where houses
are vacant during the summer, for one
or more months, but there will be a
charge for turning the gas off and on.
as is usual, because that means the
employment of labor and often a long
and especial trip. We are decidedly OF
the opinion that this action by the
Company is entirely fair and reason
able, and in most instances viii re-
suit in little or no addition to the total
cost OF the service to. the consumer.