Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-09
THE LIGHTING PROBLEM.

THE
The annual report of the gas board
is further and ~4ndisputable evidence of
the fact so often pointed out b. the
Register that as time goes IN and eleo'
tric light supplants gas to a greater
and greater degree, the ultimate Gisso-
luton of our gas works is Inevitable.
That financial straits for this institu-
ton may not now nc far distant is
shown by the figures Of the board in
the statement of the financial condi-
ton of the gas works. The margin be-
tween the barest necessary expendi-
closed was but 81, 159, while the year
before there was an actual oyerdraft
in bank Of s1,S42, which the board has
not yet been able to cover.
The financial attenuation of this in
is not due in IN way to poor
~DrtAo loss Of custom and
the heavy burden OF electric street
lighting. Indeed, the board is to be
complimented for making both ends
meet as well as it did. 1t must have
taken much cheese-paring economy to
accomplish the feat of financing our
costly street-lighting electric plant as
well as keeping other expenditu. cs
within the limited income.
To loss of custom, alone. through
the change from gas to electricity that
has been going on for years through
out the city. which has deprived the
gas works of its best customers, is due
the ieopardized condition of this once
valuable and highly productive and
profitable institution.
A sorry day it was when through in
comprehensive mental ALTERATION and
wondrous lack of foresight the city
rave to a private corporation the right
to manufacture and sell electric light
to consumers, thus throwing open the
door to unequal competition, which
has since been slowly driving the mu-
~nieipality out of business. gradually
depriving it OF a right which had pre-
viousiy mads Wheeling envied of all
cities as a rIodel of cheap lighting and
| an illustration of the splendid economy
Aof mAnlcipal ownership. But a still
sorrier day was when that more recent
and more utterly inexclsable action of
the last Council was taken, extending
the franchise of this private orpora-
ton or its successor, thirty years.,
That was the most outrageous because
the most open-eyed act of hostility to
the vital interests of the city that even
the present ring was eve guilty of,
which is putting it strongly, indeed.
er, which the the late Council-now
asking endorsement Of the people
did its best to make perpetual in it's
effects, the city to-day might be sup
plying its citizens with electric light
at the bare cost OF manufacture, for the
city would have no dividends to pay on
NdCcicu SlUCh anu WOulu ask no pTOuI.
Partly for this very purpose, indeed,
was our present municipal street light
ing plant designed, and that fine con-
cern--now a burden on the back Of
our old gas wordsworth furnish the
nucleus for a splendid modern plant for
\ supplying consumers with electricity.
-
ut has been satisfactorily ascertain
we believe, that no further legisla-
ton is required of the State Legisla-
ture to enable the city to purchase the
property of the present private corpor-
alton. The latter the city is empow,
cred to do by arbitration, If necessary
for the determination of a fair prize
for the same, whenever Council shall
say the word.
There can be no h~esitancy as 10 what
is the sane course to pursue IN view
of the threatened bankruptcy Of the
gas works, In which event the cost of
Lighting the streets will be thrown d.
getty onto the taxpayers as an addi-
pnal burden.
rhe most Important requisite