Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-01-13

FRANCHISE 20 cut the threats of the citi-
zens by competition in lighting, the
city had magnificent property In
more respects than one. Not only was
II paying institution, but through q
series OF years
Careful Management
had resuoced in reducing the price Of
Illuminating gas to point below the
most favored city in the United States,
and perhaps IN all the world. From
the old private corporation price of
$3.50 per 1000 feet the city by success
i've reductions finally made the cost
75c. net, and even at that rate there
was sufficient margin of profit to light
the streets and puDhc buildings with
gas. without expense to taxpayers, and
to leave over annually a very consider
able sum of money TO be applied to the
payment of interest and the reduction
of the bonded debt OF the city. 1t was
good thing The annual income Of
the works averaged 100000, and there
was bright promise that before many
years this would be increased by at
least half that sum through the growth
of the city and the increased demand
for light, and that there would be a
yearly surplus after maintaining the
works in a splendid manner, sufficient
to materially assist in
DefrayinG the Expenses
of the city government. Electricity
was looming up as the coming illumi-
nate, and level-headed and far-seeing
citizens anticipated that the city would
embark in electric lighting for COM
merclal purposes, as Wei as for the IL
| Elimination of the streets, and that the
| comparatively new invention, CONNER
| cially speaking, would produce a vastly
! increased income for the light depart
ment while assuring lighter burden
on the people through increased /
ceipts for value received
But in an evil day and hou certain
gentlemen comprising the Wheeling
Electrical Company knoced ar the
doors of Council and admitted an or
dlhanc..aanting them a franchise for
-de sale of electric lights. TO pass
such an ordinance, under the circum-
stances, was asinine, but Council,
with that deplorable ability for blum
dering which is characteristic Of Jaw
making bodies sent it though with a
glad hand. Anu from that day the gas
works has had a hard time OF it. as is
illustrated by the fact that the annual
income now is just about what it was
a -ozen years ago, when IL ought 20
have been $4,000 or STE, 900 while
giving the consumers of light
A Cheaper service
if not better.
The ordinance for the benefit Of the
Wheeling Electrical Company was
passed July IL, 1887 and sec 3 limited
the franchise to twenty years. 1t
would be thought that ordinary legis-
lators, with that example of condemn
ed foolishness before them. would for
ever ana ever steer clear Of a like mis-
take, and yet on the night of April s.
1893, the Council of the city Of . heel
ing, in open session. passed, without
even the formality Of a reference 10 a
committee. another ordinance granting
to the Consumers Electrical Company
OF Wheeling a franchise to sell COM
mercial electric lights, and not only
did this, but voted down, in the Sec
ond Branch, one proposition to have
the Company pay 1880 per annum for
the franchise and another to pay one
per cent of its receipts. II other
words. the gas works.
Owned by the People.
was dealt body blow by the rep
resentatives OF the people n the in
terests Of a few gentlemen who knew
good thing and now TO get it. This
Ordnance passed the First Branch
unanimously. and in the Second by
vote OF Is ayes 10 noes, the latter
Braa0ury, Fair, Larschner, MegraiI,
Radcliffe and Mr.. President.
The public indignation at this action
Of Council was and has been unbound
ed. and in an interview published in
the Register on May %. 1899 Mayor
Sweeney denounced such legislative &C
ton wit righteous wrath, saying,
among otner things:
This city has progressed too far and
is too we'll equipped with modern util-
tiles to aecede TO any corporation the
use OF her remaining properties 4or