The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-24


Monday night the report of the COM
mittee, consisting of councilmen and
citizens to investigate the feasibility
of granting natural gas franchise
to Walter w. Stephens, who repre-
sents the Independent Gas Co, now
lighting the towns of Amsterdam and
Bergholz, from gas wells located in
the eastern section of Carroll county,
made their report. After this report
was read to the council by Attorney
u. s. Johnston, the secretary of the
committee, Councilman Sanders asked
that vote of thanks be extended to
the gentlemen composing the citi-
zens end of the committee, which was
heartily agreed to. The report was as
follows;
Canton, o., Dec. 10, 1908.
To the Honorable City Council of
Canton: Pursuant to resolution of
council your president called together
certain citizens and councilmen to
constitute a committee for the pur-
pose of investigating, upon behalf of
council a field of natural gas, brought
to your attention by Mr.. Walter w.
Stephens who, on behalf of the own
ers, has heretofore made application
for a franchise to furnish competing
natural gas to the city of Canton.
The committee as named by your
president and as organized on the
third day of this month comprised the
following members: OF council,
Messrs. David N. Owen, Fred Sanders.
J. P. williams and DR.. e. s. Folk; of
the citizens, Messrs. John A. Hay,
John e. Monnot, Jacob /. Piper and
II. s. Johnston. The committee Sc
lected Mr.. Owen to be it's president
and Mr.. Johnston as its secretary.
Subsequent meetings were held on
Thursday the 10th, Saturday the 18th,
Wednesday the 10th, Thursday the
18th, and on Saturday the 18th, it's
conclusion as hereinafter indicated
was reached and this report was
adopted and ordered to be conveyed
to council by the secretary.
The committees investigation COW
cred visit to the proposed gas teld,
conferences with Mr.. Stephens and
with his associates, together with
such other evidentiary facts as we
were able to secure from various dis,
interested sources. The committee
spent no money and made no ex'
pense for any purpose, and under
these circumstances and from the lin
tied experience and observation OF
its members, was it's final judgment
formed.
The entire committee entered upon
the investigation with considerable
confidence and very much in the hope
that field of gas would be found thai
we could recommend to council, fol
the reason largely that it was definite
-'iv represented to us that at our visi
ito the gas wells it would be demon
strated that the gas supply would bt
satisfactory beyond any question, ant
we recognized that such "a find
would assist materially in satisfying
the very general demand for gas at
lower price, IL possible, than now pre-
walls. In which sentiment the commit
fee Is In accord; but Notwithstanding
this wish we were impressed with thu
grave responsibility that rested upol
IIs and determined that our desires
refecting perhaps those OF larg'
majority of our citizens, our final con
olusion, should represent our bes
Judgment and our best conscience il
the interests of our whole city, ant
that In the event of serious doubt WI
would resolve "to bear the ills WI
have rather than fly to others that w
know not Of"
We will .all agree that neither abl
men nor abundant capital can alon
bring natural gas to our city com
mercially: no matter what their abil
ity we must always come to the fina
query: "Where is the field? Wha
has It shown? What can 1t do? Wha
Is it's probable .life?" 1t is untrie
or undeveloped 1t may be similar t
many other hopeful appearing ga
fields. strong and abundant now an
in a year or two at most, entirely eS
hausted. For such an uncertainty
If It prove to be so-our citizens mus
endure the establishment of the lines
with the resultant chaos in our street
for many months and the attendan
danger and inconvenience to ever!
one.
II the gas field should display
nermanent character and shoul
Hmatch up" with fields that have bee
so demonstrated elsewhere in the pas
then the franchise in question shoul
be considered for the committee b.
Iieves that capital could be readil
interested to build the lines, for W
are QulJe odtIohCu thNh SAAS D'
is profitable.
The committee has also considere
the advisability of granting this fral
chise regardless of accurate or dehnit
knowledge upon the part of counc
of the source of supply of gas; in otl
er words taking a chance by spec
latlng upon the life of the field an
upon the faith and confidence thi
might be felt toward the applicar
for the franchise; aside from wins
might be said sentimentally about u
city's contracts, this committee ca
not adopt this view for the reason
above indicated that neither men nC
money can create a supply of naturi
gas where none exists and If your Co
fidence SO expressed should result
the failure of the men to produC
the gas, their lack of judgment an
loss of invested capital-f 1t shouI
be so-would not compensate the ci'
for its great inconvenience In bull
ing the lines and the added compile
tions to the whole gas situation
which upon reflection will be apparel
to all.
Competition TO be such In taet
well as In name can only mean Eh
two or more companies are In o.
city upon an equal basis, the partl
uIar and very essential element