The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-09-03
Wants FAX on Gas

nv aIltS Ak OIL SJdS,
Continues From Page one.)
Nfthin tile past few years ans MY ny AZ
tention has been called forctbly 70 the
danger OF the situat loa and the vast
harm excessive pumping Is doing us
by the fact that the earlier gas fields
have been exharstiyely drained Of
their supply. The town. OF Morgan
town, for instance. a few years ago
obtained an abundant supply OF gas
at low rates from her, very back door.
Now high rates must be paid and gas
can be obtained only by pumping.
Monongalla county has sent billions Of
cubic feet OF gas to Pennsylvania, and
| new she has not enough left to supply
without supreme eeffort the modest
demands of a small town Xix Morgan
town. Similar experiences are multi
piled all over the State. In many 10.
callties pipe line competition hns made
1t impossible for local people to secure
gns at reasonable or moderate cost
There are communities right In the
heart OF our gas fields which must pay,
the high prices charged In Pittsburg.
Cleveland and other distant cities and
then must put up with a scant supply,
'"Truly it is time to take action on
this. the most important question that
confronts teh people OF West Virginia
today. and intend to stand for. reme-
dial action. There are MANY other
good reforms which should be enacted
into law by the legislature OF West
Virginia. but none OF them IS OF such
supreme Importance as this gas ques-
ton.
Meet State Revenues. @
"Tfne very moderate tax OF one cent
per 1000 cubic feet would raise more
revenue than the State now enjoys
without imposing hartlships upon the
gas produming interests. It would EN-.
able us to abolish our direct State tax
on property to build new school
houses and generally build up our ed
ucational system and to furnish ample
funds for the construction OF roads
and bridges all OF which are sadly
needed in West virginia now. This
| tax would be pnfd In large measure by
capitalists who dwell In other States
and whose only interest Is In taking
out OUR natural gas. 1t should be
borne in mind that the natural gns in
ilustry is very peculiar in that 1t has
no compromising advantages like 9TH
err enterprises which exploit natural
resources. It brings no new citizens
to the State employs no large bodies
of men and builds no towns like the
coal trade or manufacturing enter
prfses: it is destructive pure and sim
pie md being operated for the benetlt
of other States and to our letriment.
1T might be said that where gas is
sold nj six seven or eight cents to
manufacturers n one cent tax would
be conflscatory. ct me tell you that
the amount OF gas sold at these prices
these days in West Virginia Is infinit-
estimable. In former days 1t was sold
as low as four cents and cheap gas
was the means, OF bringing many in
lustrial enterprises to our State. The
development OF the pipeline system
has put an end to cheap gas for the.
simple reason that they can take 1t
out OF the State and sell more OF 1t at
higher prices. Here and there n local
company may sell 1t cheap but the
number OF such companies is rapidly
diminishing
Senator Scott Agrees.
Senator Scott. who overheard a por-
ton of the interview, made the follow.
Ing comment: "You may quote me as
confirming everything that our govern
or has said regarding the prime I'M
portance Of this question. The time
has come when we must take steps
either looking to the. preservation OF
our natural gas or for the production
of some revenue from It."
From now on natural gas taxation
may be regarded rs the chief issue In
the election OF the next legislature.