The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-07
Mayor Schmidt Clearly States
Facts in the Natural Gas
Controversy.
100000 Would Be Small Com.
pensatiOn For the
Damage Done.
Mayor Makes an Earnest Appeal
to the Tax Payers For
Support.

~
Il wish the people OF Wheeling
thoroughly 10 understand what ques-
tions are involved in the controversy
now on with the Natural Gas Company
of West Virginia"
This was the opening sentence OF
an interview accorded the Intell-
gencer yesterday by Mayor c. c.
Schmidt Continuing Mayor Schmidt
said:
"A little history Of this case would
be interesting. Twenty years ago the
City OF Wheeling had a valuable prop
erty In its gas plant. II had granted
{ franchise to the Natural Gas Com
pany Of West Virginia 10 sell natural
gas for heating purposes. In grant
ing that franchise IL expressly with
held the right TO sell gas for fllumi-
mating purposes. Almost from the
day the Natural Gas Company began
TO do business in Wheeling. II began
quietly. but insiduously to break its
contract and to invade the field occu-
pied by the City Gas Plant Time and
again It was warned. Time and again
complaint was made. but promises
were made. only to be broken. Fin
ally the City Of Wheeling was COM
PEELED 10 bring action in the Courts,
and after years Of litigation. a COM
petent Court has found that the Natur-
al Gas Company Of West Virginia con-
tinually and deliberately violated its
contract with the City OF Wheeling.
and on account of such violations IL
is now possible for US TO recover dam
ages in an enormous sum
What would be the proper amount
Of damages?
Let Us figure for a minute. A few
years ago the city gas plant used TO
return a revenue into the city OF from
10000 to $4,000 a year. 4 plant that
would produce such revenues would-be
worth easily 100000 The value of
that plant and business has been
destroyed by the actions Of the
Natural Gas Company OF West Vir-
ginia. We have a right TO recover
damages for that destruction The
courts have all held that there is no
question about IL and the board OF
control and council will not be doing
their duty II they do not insist upon
compensation to the last penny for
this enormous destruction TO the city
D property
That Is brief history Of the case.
Now what is the situation?
For some unaccountable reason, a
large number OF councilmen-seem bent
on giving 10 the Natural Gas Com
pany Of West Virginia absolutely with
out compensation and without price
whatever. the privilege Of selling gas
for Illuminating purposes. II they
could have their way the city gas plant
! would not only be put out OF business.
but not a dollar Of the enormous and
just claim which this city has against
the Natural Gas Company would be
collected. l must say that I am
amazed. amazed especially at the ac-
tions Of the fifteen councilmen who
met secretly on Saturday night and
tried 10 start a. movement that could
only resuh in giving the Natural Gas
Company OF West Virginia n monopoly
OF the lighting business in this city
without compensation. and AZ the same
time be a complete surrender OF tho
city's claim for damages against this
company
Vow here is the situation IN which
; stand. The Board OF Control and
the Council are In my judgment trus-
tees sor the property Of the people OF
! Wheeling u is our duty not only
b 20 protect the existing property. but
20 collect a just compensation for the
p oamages that has been done 20 our
property We have demanded % the
Natural Gas company OF West vir-
j E.nia the sum of $4,000 90 IN com
pensation for damages done City
property and for the further privilege
.oi selling as an iiluminaut This sum
is very modest cum. n would not
pay for more than one-haf % the
damages thar this company has done
fo fhr people 90 wheeling 20 will
not bc more fran enouEh 70 repay The
bonds arfeh the people ~ wheeling
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