The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-12-05
State Side Opened
In Gas Controversy
WHEN HEARING is RESUMED BY
The PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION.
state oeologist .. c. White on Stand
several Hours-Auditors Make
Report Of Finliinss Today.


and development OF the gas industry
In this section of West Virginia. the
costs OF producing and marketing the
iuel as compared with other commo-
dlties. and the probable length of tho
He or the field already developed. to-
gether with the possibilities of un.
developed territory. was given by Dr.
l. G White. OF Morgantown, state
geologist, before Judge Howard n.
ogden. OF the state public service
commission. yesterday. at the hearing
OF the protests against the proposed
readJustment and Increase in rates
charged consumers OF the Wheeling
district by the Manufacturers Light
a Heat Company and its subsidiary
corporations.
J The hearing. which was begun Sy
the public service commission more
than a month ago. was resumed YES
terday morning in the Circuit court
room OF the Ohio county, court house
after recess OF two weeks. which
had been taken after the defendant
companies had completed their side
or the controversy. The recess was
taken 10 allow expert accountants. an.
pointed by the commission. time in
winch TO go over the books and rec
orus OF the companies 10 ascertain
their correctness and TO prepare some
estimate OF the approximate valuation
OF all holdings OF the Manufacturers
Light a Heat Company both outright
and through its subsidiary concerns.
j Practically all of yesterdays ses
sion was devoted to the cross-examina.
ton by the State OF T. O. Sullivan. OF
pittsburgh. general manager Of the
Manufacturers Light 4 Heat Compa
ny, and to the testimony OF Dr. White
. 1t the close Of last nights session ad
lournment was taken until this morn
I ing at 10 O'Clock. when the bearing
VIII be reopened in the Criminal Court
F. rooms. Several witnesses, IN was
given out last night. will appear IN
behalf OF the State. and several local
persons have been summoned TO ties
tify in behalf of the complaining con
sumers. In the event that their testi
mony is completed to-day. the report
or the committee Of accountants who
examined the company's books will
be submitted. Il is likely that II will
take at least a day 20 go over this TO
port. and every indication is that the
hearing will not adjourn before Sat
urday afternoon.
|, General Manager Sullivan.
II Three sessions were held yesterday
\ After the morning session had con
Vened at 10 o'clock General Manager
sullivan was the first witness called
and Tor more than an hour he was
F. cross-eXamined by Judge Nesbitt. DIT
White was called when the hearing
J was resumed at the afternoon session
and he continued on the stand through
out the day. The State geologist ar.
I rived In the city yesterday morning
and as he could remain for only one
day. his evidence was completed dur
ing the afternoon. He was cross-ex
amined by attorneys for the defense
and az G.15 o'clock. the cross-examina
ton not having been completed. ad
1ournment was again taken until S
/ o'clock last night. The evening ses
sion lasted two hours. with Or. White
on the stand 10 the end. He left on a
late train last night for his home In
Morgantown.
Much valuable evidence for the
state was brought out in his exami-
nation. The claim OF the defendant
conn anies. brought cut recently in
the testimony Cf both General Mana
ger Sullivan and Assistant General
Manager Layton. that the supply OF
gas In this section Of the country Is
"
hausted within ten or ffteen wears.
this being one Of the arguments I'm
favor Of the increase in rates in or
der 10 net reasonable return 20 the
stoCkholder on his Investment was
repudiated by Prof White Il be-
lieve that West Nirginia will be produ-
cling great quantities OF gas fifty years
| hence" he said The witness said
that the production OF gas began I'm
. Pennsylvania moro than fifty years
ago. but 70 was not utilized until
about thirty years ago. Fields have
been known 90 produce gas FOR that
| length OF time. he said. and wells
have been known 20 produce for q
much longer time Judging from the
past. there is no indication. he added.
/ that the supply Boo this section will
have become exhausted IN ten years.
] From his long and eminent career
as Ecolorist and his close acquaint-
ance with the gas industry. Dr.
/ Whites evidence IS considered valu-
I able by the state.
Dr. White Called.
When the hearing was resumed AZ