Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-03-26
Second Open Letter to the
People Of West Virginia

O-You give the total of oil and gas rentals,
royalties drilling COST maintenance etc, palo ou' IL
West Virginia from 1859 to l9!2, ncluslvg ,I 20
5000, ESQ, 300 Co., WHAT WAS THE TOTAL vA m1JE
OF THE OIL AND GAS PRODUCED In lie
SAME TERRITORY DURING THE SANE
sPERIoD, AND HOW MUCH REMAINS WITHIN
THE STATE?
A-The total value of oil and gas produced IN
West Virginia from 1889 to 1872 inclusive cai,o'
be accurately ascertaned. We have endeaVoreu Ia
every way to get the data but OWING TO the gledC
amount of operating done by individuals, OF when
there is no record, nothing more accurate than d
guess or estimate could be made 1t runs lnto the
millions, of course
By far the greater portion of the money received
for the sale of oil and gas during the period men
toned was re-nvested in the business In west VIZ
gnia and paid out for labor, drilling, laying pipe
lines and other items incident to the business.
Many claim that more has been invested than
has been taken out. The profit whole must come
from the future. 1t has not been made as yet
CHOW LONG rs IT ESTIMATED THAT
OIL AND GAS WILL LAST IN WEST VIRGINIA
AT THE PRESENT RATE OF CONSUMPTION?
A-There is wide difference of opinion on this
point. Even experts do not agree The length OF
time during which the present rate OF Consumption
can be maintained depends very largely upon the
results of future drilling the extension of present
territory and the discovery of new fields.
Q-DON'T YOU TEINK GAS SHOULD BE
SOLD CHEAPER NEAR THE WELLS THAN AT
A DISTANCE, ON ACCOUNT OF THE COST OF
TRANSPORTATION?
Ayes Gas should be sold at a lower rate close
to the point of production than at points more dls-
tant Such has always been our practice. Our rates
at points near the fields lower than those at
distant points
O-IS IT TRUE THAT GAS IS SOLD
CHEAPER BY YOU IN SOME PLACES IN OHIO
AND PENNSYLVANIA THAN IN SOME
PLACES IN WEST VIRGINIA?
Ayes Gas is sold cheaper in some places IN
Ohio (but not in Pennsylvania than it is IN some
places in West Virginia owing to the fact that these
Ohio points are closer to the source of production
than these West Virginia points. Where the dis
tances from the fields equal the rates are equal,
regardless of state lines.
o-ARE YOU PRODUCING GAS IN OTHER
STATES THAN WEST VIRGINIA?
Ayes We have more wells and produce more
gas in other states than IN West Virginia But add
ing the gas we buy to the gas produce In West
Virginia our supply from there is about the same as
from other states.
O-IS 1T TRUE THAT AIR IS PUMPED
INTO THE GAS LINES THUS REDUCING THE
QUALITY OF THE GAS?
At is not true that air is pumped into gas
lines and mixed with gas it cannot be done 1t is just
impossible as mixing OH anu WdIeI Ills Is d
SUSPICION that can be scientifically demonstrated
baseless.
O-DO YOU NOT THINK WEST VIRGINIA
OUGHT TO COMPEL GAS TO BE SOLD
CHEAPER TO MANUFACTURERS WITHIN
THE STATE THAN WITHOUT, IN ORDER TO
INDUCE FACTORIES TO LOCATE INSIDE THE
STATE?
A-No Cheap fuel alone will not bring indus
trial plants into West Virginia. Fuel is only of
the elements in manufacturing. 1t is manifestly
unfair for a state to insist that one who has his
capital invested in any business should be compelled
to sell the product of that business cheaper within
the state than without under like conditions, which
taking into consideration the cost of transpor
tation and amount of investment necessary; this
anples to gas to COAL to timber, to agricultural
products to manufactured products, anything
produced in the state.
If the state, in justice and fairness say to the
gas company: 'You must sell your gas cheaper to
fhe factory in the state of West Virginia because
YOU produce your gas in West Virginia, then it
saw also to the owner of the factory You must sell
what YOU make in the state of West Virginia cheaper
to the people of West Virginia than to anybody else,
because you get cheaper gas in the state Of West
Virginia which the state has secured for you"
OFF YOUR COMPANY STOOD IN THE
PLACE OF THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
WOULD YOU NOT BE VIGOROUSLY ENGAGED