Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-02-05
IN OPEN Letter The People Of Nest VUguuia:
What Do You Think About the Oil and Gas Business?

stations and hundreds of miles Of pipe lines with tho
idea OF making permanent business costs heavily
Do you know that natural gas is not necessity,
but luxury; that for heat and light, and manufac-
turing purposes there plenty of other FUELS such
as hard coal, soft COAL wood, coke, oil, producer gas
and electricity and therefore, since there plenty
of other such fuels but natural gas preferred because
it more convenient, cleaner, simpler to use, and In
some cases less expensive don't you think the people
who want to use it, whether they be in West Virginia
or elsewhere ought to pay enough for it to return
the money invested in the business after taking into
account that it is business Of great present risks
ard future uncertainty
If you had something valuable to sell for which
there was great demand, wouldn't you try to find
market for it, no matter how far away, which
would pay you reasonable interest on your invest
ncnt and eventually return the money invested
Would YOU invest millions and hundreds of millions
in any business unless you could expect your money
to be returned and profit for your risk?
Don't you think that you, the taxpayer, the farmer
the landowner the manufacturer, the merchant, the
professional man, the furnisher Of materials the
employe, and all of you who compose the population
Of West Virginia. and who benefit shown above
from the gas BUSINESS hope to have these benefits
increased only by allowing natural gas to be sold for
d reasonable and profitable price, wherever there is
q market With. the State without for industrial
Or domestic use?
a Do you think it good policy for State that has
great natural resources si:ci timber gas, coal and
ON and produces tde5., to .s5t TINT they shall be
sold cheaper within the State than elsewhere?
Don't you know that you cannot prevent pro-
Queer from taking lis product for sale where he
chooses, whether that product be wheat, pota-
tees, COAL timber, oil gas, ard that to attempt to
make him sell Is product cheaper in West Virginia
than he can sell elsewhere would force the sale Of
these natural products elsewhere. and cripple the
industries Of your State?
Don't you know that the great industries of your
State which TIC natural gas would have just cause
10 complain if II sl;ch pcnay-wise, pound-fooish
policy the gas cozpancs we're forced to take their
gas outside The State and thus compel these factories
to shut down CT move away?
Don't you realize that the great industrial and
manufacturing Gates Of this country have become
so and continue only by treating fairly andsquarey
those industries which situated within their bor
ders ard also that capital, which is proverbially
timd will not go where it fears it will not get such
treatment?
Don't you think that the prosperity of the indus
tries and the people of State is the Prosperity of
the State, and that the State have no interests
except the interests Of the people Of the State2
These are the questions we ask you, and
we will appreciate it greatly if you will dis
cuss them among yourselves and then CONF
municate with us and say frankly what you
think.
Wvrae to us on postal card, on send as a
letter. NE aoiU appreciate hearing from you.
This IS our first letter to you. It aO'u be
tollowcd By others So giue as your Vsescs.
We qosU auelcome them.
We can answer your questions in our next
letter or possibly direct to the interrogation.
Ask us any reasonable questions and if it
is possible to do so. we will answer them.
You and we are each SO deeply interested
in the business of discovering, producing and
marketing West Virginia's natural wealth
that frank discussion Of its features will
do us both no harm and may lead to better
understanding,