West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-02-12

stations and hundreds Of miles OF pipe lines with tho
idea of making it permanent business costs heavily
Do you know that natural gas is not a necessity,
but n luxury; that for heat and light and manufac-
turing purposes, there plenty of other fuels such
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 is convenient cleaner simpler use, and i'm
less expensive, don't you think the people
who want to it. whether they be in West Virginia
elsewhere, ought to pay enough for it to return
the money invested in the business. after taking into
account that it is n business of great present risks
and future uncertaintys
II you had something valuable to sell for which
there was a great demand. wouldn't you try to find
n market for it, matter how far away, which
would pay you reasonable interest on your invest
ment and eventually return the money invesed2
Would you invest millions and hundreds of millions
in any business unless you could expect your money
to be returned and profit for your risk2
Don't you think that you the taxpayer, the former
the landowner, the manufacturer, the merchant the
professional man, the furnisher of materials, the
employee 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
reasonable and profitable price, wherever there is
market, within the State without, for industrial
domestic usep
Do you think it good policy for State that has
great natural resources, such timber, gas coal and
OIL and produces them, to insist that they shall he
sold cheaper within the State than elsewhere2
Don't you know that you cannot prevent a pro-
ducer from taking his product for sale where he
chooses whether that product be corn, wheat, poa-
toes coal, timber, oil gas and that to attempt to
make him sell his product cheaper in West Virginia
than he sell elsewhere would force the sale OF
these natural products elsewhere, and cripple the
industries OF your StateP
Don't you know that the great industries of your
State which natural gas would have just cause
to complain il by such penny wise. pound-foolish
policy the gas companies were forced to take their
gas outside the State and thus compel these factories
to shut down move away?
Don't you realize that the great industrial and
manufacturing States Of this country have become
so and continue only by treating fairly and squarey
those industries which situated within their bor-
ders; and also that capital, which is proverbialy
timd will not go where it fears it will not get such
treatment2
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 State1
These are the questions we ask you, and
we will appreciate it greatly if you will dis
cuss them among yourselves and then com
municate with us and say frankly what yol
think.
Write to as on postal card, or send as
letter. We wU appreciate hearing from you
This IS orr first letter to you. II aoiH b
folLoaocd Jy others. SO gi0e as yOur 0ie'0s
We aUW aCcLcome them.
We can answer your questions in our mex
letter or possibly direct to the interrogator
Ask us any reasonable questions and if
is possible to do So we viii answer them.
You and we are each so deeply intereslc
in the business Of discovering, producing am
markclnr West Nrr'nia's natural wealt
th.f q IFS features wi
d.. -. a..n ..t niay Icad 10 a bette
IND standing.