The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-02-19
MUCH INTEREST
BEING! |: ! AROUSED
Many Replies ToLetter Of Man.
utacturers Light Co.
SPIRIT / LAY EVIDENT
Hundreds Of Answers Have Been Re.
eeived, Many Of Which Are Favor.
able, and But Few Question tho
Positlon Of The Company.
[By Staff Correspondent.

10y JUAN SoETSSpUHueHLI
Pittsburgh, Pa, Feb. 16.-John E.
Gill. president of The Manufacturers
Light & Heat Company, stated here
today. that he has received hundreds
Of replies from citizens Of West Viz.
glnia to the Open Letter addressed to
the people Of the State by his com.
pany and published in this paper and
throughout the State last week as an
advertisement. Mr.. civ states that
these replies contain great variety
Of views. about so per cent OF which
are favorable to the gas interests, 30
per cent differ in minor particulars
and the remaining 20 per cent are
unfavorable. MIR. Gill says he is de.
lighted with the interest being shown
throughout the. State in this open dis
cussion and believes the result will be
to bring about a closer understanding
between the gas interests and tile
people. of the State.
I'VE have received hundreds OF let.
ters,' said Mr.. Gill, Sin answer to
our Open Letter, in which the people
state their views courteously aid with
intelligence, which Is very gratifying
and shows a spirit of fair play and
Justice. Fully fifty per cent Of them
/. favor helping the gas and oil people
to, develop the State and find market
for their products where possible.
About thirty per cent disagree with
some of the ideas suggested. About
10 per cent say they are not sufficient
1y informed about the questions to
venture a reply and ask for further
information. and the balance simply
state that they think the rates for gas
are high enough or too high. A very
few, not over a dozen or So are
abusive and bitter In their remarks,
which is such a small percentage that
1t shows the people Of West Virginia
are practically all fair minded and
without prejudices.
ut is pleasure to us to know that
we have such an open minded class
of people before whom to state our
case and we shall go on with these
Open Letters in the newspapers, feel
ing that we are being impartially and
honestly judged and that our case is
in the best OF hands. Our first letter
was prepared with the purpose OF get.
ting an idea OF how the people OF the
State looked at this great business OF
producing and marketing oil and gas
and now that we havea clear, idea Of
how 1t is regarded throughout the
State, We shall be able to 60 ahead
and furnish the information so many
Of our correspondents have asked for.
and shall await their further opinions
with interest and confidence.
3""The unprecedented attitude OF the
newspapers Is also a matter upon
which West Virginia is to be con.
graduated and augnrs we'll for a safe
solution Of any question which may
come before the public. of the State
at any time" ~
Mr.. gill stated that the next Open
Letter will probably be a collection
OF a number OF the typical letters re.
ceiyed. which viii show all the people
of the State just how others In the
State look Of the matter. He stated
that these letters WIN be taken from
all those received and viii show ali
varieties Of opinions, both favorable
to the gas companies and Otherwise.
This public letter viii appear shortly
,instltis newspaper and Should be read
with interest and studied carAtufiy.