The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-03-20

SERVING EETE RESOURCES WHICH IL. nov
BEING FAST DEPLETED WITHOUT SUHS3-A
TIAL BENEFIT TO THE STATE?
AIS already has been shown (Which the ques-
ton manifesty disregards) the state has feeelVed
and is receiving enormously substantial benefits ana
returns possibly greater than the oil and gas people
West Virginia not only has the unrestricted use
of this most convenient fuel and light product at an
average rate considerably lower than her neighbors
but addition the lions share of the money received
from the sale of her gas Ohio and Pennsyl wanna
back to her through expenditure in the search
for, production and purchase OF more gas
IF the state wants to commit itself to the policy
of restricting the production is it ready to pay the
land owner his lease rentals while the gas Is Delng
held for the benefit of future generations4
IF the state is not ready to commit itself to this
policy by putting up the money for the beneht OF an
its people, what just right would it have to ask the
gas company to tie up its money IN the pursuit OF
this pocy9
In either case wouldn It it be rather hard the
landowner, who might be up against it financially
because he couldn't lease his land or derive any
money from that source now, even though 1T might
benefit his posterity2
OF course all waste should be stopped Economy
In use is cardinal point of conservation
Q-WHAT PART HAS THE MANUFACTURE
ERS LIGHT q HEAT COMPANY, IT'S OFFICERS
AND AGENTS, TfKEN IN MAINTAINING LOB
BIES IN CHARLESTON TO PREVENT THE
LEGISLATURE FROM PLACING A TAX UPON
TIE PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION
OF OIL AND GAS?
A-The Manufacturers Light & Heat Company
has never maintained any Hobbies ia Charleston for
the purpose OF preventing the legislature from pac-
ing tax production transportation of oil and
gas or for any other purpose and has never spent
penny for any such purpose
Gumshoe methods do not appeal to When
any public matter affecting the interests of this
pany is impending will bring it out for open
discussion with the people, the sovereigns of the
state, through advertisements in the newspapers like
are doing We believe this to be both efficient
and honorable.
We would here point out to those over-wse
critics who condemn us because have gone to the
people in this open, public way, their absurd incon-
sistency when they say to why do you publish
these Open Letters and take your to the peope?
and then in the same breath accuse of having
lobby interests to influence the legislature at
Charleston In other words, is it fair square to
deny US the right to present case anywhere,
either to the public to the legislature, either
publicly or privately2
QaWHAT rs YOUR PURPOSE IN DISCUSS
ING THE GAS BUSINESS WITH TEE PUBLIC?
A-(Taken from a letter written by Mr. John
E. Gill, president of the company, to West Virginia
State Senator.) GIVE want all the people of the
state get interested In the gas business and learn
much as they about it from any source which
is reliable. Only informed public is capable of
taking of its best interests in public mat
tiers, and we feel that is clear and fair
solution. Thus you our motive is combined
one-for the good of the state and for good
WE'LL because we believe that what is best for the
people is also best for us, and vice versa
Q-Is NOT YOUR PRESENT EXTRAVA-
CANT ADVERTISING IN THE NEWSPAPERS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE MERELY
AN EFFORT TO SUBSIDIZE THE PRESS?
Ave using and paying for advertising
space in the newspapers of West Virginia because
this is the best way to state views to all the
people of the state We are able thus to talk over