The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-13
COMMERCE CHAMBER
HEARS GAS REPORT
Little Of Interest Accom-
plished at Meeting Held
Last Night.

There was little OF interest accom-.
plished at the meeting Of the Cham
Der OF Commerce OF ,FaIrmont, held
last night in the Watson building
There was report from the gas COM
mittee In regard 10 the gas rates IN
this district. The gist OF the report
was to the effect that the gas company
would grant a lower gas rate 10 thls
section. II investigation proved that
such a step was warranted, but there
was no direct action taken TO get
away frrm the high gas rate.
After the report from the speciaI
gas committee had been read. l.. NJ.
Davis offered the following resolu'
ton, which was passed:
Resolved, That the president OF
the Chamber of Commerce appoint
committee Of three to cooperate WIN
a similar committee OF the Business
Mems Association OF Fairmont in the
location OF q gas field and 10 report
on the advisability OF organizing an III
dependent gas company
In reference to the telephone merger
Charles W. Evans. secretary OF thC
Chamber of (timmeN'c, wal' authorized
TO reprNsei>- that body al a meeting
of the Public Service Commission 10
be held in Charleston on August H.
at which tine the question will ccme
up before that body.
There was some discussion concern
ing the street paving, but no action
was taken further than the authoriza
ton of the appointment OF a com
mIttee.
The report OF the committee ap'
pointed by the Chamber OF Commerce
TO confer with the gas company loi
lows: 49,
Fairmont Chamber OF Commerce.
Fairmont, w. Va.
Gentlemen.
We. your special committee appoint
ed some time ago to confer with the
Fairmont Gas Company relative 10 Sc
curing cheaper gas for manufacturing
purposes in our city, have the follow'
ing TO report ,,,o,
president. We met the executive COM
mittee Of the FaiTmont Gas Company
consisting Of Messrs. Jas. 0. watson
NJ l.. hutchinson. Walton Miller. T.
y. Moore and B. F. Pryor. on Satur'
dav. July 81. 1915. in the rooms OF tne
chamber OF Commerce. Your commit
tee reviewed the local situation anu
made a plea for cheaper gas for man
ufacturing purposes. whereupoh MI, MI
las o. Watson. after stating that ms
company was anxious TO do everything
possible to relieve the situation. went
into the matter from the standpoint ot
the gas company giving your commit
tee in detail the position OF the com
many relative to the financial condltioh
operating costs, gas supply. both pres
emf and future, also giving US much IN
formation concerning the gas sltua'
ton in surrounding cities, stating spe,
cihcaIly that Fairmont is assured oI
an adequate supply of gas for long
term OF years, where as some Oh our
competitive cities are not SO wen pro
tected. 49,, -
Mr. Watson also stated that the TO-
,aJ earnings Of the company TINS year
amounting TO approximately $l6O'OoV'
had been expended in securing new
territory, extending their lines anu
nerfecting their plant in order 10 bet
ter insure more permanent gas sup
ply. o, a,a
statement the impress
sion was left very clearly IN the Minus
~ vour committee that the Fairmon'
Gas Company felt It was not now IN
position TO give us a lower rate Mr
Watson insisted. however, that a thor.
ough investigation be made by your
committee Of their books. contracts
pas field and general financial condl
ton with a view OF verifying his state
ments: this your committee did nol
feel justified in doing without further
inst tructions from your honorable body
The correspondence your commltteC
had had with the Fairmont Gas Com
many is attached hereto and made
part OF this reoprt.
Respectfully submitted.
,WM. H. SANDS.
Chairman
T. WILBUR HESNEN,
W. A. WEIDEBUSCH,
CARL RIGGS.
The committee further reported tina;
the executive committee Of the gas
company assured them that the com
pany would grant their request for a
lower rate ifthe results OF their inVes'
tigation appeared to warrant It.