The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-05-11
Manufacturers FAVOR MOUe
To Restrict Expectation OF
Gas From West Virginia
LEGISLATURE PROB ABLY WILL
BE ASKED TO CREATE
COMMISSION.
Gas Situation Discussed at Meeting
Held Here Yesterday-BelleVe
/ Relief Can Be Secured.

! A definite move 10 restrict the un-
limited expectation Of gas from west
Virginia is likely To be nude by tEc
manufacturers of this section O! the
state, cooperating with other manu-
iaCturera generally.
The increasing difficulty in securing
an adequate supply oil gas has Target!
hampered manufacturing operations
throughout this section. spite OF
HE fact that more gas was produced
in West Virginia last year than ever
before, and in spite or the TACT thal
the manufacturers Light Heat com
pany handled more gas through us
mains in 1916 than ever before, the
manufacturers OF West Virginia have
had constantly increasing trouble III
securing gas, and have lost hundreds
of thousands of dollars through short
age in the gas supply. The fact seems
TO be that the leading gas companies
have expanded their business, reach
Ing out into large number Of COM
munities which they have not here
tofore served. and have taken on many
customers vino are being served at the
expense of the manufacturers OF West
Virginia.
Very recently the Manufacturers
Light & Heat company has made ap-
plicali0n to The public utilities COM
mission OF West Virginia Tot the priv
llege OF advancing It's gas rates in Ger
cain parts OF Marshall, Marion. Har-
ri$On, Wctzel, Taylor and Mononealla
counties. The proposed advance. II =
stated is for the purpose Of "Qualizing
the rates paid In those counties with
the rates in The Pan Handle counties
generally.
An important meeting Of tHe manu-.
facturcrs OF the northern section Hf
West Virginia was held AZ the Fort
Henry club yesterday, a: which he
general gas situation WAS discussed,
Among those present were: ". L.
Wells. Chester: W. II. Kirk, FollanS-
hoe: {. II. Blucmenauer and James
PAUL, WellSburg: J. G. Hoffman, a.
b. Paxton, j. t.. Brady, Chas Hunter,
II + Fields, Alex Glass, A ". PAUL,
+. W. Stifel. Wheeling; ". \. 3. Dial
zrll. Calvin Rowe. Moundsrille; J. u.
Chancellor. ParkcrShurg.
These gentlemen represent a large
number Of important industries and
arc active members Of the ManufaC.
lu-rrs' association Of the state Mr..
G.. O. Magic. president OF the asSocia.
lion. participated in the meeting. As
Il result Of the meeting ii was deter
mined that some action should b.
taken looking 70 tho conservation OF
West Virginia gas for the benefi, of
West Virginia manufacturers and con.
Sumcrs. Exactly what form this
action will assume remains 10 be- sen.
hut it is probable thar an appeal will
b" made to thn legislature for tho ere.
alton Of commission O. investigation
that will inventory The gas supply of
the state, the demands upon them.
and the facilities Of the gas companies
10 meet West Virginia needs. 1t is
recognized that whatever action is
taken must be in accordance with the
constitutional provision against r.
Straint Of Interstate trade. but the
manufacturers generally believe that
an abundant supply Of West Virginia
gas for West Firginian$ can be So.
cured without injustice Ia any in.
tnrest. If an honest effort is made Ia
comply with The proper regulations.
The discussion al the meeting yes.
trrday. il was understood. covered a
large field. and while il was of II most
friendly character, the gentlemen pres,
ent were decided in The opinion that
effective relief could be secured il
proper steps were taken