The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-07-06
SUPPLY OF GAS
fccnttnped from First PaSe.)

(Ccnttnped from First Page.)
pose Of developing such natural prod.
ucts, the commonwealth does have
the right 10 make certain service re-
uuirements OF the benehciarieS OF
those rights.
Il believe that a business may be
of such nature. carried on under such
conditions. circumstances and obliga-
lions 10 the citizens OF the state,
said Mr.. Blue, that under its police
power, applicable thereto, the state
may enact and enforce laws respect
ing such business, so that the prin-
cipal commodity Of that business.
arising in the state. shall be furnished
or supplied 10 the citizens OF the state,
living or doing business in the COM
munities served by such business TO
the extent oil an adequate service 10
them within the limits OF the supply.
The STATE may require such 'erV-
zee. in MY opinion. il necessary, even
20 the extent O: :he entire supply OF
he commodity 20 the exclusion OF cltl-
zecS OF other states desiring such
commodity.
Mr.. Blues Opinion.
concerning the transportation Of Oil
AID gas and electrical current. Mr..
Blue pointed out that :he business
n each instance deals with COM
nod: necessarily and absolutely
..e!"i o. tae public. therefore put
ing chem il ,ae public service class.
Il is no; con,ended that the state
aas the power TO forbid the sale OF
,uch commodity TO persons out OF the
state nor the transportation thereon
20 points outside the state. On the
contrary il is at once conceded that
ne state docs not have such power
In each instance. however, the one
engaged in the business has the right
20 condemn property for the uses and
J purposes OF the business; this, OF
course. upon the ground that the prop.
,er;y so condemned will be devoted
TO public use.
Therefore, it Is concluded in each
instance. thai one engaged in the
business must supply or furnish to
the citizens Of the state. living or
doing business in the communities
served by such business. under rea.
sonable and proper regulations at a
fair and reasonable price. and there
for. in adequate quantities. within the
limits OF the supply; the commodity
OF the business; and such. is primarily
the duty OF one in the business--the
undertaking with the obligation TO the
public
The Address in Full.
Mr. Blues address in FULL was as
follows:
Neither Tho state of West Virginia.
nor hcr predecessor in sovereignty.
til. CONFERENCE.-THE NJ Eirginla- re-
served to the sovereignty tho
natural resources within the terri
= ho h.
natural resources 81 the state passed
from the state by grant Of the state. or
her predecessor in sovereignty. to pri-
vato ownership. saving to the state. per-
hapS. certain proprietary rights in the
streams and water courses OF the state
In view OK tho private ownership of the
natural resources within tho state one
would naturally wonder at the subject
assigned ~ me. particularly In view OF
the terms used in the subject. I am Of
tho opinion. however. that the spirit
rather than tho letter OF the subject.
can be mnds 70 arrear by presenting
certain r""cliti"na and circumstances.
which conditions ana circumstances
probably suggested the proprlcty OF
paper 10 respect thereto upon this occa-
sion.
Some Natural Resources Of tho State.
Aside from ial the approximate area
Of l2.Dp0 square mites az productive coal
area. or nne-halt nf tho entire areu OF
IN" state. containing arfroxtma tely 6o.-
son.Goo.o0o tons Of marketable coal. and
from which S0.oeQ.o0G tons OF coal
w-rs purchased aud marketed during the
wear 1916: ,b) the approximate produc-
ton Of 100000 barrels Of petroleum oil
produced and marketed annually: tc) the
great forests from which many millions
Of feet Of lumber are manufactured each
ycar-tvo OF the states natural re-
sourceS--natural water power and nat
ural gas-are. mentioned in particular.
In a paper prepared through the cour-
tesy Of Or. George Otis Smith. director
OF the United States Geological Survey.
and at tho request Of DR.. |. e. White
United States Zenloglst. the following
statement Is made:
According to the tables which follow
the minimum amount OF energy dnvel-
cped by the streams IN West Virginia is
about $4,000 horse power. tho assumed
maximum Is 1.1s3.060 horse power It
takes from II 70 Is tons per year Of
high grade steam coal 10 produce one
continuous horse power III tho most Ell
cicnt steam engine in ordinary use. Tho
amount of coal based upon the lower Of
;h- minimum horse power developed by
wes, Virginia streams IS therefore,
2.S5n.n0o tons per year ~ produce thu
maximum. 12.S00.o00 tons per year
Water Power.
Immediately preceding the year 1918
there was much activity in tho initial
stages Of development OF the natural
water power within the state. particu-
Iariy as to the New. Kanawha and Cheat
rivers. respectively. As to the latter
considerable progress has been made In
the requirement Of properties and actual
rral public Impression that almost. If not
all. OF the power or energy proposed to
he generated by the Cheat rievr devel-
opnent. would DO transmitted to another