The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-24
Frank Prior Testies That Lines of All the Exporting
Companies Run Through Marion
County Territory.
LETTER TO NEWSPAPER NETTLES ATTORNEY POWELL
R. T. Cunningham Gives More Testimony Regarding the
Financial Damage Done Through the
Fuel Shortage Last Winter.

Last winter when the local supply
Of gas was inadequate 20 meet the
needs OF the community the Hope
Natural Gas company refused TO sell
gas TO the Monongahela Valley Trac.
ton company. That was testified to
by Frank B. Pryor. head Of the Trac.
ito ncompany's gas department and
this testimony was easily the feature
OF the morning session Of the hear
ing before the Public Service commits
sion which was resumed In the Cir.
cult court room shortly before 10
o'clock.
Mr.. Pryor also testified that the
lines OF all the exporting gas COM
panies cross the Traction company's
lines IN the county and that there
would have been no physical difficulty
about the local company taking over
gas from the exporting companies,
from most OF which in the past the
N. v. T. company has purchased gas.
Before Mr.. Pryor had concluded his
testimony this morning the fact was
developed that the Pittsburgh and
West Virginia Gas company, which
had sold some gas TO the r.. dis
tFibutlne company. had decided that
IN the future II would not sell any
more gas TO the Monongahela Valley
Traction company 10 meet local needs.
Last winter this company sold the NJ.
Y. 7. company a supply OF gas. Tho
NJ. v. T. company has not made ap-
plication TO the Carnegie company fol
gas thus far
Shortly before . o'clock this after.
noon the commission held another ses.
sion, which IS in progress as The West
Virginlan is going to presg The chic,
attorney for the plaintiff, James 4.
Meredith. will call Frank Pryor.
Charles W. Evans. Ernest G. Scott and
W. ]. Wiegel before the commission 70
testify this afternoon Every indica.
ton points to the case being contin.
ued until a future time as it will be
impossible to finish It today.
Robert T. Cunningham again took
the stand when the hearing was re.
sumed this morning. Mr. Cunning.
ham gave in detail the time lost in
operation BY the Monongah Glass COM
pany due to the gas shortage. Ac.
cOrding to the figures submitted by
Mr.. Cunningham it colud be cleaned
that the big glass plants had barely
one.third Of its possible output due TO
inadequate gas supply.
Mr.. Cunningham it could he CLEANED
community could make up its own
case on the gas shortage problem
Each community has its own expenses.
Because Of the gas shortage a number
Of people we're obliged to live at no
tells during last winter. Mr.. Cunning.
ham referred to the awful conditions
last were experienced in the homes,
churches and schools.
Attorney Powell asked Mr.. Cunning.
ham to file a statement showing what
the gas consumption of the IoHongah
Glass company was between Septem.
Der 1, 1916, and July /. 1918. One Of
the points that Mr.. Cunningham made
In the course Of his testimony was
that he never opposed an increase in
gas rates when it was shown that
there was sufficient warrant for the
INCREASE
Tn, second witness called was Frank
B. Pryor. manager OF the gas depart.
ment Of the Monongahela Valley Trac.
ton company. a position which he has
held two years. He was formerly sec.
rotary and assistant secretary OF the
Fairmont Gas company. For fifteen
years he was connected with the local
gas distributing companies. He testi.
fled that the NJ V, A. was the local
distributing company. He stated that
the Owens Bottle Machine company
secured gas from the Pittsburgh and
West Virginia whose lines extend in or
close to the corporate limits OF Fair
mont on the East side Mr. Pryor SAID
the Monongahela Valley Traction com.
pany had purchased gas from the Hope
and Pittsburgh ana West Virginia
Companies
The NJ. V. 7. Companys lines cross
the Hope lines IN Lincoln, Paw Paw
and Warrington districts. lie did not
give the exact locations. Mr.. Pryor
testified that from January 10 June
/, 1918. the Monongahela Valley Trac.
ton Company purchased from the
Pittsburgh and West Virginia 4s,70O.
900 cubic feet Of natural gas In 1917
the NJ. V. T. Companys purchase OF
gas from the Hope and Pittsburgh and
West Virginia aggregated 1886 600
cubic feet
Mr.. Pryor said that the Hope Com.
pany later would not sell any gas 70
the N. V. T. Company because OF the
shortage. He testified that the Hope
Company had gas operations IN Ma.