The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-31


for the bills we're larger.
Today to a certain extent this Is
true for the reason that the majority
OF the industrial consumers have no
idea as 10 the value OF the commodity
nor realize the importance OF conser.
walton.
The low price OF natural gas has
had more TO do with the waste and
careless use OF II than anything else.
Whenever the price OF gas reaches
the point OF its value as a commodity
both the industrial and domestic con-
sumers will use every knows device
and appliance for getting every pos
sible heat unit out Of II.
The exceedingly low price for gas
offered by producers, Boards OF Trade
or Real Estate men attracted 10 the
towns one class OF manufacturers,
with few exceptions, namely those en-
gagged in the manufacture OF glass.
Then came the Carbon Black maker,
who followed cheap gas like the Win
dow Glass Manufacturer. from Penn.
sylvania TO Ohio TO Indiana then to
West Virginia.
The Carbon Black manufacturer TO-
day consumes one half as much as
used by the domestic and industrial
consumers OF the State.
In Wheeling district. which has
been and IS the largest manufacturing
district in West Virginia, most Of the
large iron and steel mills and glass
factories were In operation before
natural gas was discovered and have
been and are successfully operated.
There are manufacturing centers.
Iron and Steel at Pittsburgh, Rubber
at Akron. Pottery at East Liverpool.
AUTOMOBILES at Detroit, Machinery al
Cincinnati and so on.
The Inhabitants Of these places are
thoroughly familiar with It's particular
class OF industry and the manufactur
or would hesitate 10 move his plant
for the skilled mechanic who ha
raised his family there. with his rela.
tiyes and friends, does not care 90
move from place to place.
Since January 1915 the Industrial
consumption Of natural gas has been
unprecedented for two reasons. first,
on account OF all the plants in which
natural gas Is used for fuel being
operated At their fullest capacity
during the entire twelve months Of the
year. Second the great number Of
industries that began 70 use natural
gas on account Of the price Of coal
advancing from two hundred and fifty
10 five hundred percent of its former
selling price.
wish to say here had the price ~
natural gas advanced along with the
price Of coal there would have been
comparatively little shortage during
the winter Of 1917 and 1918.
This increased demand for Indus.
trial Gas has not been to the liking
Of the gas companies which had It's
protected wells shirt in in vergin ter
ritOrv 10 be used for future domestic
service. The land owners were paid
their royalties for these wells from
which no gas was taken, pipe lines in
many instances were miles away.
Natural Gas Companies are Public
Utilities and are not permitted to Sc
leCt their customers.
In the Transporting OF natural gas
difficulties arise similar 10 transport
ing other commodities We are affect.
cd 10 a certain extent by conditions.
All the railroads during the extreme
cold weather are practically at stand
still and are unable to move either
passengers traffic, or freight trains
on any regular schedules.
Industries are frequently closed
down on account of the railroads be-
ing unable to deliver their materials
Which are held up in n blizzard o.
blocked by a snow drift. This Is taken
az a matter OF course. People under
stand II and do not complain. Com
patent management adjusts itself TO
conditions as they arise.
When we stop TO consider the enor.
nous increased demands made upon
the natural gas utilities caused by a
drop in the temperature OF from thirty
forty and sometimes fifty degrees,
with only a few hours notice and
never more than from eighteen to
twenty.four hours. Il seems ircompre'
hensible that the service is as good as
it is.
For one degree drop in the tempera'
ture means an increase Of three per
cent in the consumption OF gas.
II does not take much figuring to
show that the increased demand for
natural gas on few hours notice runs
from one hundred TO one hundred and
fifty percent We know Of no bust
ness that is called upon to meet de.
mands like this which comes at fire.
quent periods during the winter
months.
There Is a way for the industrial
and domestic consumers to coserve
and It has been demonstrated to the
satisfaction OF experts and laymen
that the kind OF burners and appli'
ances used with proper installation
has everything 10 do with the amount
OF gas consumed.
II has been shown by tests made In
one OF the State Laboratories that
certain kind Of burners properly IN
stalled will save the house wife from
thirty-five to fifty percent in gas than
she formerly used in cooking.
Natural Gas is the fuel In the home
OF the labOring man. In other words In
the home whore the wife does the
work. its convenience and cleanliness
saves her many hours OF work and
drudgery. The family can sleep longer
in the morning as it Is not necessary
u build a fire and wait half an hour
for the stove TO heat sufficiently TO
boil the coffee and cook the break
fast. This class OF consumers should
have preferred service. In other
words, the man who uses gas in his
furnace for heating his house, should