The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-03

quantity OF gas and aid not want to
purchase gas from the Hope Natural
Gas Company. The Public Service
Commission raised the question whet.
her or not local companies could be
compelled 10 buy II they didn't want
70. in a hearing about a month ago.
Since then both tsese city companies
filed supplemental answers n the or.
iginal case in which they stated that
after further investigation they found
that gas would be short this winter
and they woud have to buy from other
companies and they asked that an or
der be given that the Hope Natural
Gas Company be compelled 10 furnish
them with emergency gas. The Hope
Natural Gas Co. want 20 strike out
the answer in all cases
It was stated yesterday that in the
beginning OF the trouble the local com.
panjes felt that the manufactures
could build producers and residents
could buy cook stoves where neces.
sary and in that way they could get
along. When objection was made 10
an increased rate the amendment was
made that the city did need extra gas
The Hope Natural Gas Company claim.
"a il had II all contracted for and
haven't more than enough to supply
heir contract. W. Z. Gasscock said
vesterday that IN 1916 West Virginia
lad more gas than she ever had be
ore. that he had some interesting ga
tatlstics on the question. There
Gems TO be no official record for 1911,
as 10 whether gas is really falling or
all going out OF tho State.
At one o'clock after a luncheon re
cess testimony was begun, Russell M.
yum being the stenographer. Fred
Davis, city engineer. was called upon
first He testified that gas was short
last winter, especially in outlaying
sections Of the city. He testified TO
making report. blue print Of which
was passed around. The report stated
Tat in six wards there were PIP.
houses in Morgantown and that a pc.
cent Of S2l9 of them we're equipped
Tor gas alone This report stated thai
only 3.77 per cent were equipped for
coal, that 1852 per cent we're equipped
for IS per cent coal and % per cent
gas, that 500 per cent we're equipped
half for coal and half for gas and that
$50 per cent were equipped % per
cent coal and 70 per cent gas. Fred
Davis testified that for two months
last winter, off and on, he could not
keep warm and that the city suffered
lie said he was not able TO state
whether coal could be purchased o.
not. that the Mayor had charge o.
hat. W. f. Glasscock wanted to know
low much OF and how much on, b.
Juld not keep warm. Mr.. Davis saf
Jme days he could get heat in hi
flee and some days not.
Charles Powell questioned Davis
bout the ten per cent Of houses h.
ID not visit in the city due ~ dis.
lnce and inacessibility. He said:
There's plenty OF soft coal all around
mt there? a number of small coal
mines? Plenty OF coal could be
bought, couldn't it?" Answer was
made tina, houses were no equipped
for coal. Fred Davis said to his
knowledge houses were just alike IN
other cities about as to their beins
equipped for gas or coal. Mr.. Powel.
asked IL he did not consider last win
Ter the coolest We have had for thir.
,y-five years.
W. 4. Glasscock asked Davis:
KKnow anything about the prodUc
lion Of coal, have you ever tried to
buy il? Where is coal going around
Morgantown? Do you know whether
manufacturers were short in 1916 and
17?' Davis hadn't tried to buy any
He supposed they were short; he hat
heard so. Testimony from Fred Da
Wis continued at length.
Geo. f. Miller testified next. Mr.
,-iler is city collector OF Morgantown
ne rest Of the afternoon was devoted
testimony from Harry De Vaghn
4 engineer for the United State
ldow Glass Company, with some
imony from Horace {. Smith, ST.
ntendent Of schools.
e. DE Vaghn testified he had beer
years in MOTgantOwn. that he haG
e hundred men at each OF two
,ories there and that these factor
were not equipped TO burn coal
At they had TO cease operations .
amber Of times last winter on &C
count OF shortage OF gas and that they
.Jst entire production whel out OF op
Grafton. Again Charley Powell asked
il Vaughn did not consider it the cold.
est winter in thirty.five years
Vaughn said he lost sixty-nine shifts
from Dec. Bird TO January 3lst. IL,
aid No. 2 plant was closed from Nov
9th to April 18th. He said in Janu
Ky he made q thorough investigate.
as to producer gas for the two plant
and that 1t was practical but the mos
expensive fuel to be used. He sal.
the cost was estimated for making the
change to be 100000 for each fac
tory. He said no contractor would
take a contract for a given time and
that It would take about eight months
to build such q plant, and that he
couldn't get labor or materials now.
That II was impossible to use anything
but natural gas at present. He said
he was working on some means now
10 meet the situation. He said his
men left last winter from both factor.
les and some Of them got other posi-.
tlons and did not come back. Attor.
ney Powell asked why he could not
run during the summer months Just
as well when gas was plenty. That
as much product can be gotten from
May to October, using coolers for the
mems comfort.
It was said yesterday that the Hope
Natural Gas Company did supply Nor.
OantOvYn nm n NoVanahaP 1917 last