The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-21

Statesmen ctatm TO have saved 100000
and in the next paragraph. BY surren-
dering public property which cost the
city over 100000 to create. and by CIV
ing ell their business to the Wheeling
Electric company on the Wheeling Elec-
trio companys' terms, they claim to
have made a saving Of $4,000 year. 1t
is pretty fair presumption that the
Wheeling Electric company didn't make
the contract for Lighting the streets
without figuring a profit. 1t took the
contract on its own terms. and 1t is
curious instance Of people either decelv-
ing themselves or seeking to deceive the
pu bile that claim OF a saving or $2o,-
900 is made by abandoning great nlif-
nicipal property. destroying 1t entirely
and suvrcnderinS the ctty's interests
into the hands Of q private corporation
which in just the preceding paragraph
OF tho same pamphlet is extrouonate.
unjust and unfair to the public to such
an extent that it is trying to rob the
public of 100000
National Telephone Case.
Much is made OF the settlement OF the
case OF the National Telephone company
from which the city secured S2S500 in
cash. and an absolutely untrue state
rncnt is made that the previous city ad-
ADMINISTRATION had agreed to the merger
Of these properties without protecting
the citys interests. The previous city
MERGE Of Wheeling had agreed to the
merger Of these two properties. but the
merger had not been ConSurnmated, and
two years ago when the Big Five came
into power. the question Of the value OF
the National Telephone property which
reverted TO the city had not been dis
cusSed simply because it was not in a
position to he discussed. We might as
we'll point out In this connection thai
the very provision OF the National Tel
ephone charter by which this recovery
OF $2S.500 was made possible. waS an
act OF the former city government. as Il
result Of its wise prccaut!on, and some
thing with which the alleged Big Ffr"
had no more TO do than they have with
the spots on The moon. TO most Of he
for 4 valuable franchise and great
plant extending wires and poles all OFT
the city will not seem 10 have been u
very tremendous feat. BY so'no nocuS-
pocus. however. in the pamphlet issued
by the Big Five the S2S.50A Is mad"
t.. rcpresont a real value Of s11n.O0n.
This is the opinion Of the late city man.
ngcr. substantiated by no facts. and evt-
IDENTIFY an aftcrthought for purpose OF
making some kind IF crciitHble show
ing out Of a bal piec" % business.
Bridges Over Geek.
Also during thn year. as It appears
from the pamphlet. :hc city rnade I"n'
and Electric company by which Shn"91''
has figured n saving ~ $4,000. IN Wv
Of the fart that rho bridges over hnih
cre-ks were in good condition wh:n ;le
Big Five" cam" INFO power. II inrE
hav, i"an allowed "a 1"t"rlorat" under
he:.v .trnFCir. and If I'D repair" law"
l'rr. made. IT would seem that ihrir''"h-
ditian was rather 4 source " d!Scrr"l'
han Of credit and low a saving of SAD
Got can i,e Figured # m something which
has ncvcr h"rr DOM. when may never
he done. and which NJ tn" hcTt is 'niy
division "c responsibility for the MAIN
tnnanr,. 80 bridges. passes III" "Hmprr-
heusior Of any ord mary citizen. and GER
iaiaIy can only ", "xpIain"d BY = mem
/. ho- If tho Rig Five.
Other features OF this amazing
pamphlet deal with an objection made
by the city 10 pay the Natural Gas COM
pany OF West Virginia thrifty cents per
thousand cubic feet. As tho city has
definite contract establishing the prices
at which it is to buy sas. contract
which was not made by the big Five.
but which was made by previous admin
/ tstratIons, IN which contract tho big