The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-17
FINE lTTENDlNCE: AND SPLENDID
ENTHUSIASM MARK OPENING OF
Dill AND Gas MEMS CONVENTION

of West Virginia was born in the
splendid city OF Clarksburg, at that
time practically the most central loca
tion of this great industry.
The second convention was held in
the city of Charleston. Modesty on my
part forbids praise as well as glowing
description Of that wonderful city on the
banks of tie Great kanawha. The gov
icrnmcnt Of the United States has dis
covered the city of Charleston, TO their
great advantage. and we hope that the
wisdom OF this great nation. conferred
at Washington. will continue TO find that
no other place can be more advantageous
to governmental production than the
city in the south central part of the
state.
Our next meeting was in that pros
! porous CITY in Wood county. where tho
waters Of the Little Kanawha meet the
waters Of the great Ohio. shall never
forget the entertainment and welcome
! We received from the citizens OF Park
ersburg, it will always remain part OF
the history Of this association.
! Again we went south TO that wonder
full city Of Huntington growing ike a
wcll-fed child. with its wide streets. its
modern and beautiful residences, and it's
up-to-date business houses. CITY
where the men Of industry and energy
meet in common without jealousics as
to personal dement's. A city that is de-
stincd in the near future to become one
Of the largest cities in the country.
There too, We met with a welcome 10
be long remembered, leaving with the
feeling that Huntington was a royal
host. and now today. gentlemen. we are
in the city of Wheeling, the biggest city
for its size in the United States. Mod
est in its claims, but wonderful In its
performances
Biggest for IT'S Size.
When l say the biggest city IN the
United States for its size, l am not
using words of flattcry, l am not like
the picture shows. exaggeratinG. Let US
think a moment together. join with mo
and let us go along the coast OF the
Atlantic, visiting cities and hamletS'
Join with me and let us 60 along the
shoes Of the Great Lakes from lhS
Thousand Islands to New Brunswick
along with me let us travel from inc
Puget Sound. along the shores ana
through the cities bordering the Paclhc
to the Mexican line. and let us skirt the
southern boundary of this great nation
along the Gulf and whenever and
wherever in the pride Of our common
wealth. we announce and declare we are
will be Immediately asked. Wheeling IS
In West Virginia, is IT not? And why!
Because Wheeling. w. Va, has extended
her commerce into every part or TINS
great nation, the name. wheeling. w.
Va. will be found written on CONNER
cial packages on kegs OF nails. ana on
bars of steel, wherever the train stops
on It's way across the great continent
wherever ships are loaded with Amer
lean commerce for European nations. so
that the name Wheeling. w. Va. is ma
tional and worldwide. and today. gen.
tlemen. we are proud to be the guests
Of Wheeling, w. Va. during our fourth
annual convention.
Strictly Americans. /
'I cannot refrain from speaking 10
you about the personnel OF our asso-
citation. It is unlike any other assocta-
ton in the state representing otner
commodities. Every member OF this
association is at least an average cit
izen; every member Of this association
is trusted cmployc. In the first place
VIC are strictly American and American
ism abounds in the hearts of every man
within the sound OF my voice. Ninety
Der cent Of our association are HcS'
Virginians and 100 per cent OF our as
ISOLATION is American.
Relationship with State
"Our industry. with reference 10 us
relationship with tho state. Is unusu",.
Our state like many others. has createa
n board known as the Public service
which is regulatory BODY
having under it's supervision and direc-
ion business which Is termed public
utilities. The business OF purifying and ,
Of water to the public, the /,
creating Of electricity and its distriou-
ion 10 the public. tho creating OF trans
portaiton and its transportation COM Z
modify to the public arc public utE"ies. !
The water company can 20 forward from
rcar to year from decade to decade Z
through all the cycles Of time, because
,s commodity is impcrishablc. The !
,lcctricitv producing company has no I
-coson to not believe that. through COM a
,ination Of elements md machinery, its q
commodity can he served through all c
inc. The transportation company can
;ec no limit to its service. ours II a
IifTcrcnt commodity. one not made by u
uhmit to his handiwnrk alone. but we
Ia know from experience He is not nj
his time, and Will not in tn" future.
rcatc more natural gas. Therefore we
re limited. The Public Service COM
mission should take this into considern- >,
ion in allowing us compensation for a !,
roduct VIC take from the ground and h
crve To tho people. compensation h
casonahlc and at least over and above {,
he expenses necessary 70 procure ana |.
oliver our commodity. We must have h
efficient margin in our business to re- G,
ay the original invested capital. be- G,
ausc. unlike tho other public utilities Q,
,cntIoncd, there is sure to become n q
imc when VIC must cease. as sure as OF
cath itself. oil
In this connection allow me 10 remind la
hc state servants who have charge and b,
ERECTION Of our business that 1t Is
,ourht to he wisdom on the part or =
,any Of our Public Service commits
ions In many of our states 10 reverse
70 downward sliding scale Of prices in !
ccordanCc with quantity used To that or 4
n inward scale, giving to tho small Il
scr. 10 tho homo Of the people the q
.wor ratio and to tho largo consumer. e.
a. industrial clientele tho higher rate
, nav. This is rcnl conservation, and
Of natural ras is essential
~ ~caSons stated before.
Tho industry twin to ours. that of fur
ishinC fuel to tho people. is the coal
. created tho universe. and We must
,dustrv, While thcv nre governed in
~ production Of coal to Some extent
,roNch n branch Of tho stntc's admins
alton. they arc permitted 10 carry on ,
weir industry Independent Of tho Public
rrCicc commission, seeking market
Laro,or tIcv likn and ChnrPinE for