The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-10
Tho United Fuel Gas COMPANY.

Gas exported from state. ls,2O?,2s3.ooo
Total ................. ,5l45l2'Ooo
Territory held, developed. 6Ls45 acres
Territory held. undovelope acres
Tho United Fuel Gas company opcr-
ates in the southern part OF the state
supplying gas to Charleston. Hunting
ton and numerous other cities. towns
and villages. It is at this time before
the Public Service Commission with an
application for an increase OF rates
and Huntington. Several articles con-
corning this particular company have
appeared recently, and II would only be
repetition TO discuss It further at this
time. However. a careful consideration
OF tho accompanying figures CLEANED
from the company's tax return Will dis
close It's prosperous financial standing
and Will give some Idea just what one
hundred percent increase in rates would
mean.
TOO Much Hospitality.
Tho $4,000. 10000 dividend. as given
In the tax return. is misleading. In re-
ality It Is dividend on a capitalization
Of $4,000. 10000 q stock dividend Of
$50, 0CG,o0o.0o having been declared in
1920. West Virginia is noted for her
hospitality. but II Is surrey asking too
much for = company which declared
dividends around IN percent annually to
ask for mo percent increase. II is to
be hoped, however. that the Public
Service Commission will not be guilty
Of the same quality OF guessing in this
case as it was in the case OF the Hope
Natural Gas company. The application
for an increase in rates by the United
Fuel Gas company Is meeting with tho
solid opposition Of all It's West Virginia
consumers, and a great EFFORT Is being
eXcrted TO have II denied by the Public
Service Commission. The final hearing
in this case Is set FOR the Faith day OF
the present month. when the deciding
facts on both sides will be brought 70
light.
MAnufscturers' Light and Heat Co.
Capital stock. authorized 1000. 10000
Capital stock. issued .... $4,000 600 90
Funded debt .......... ...
Dividends Na2C) ....... l,Sln roo M
Total earnings ........... 12.lSi.514.99
Total expenses ......... 9.227.S79.4O
Taxes Ipaid TO state) .. 11l.6&3.11
Cubic feet.
Gas produced by company. 5.I1@,S95, 600
Gas purchased from indie
pendent producers .... 1.16a.4sToo0
Gas exported from state. .l2.4S6. S00.eh0
1oal ...,....... -V.a "A,o 81, ~"
Territory held developed. AZ. oo2 acres
Territory held. undeve!oped. 99.1o9 acres
A comparison between the earnings,
expenses and gas marketed by It and the
United Fuel Gas company brings ont an
interesting condition. The Manufacture
ers' Light and Heat company marketed
In 1920 twenty and q fraction billion
cubic feet--ahout three and one-half
times as much. Y-t the total expenses
Of the two companies were Just about
the same. and both paid handsome d.vi-
dendS II the Manufacturers Heat and
Light company can mark"! twenty
billion cubic feet ot gas AZ total ex-
pense Of .9oo7.e79io and declare =
dividend Of slSnn 10000 what SHOULD he
expected Of tho United Fuel. which mar
ksts 50 billion cubic feet Of gas at a
total expens" Of sa9S9onIs59 A far
greater amount of earnings. a. least
But. no, thu tax returns show that the
earnings were just about tho same E".-
lSl5lia9 for tho Manufacturers Light
and Heat and sl"493.ljIS5 for the
United Fuel. The difference In rates
could hardly I've So great as to Offset
such a remarkable difference as this.
The books Of the United Fuel Gas COM
rany evidently have some exceptionally
i1nr huryIng grounds. Yet this Is the
company which is asking for no per
cent increase OF rates.
Pittsburgh and West Virginia Gas Co.
Capital stock, authorized. .sH .hn". ma. ."
Capital stock, issued ....... 6.hhn. nhh nj
Funded debt ........... $4,000. 90
Dividends I?col ......... i,nn0. 20
Total earnings ........ 6,04a6 SIS
Total expenses ........... 4."6a.23%2,
Taxes (paId "a stated 49,. l11.633.ll
Cuhi" feet.
Cos nrodueed h, corrcny lol.s640 nOh