Licking Valley courier., 1922-05-04

make, is, that If our franchise wasn't
in the way, you possess information
that would get the people of West
Liberty the gas. Now as an Attorney
at Law and newspaper man, you
should know that we don't hold an eX-
elusive, franchise. Any body can come
in that the town wants in and If your
people think well enough of your judg
ment, l have an idea that our lines
and equipment could be had at a rea-
sOnable figure. Should gas be found
near West Liberty, the two inch line
that we have could supply the town
nicely. If the people you get your
information from are the kind who
want to buy and pay reasonable price
for what they get, they can deal with
us, and give the people the gas that
you think they should have. You
could sit then under your gas light
with sufficient gas to run your Limo
type machine. West Liberty, then,
with the Normal School which 1 be
lieve she will get, and the railroad you
tell us, she is going to get, will be
place inviting to all.
In view of the fact that your paper
reaches many people who are not ia
miliar with the conditions here and not
understanding the situation, and feel
ing that the editorial is both unjust
and unfair, we would kindly ask you
to publish this letter.
Yours very truly.
S. r. COLLIER.
!, Editors NOte-The Courier gladly
publishes the above letter from DR..
Collier. However, it dsclaims an in
tentiCn to do the Collier Oil & Gas
Company an injustice or to treat it
unfairly. AS chairman Of the COM
mittee on public safety on the county
Council OF defense / did go into lie
, matter of sabbo.os with DIR. Collier
and representativ tive of the departlnrni
f justice, and the evidence disclosed
was placed in the d-Dartments haids
: tA'-e 1t that there is not man III
} West Liberty who would not rather
: buy gas from DIR. +. Golfers company
than from any other source. All that
> the Courier sought in lis expressions
7 was that the town and the gas com
1 pany get together and do something
: that would insure an adequate sup
ply of gas. If the agreement be
: tween the town and the campany tt
r each bear half of the expense of re
e laying the lines was acted upon be
: fore the need for gas becomse acute
], II could be finished before winter
! My statement that gas could be pro
cured elsewhere IL the Collier company
: could no. " would furnish 1t wa'
l heard ON the assumption that the ga'
field ON Grassy could be utilized as Il
, had been refused by the Louisville
. Gas and Electric Co. 1t is a wei
known fact that the Louisville Con
pany could not supply us with gai
without fOrfeiting its city franchise
and that the Central Kentucky con
pany will not pipe small towns, bu
II is said that 1t will sell to smll
towns who will pipe for 1t and take thu
gas by meter direct from Its lines.
The Coruier would, be glad to se'
the Collier company and the town carr!
out the agreement, IL there is one OF
record as is claimed, and assure al
adequate supply of gas. But 1t cal
not be denied that the situation as /
has existed for several winters is tr!
: ing and exasperating. 1t is true tha
no franchise can be exclusive, but tn,
town is not large enough for two
rival gas companies to serve. TIT
Courier has no feeling in the matter
it is merely striving to fulfill its dut!
as a public servant and try to brinI
the parties at interest to some arrang
nent that will give us an adequat
supply Of gas.
Personally, DIR. Collier deserves tn
friendship and support of the citizen
Of the town and county. for 1t is du
& his labor and sacrifices that oil an
gas was discovered in Morgan county
and for fifteen years he has used n
his energies to secure wider develol
ment. Supplying gas is, however,
Iurely business proposition and shoul
. he guided by strictly business rai
and princlples)
Mrs I l. Wagers and children. ROS