Martinsburg Herald

FRANCHISE ASKED
FOR NATURAL GAS

Interstate Natural Gas Company Makes an Application

TO LAY PIPES AND MAINS
IN STREETS AND ALLEYS

Spur Will be Constructed From Bunker Hill to This City as Told in The Evening World Some Time Since—Outlook For Business For Company and City is Good.

It was told in this paper some time since that it was the intention of the interests of the Standard Oil company to construct a pipe line for natural gas through this section and that a spur would be constructed from the main pipe line in the neighborhood of Bunker Hill and brought to this city for the purpose of supplying natural gas to consumers in Martinsburg. Verifying the account, as given at that time by The Evening World. The Interstate Natural Gas Company, has by its attorney Stuart W. Walker, made application to the city for a franchise by which it will be empowered to lay, construct, maintain and operate through the streets and alleys of this city its mains and pipe lines for the purpose of supplying natural gas for lighting, heating and other purposes. This franchise will be heard by the council at a meeting to be held on the 18th day of March. The construction of this pipe line will enable the people of Martinsburg to secure one of the greatest natural commodities for which this state is world famous. For years the other sections of the state have had the annual advantage of this cheap fuel but this end of the state has never been able to obtain any natural gas and consequently our development has not been so rapid or great as other sections. With the advent of natural gas, we will have all the advantages of the other parts of the state besides the advantage of the natural resources which are peculiarly our own, and we will no doubt advance more rapidly than ever and the next decade should see us one of the greatest of the "greater" cities in the state. Everything seems to be coming in for "Greater Martinsburg" and our citizens will be given every advantage possible for advancement. To say that the natural gas people will be received with open arms is putting it mildly. As yet it is not fully determined what the gas will sell for, but it is reasonable to suppose that we will be able to get it at a much less figure than $1.50, which we are now paying for a not too good grade of artificial gas. There is no doubt but that the people of Martinsburg will take very kindly to this new proposition and the promoters should have no difficulty in disposing of many thousand feet a day. The pipes can not be laid too soon and it is to be hoped that before another winter sets in many will be able to heat their homes with this natural product. Every one will say, speed the day when we can get natural gas.