100 Years Ago Today
by Brandon Woolum
Huntington News Network Writer
Huntington (HNN) — The Triple State Natural Gas Company has been the
subject of many maledictions from indignant citizens of Huntington and
vicinity for the past few days.
The gas pressure has been lighter than for any similar length of time, and in many instances houses were absolutely without any gas whatsoever. This with the severe cold has excited much wrath, and caused much real suffering. Those who were so fortunate as to be prepared to burn coal, and had coal to burn started up their coal fires, while others less fortunate were compelled either to go to bed or sit about a flickering gas fire and grin, swear, shiver and bear it.
The officials of the gas company offer no immediate relief except that when the new pipe line is completed, which will be shortly, there will be gas sufficient for every purpose.
Many industrial establishments of the city which have been using natural gas, have been seriously crippled and some of them are not operating today, or only with a reduced force.
In many of the business houses the gas shortage has caused the installation of electric lights, and the Camden Interstate company reports that they are now overwhelmed with orders for electric lights.
In several of the city school buildings the gas pressure was so weak that the pupils were dismissed, and no school was had during the day. Washington, D. C. – The Supreme Court has decided to refuse a writ of certiorari in case of Senator Burton of Kansas and reversed the verdict of the district court of Missouri on the ground that the payments were made to Burton in Washington. The case goes back for a new trial.
Four of nine members of the Supreme Court half that the facts did not show cause for indictment and that there was not evidence sufficient on which to found a verdict of conviction.
Chicago, Ill – Influenza is more prevalent and more fatal here this winter than at any since the epidemic of 1891. According to the weekly bulletin of the health department, twenty deaths from this cause were reported during the week.
— Mrs. Lucy Ridgway has entered suit in the Circuit Court for five thousand dollars damage against Mrs. T. M. Carr.
The suit grows out of a business transaction. Mrs. Ridgeway owned a wall paper store, and in conducting the store her husband was acting as her agent. It is claimed that while Ridgeway was intoxicated and incapable of transacting business, he sold the store to T. M. Carr, the latter acting as agent for Mrs. Carr, for a sum which inadequately represents its value.
Mrs. Ridgway sought through a suit in chancery to compel Mrs. Carr to bring into court the books and accounts, that the court might set aside the sale of fix a more equitable price for the store and stock, but this motion was ruled out by the court. It is also claimed that, while Ridgway was acting as Mrs. Ridgeway’s agent he had no authority to sell the store and stock. One these grounds, Mrs. Ridgway seeks to recover damages.
— Everett Sanford, a Milton young man, well known here, has just learned to his sorrow that the town of Hurricane has some very queer ordinances. Sanford was in the Putnam county town and was carelessly smoking a cigarette, when a minion of the law approached and informed him that he was under arrest.
Sanford protested that he had committed no crime, but the officer was obdurate and hauled the unlucky young man before the mayor to answer to the charge of smoking cigarettes. Then for the first time Sanford learned that the town council of Hurricane has passed an ordinance which prohibits the smoking of cigarettes within the town limits.
He protested his innocence of all wrong intention and promised to be good in the future, and this, with the threat of an appeal to the Circuit Court, prevailed upon the mayor to let him off with only a sound lecture upon the evils of the cigarette.
The ordinance prohibiting the smoking of the cigarette is certainly a novel one, and there has been some discussion among the lawyer today as to whether or not it can be enforced.