The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-08

great dement, IN eluHlAL1uS tle ds11t4S-
J menk no matter by whom made, as be-
/ ing composed sof gentlemen from all
/ sections of the city, the board would
possess in its members more general,
/ and better knowledge of the valuations
reported, than any one person could
Whether the total valuation,of person
/ al property within the city be large or
small in amount, (if equitably made,
does net matter to any citizen, because
having given sum to raise for revenue
the council viii fix such rate per hun
dred dollars as viii produce it, but it
does affect him, and is seriously unjust
and oppressive If one is paying the rate
on full valuation, while another pays
the same rate on a half valuation, the
rate having been fixed higher than 1t
would have been If this last person had
reported Just amount
The time is approaching when, by the
charter of the Gas company, the city
acquire the ownership of the works. 1t
is the belief OF very many citizens that
the stockholders. OF that company, hay-
ing good investment, Will strongly OPP
pose any effort on the part of the city TO
take possession. It is. also well found
ed opinion that no stock ever held in
this city has paid so well, and that hay
ing monopoly by their charter, the
company has charged, and does now
charge an excessive price for their pro
duct, and that under the control of the
city It could be furnished at greatly
reduced rate. 1t would be well that
this council should pay some attention
TO the matter, and that the Finance or
some committee be Instructed to inquire
and report upon the expediency of Gre
ating sinking fund for the purpose of
making purchase ofthe property, fix
lures, and stock of the Wheeling Gas
company at the time fixed by their
charter.
The sidewalks in the city are in such
bad condition that / think 1t proper to
ask the passage of an ordinance which
shall require the Street Commissioned
to give reasonable notice to the owner
or occupier of any property within this
city that such repair shall be made to
any sidewalk in front of his or her
premises as the Street Commissioner
ure to obey such notice, without a rea-
sonable excuse, shall be punished by
fine, and that the Street Commissioner
have power to cause the repair to be
made, and to collect the cost from the
said owner or occupier.
But all these matters, while they are
worthy of your attention, are of minor
importance compared with the necessity
of action to guard against the ravages
of that dreadful disease, Cholera, which
is even now on our coasts. All expert
'ence in epidemics teaches the propriety
OF prompt anu eIucleuL steps 70 SeCuIe
cleanliness, not only on the public
streets, alleys and wharves, but on
private property. There must be no
hesitation to ordain whatever in your
| Judgment may best attain that end.
| For some years / have noticed
the working of our Sanitary Committee
or Board of Health; and while it may
be continued and used for ordinary
purposes, think another and different
Board, and an additional officer should,
for this year at least, be created. i pro-
pose that the resident physicians ofthis
| city, or number of them, be constitu-
ted an advisory Board, with certain
powers, fixed by ordinance, to be here
after reported with which Board shall be
associated an officer whose duty it shall
be thoroughly and frequently to exam
inc all places of whatsoever Kind, where
anything deleterious to health might
exist, whether they be on public or pri-
be such as to compel obedience to
any orders of a sanitary nature
which he. under advice of the
Board of physicians, may find nee
essary to issue. 1t is not expected that
these services Will be performed without
compensation; On the contrary the re-
| muneration should be ample, and no
money could be SO well expended If the
result should be any mitigation of the
suffering and distress consequent on
the visitation of the disease. also re-
commend that a sufficient quantity of
lime, copperas and other disenfectants
be purchased by tho city to be sold at
cost, SO that persons ordered to use these
articles can have no excuse of inability
to procure them. The executive off1cer
appointed, If the above suggestions are
adopted, should be man who will dis
charge the duties entrusted to him with
out fear or favor. presume it is un-
necessary to further urge upon you the
adoption of this or some other effective
plan, at once, and without delay.
a. j. SWEENEY, Mayor.