The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-02-14
alton on the part of any to perform

at present W ebldDlISu ohc, 40 auth"'
lied by the 18th section of the charter,
you can materially reduce the expense
of maintaining city prisoners by erect
ing on some piece of ground, without
the city, q cheap covered enclosure,
with doors large enough for carts -
drive through, have lime stone hauled
there. and then broken by those SEN
fenced to labor without compen-
sation. As at present mat
aced, the prisoners do not woI :
except in good weather, having no co =
ering, and so it may happen that pris-
oner may serve his term without per-
forming any work whatever. A very
excellent and valuable addition was
made during last year to the pavement
of the wharf; some slight expenditures
will be needed this year for repairs and
protection. Complaints of crowded
space and lack of room at the Second
Ward Market House are still made,
The last council ordered such change
to be made in the Old City Hall, as
would permit it to be used for market
purposes, but for some reason, never
formally reported, the committee so in
structed did not carry out the order.
If there be no serious objection on ac-
count Of the strength of the building,
the change should be made; 1t wonld
increase market facilities, and add to
the revenues of the city by rents. A
contract exists with the Wheeling Gas
Company, page 155 book of contracts,
by which the company is bound to put
on the public lamps foot burners,
with the right to renew them when
they. by use, increase to foot capacity.
Attention has been called to the agree
ment, and statements made that the
burners do not average contract size.
There is no intention to do the company
any injustice, but it is the right of the
city to have such tests made, as VIII
ascertain what is the fact. Last year q
resolution was adopted in council au-
thorizing the Mayor to notify the Gas
Company of the intention of the city to
acanire the ownership of the Gas Works.
Further examination showed that
there was yet plenty of time, as the ~
wears named in the charter of the Com
pany as the time when the purchase
could be- made, will not expire sooner
than 1870, and as simple order OF
council dies with the body which makes
it, the resolution adopted would not
probably be binding and legal notice.
The notice should be in the form of an
ordinance, and drawn with great care.
If the city intends to make the purchase,
measures should at once be taken to
create sinking fund, so as to provide
the means. The citizens of the Island,
9TH Ward, petitioned last year for street
lamps. 1t is q reasonable request, and
should be granted. An examination
will show that oil lamps can be used sat-
isfactorily, and at q small cost, tor Oil
and attendance, for each one, and your
favorable consideration is asked in rela-
ton to the matter. The last Council
invited proposals for making about
! 800 feet of 2O-inch pipe, for digging
the trench for them, and for laying them
in it. Specifications were prepared by
the committee on Water Works, and
number of propositions were received
for the several parts of the work, ana
the contracts were awarded as follows:
for making the pipe. to Cecil, Hobbs q
Co., for digging the trench, to James
Haley, and for laying the pipe to Messrs.
Morrison & Beck, each of the parties
named having made the lowest bids. At
the suggestion of the Chairman of the
Water Works committee, Nessrs. Cecil,
Hobbs x Co. sub-let portion OF their
contract to MesSrs. Hamilton x Co.,
and Swceneys Il Co., so as to assure
the most speedy accomplishment OF the
work. The iron used IN their manu-
facture was principally, though not all,
of Hanging Rock charcoal iron, ami IS
of better quality than is general y
used for water pipes. The whole work
was done under the direction of the
committee and the immediate supci-
vision of Mr.. John Cummins, the Su-
perintendent of the Water Works, anh
great credit is due him for his faithful
and satisfactory discharge of the duty.
The entire cost of the work was s9r.-
l40 -. Since it's completion, all paris
of the city, excepting north of WashlnG-.
ton street, have an abundant supply 81
water, even the Female College, sitl-
ated on high ground, Fifth Ward, pre-
viously without water except at nigh,
is now well supplied Mt all times. /.
portion of the old 4 inch pipe still r.
mains in Main street, from Washington
to North strects-tw0 squares. In
taking up the line, same size, 1t WAS
found that the aperture i'll the pipe WAS
reduced by rust and sediment to scarce
" an inch opening The Council made
an order for ~ inch pipe to be laid that
distance-two squares-connectinS with
the twenty inch at Washington street;
but it was postponed on account OF the
lateness of the season. Your attention
is directed to the subject for examina-
ton. The charter of the city, lS36,
section 33d, provided for the assessment
of the value of real estate within the
city by assessors annually appointed,
one from each ward, an exception be-
ing made to the taxation of certain
lands then laid out into lots. In
1854 the same section was re-
enacted excepting the real es-
tate on Zane's Island, owned
by Daniel Zane aud the trustees OF Eb-
enezer Zane's estate; in 1858 an act was
passed providing for the appointment
of but one assessor for the whole city,
the assessment to be made ut least once
in five wears, but leaving it optional
with the Council to have it made often
er at their discretion, and exempting
the same parties on Zaue's Island from
taxation; in 1862, section Bird was re-
enacted, providing for one assessor an
nually from each ward, and eIempting
from taxation the estates before men
toned, and also the property owned by
r. V. Whelan, on Zane's Island; In 1900
the same section was re-enacted, con-
tinuing the same mode of assessment,
and relieving from taxation the prop
erty on the Island owned by the repre-.
senfatives of the estates of Daniel and
Ebenezer Zane, and by r. V. Whelan
and by T.. J. Stone, and this of course
is the law now in force. 1t IS not
known that any Council of the city. re-
ouested the Legislature to pass these
last named enactments. Although the
expense is greater, l am much in favor
of the appointment of an assessor from
each ward, or at least more than one,
and that they proceed in q body to
make the assessment of real estate, as
in that way more equitable and bet
ter proportioued valuation can be made:
why the exemption above named should
exist, when many other Glands" WITHIN
the corporate limits, excepted by the
original charter, are now paying taxes,
l. Ia l.