The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-15

X n
er. A very excellent and valuable ad-
dition was made during the last year
to the pavementEo of the wharf; some
slight expenditures will be needed this
year for repairs and protection. Com
plants of crowded space and lack of
House are still made. The last coun-
ell ordered such change to be
made in the Old City Hail, 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; it would
increase market facilities, and add to
the revenues of the city by rents. A
| contract exists with the Wheeling Gas
! Company, page l55, 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 will
| ascertain what is the fact. Last year a
| resolution was adopted in council au-
| thorizing the Mayor to notify the Gas
/
acquire the ownership of the GasWorks.
! Further examination showed that
/ there was yet plenty of time, as the 20
years 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
1t, the resolution adopted would not
probably be a binding and legal notice.
The notice should be in the form of an
ordinance, and drawn with great care.
1.-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
! 7th Ward, petitioned last year for street
lamps. II is u reasonable request, and
should be granted. An examination
will show that oil lamps can be used
satisfactorily, and at small cost, for
oil and attendance, for each one, and
your favorable consideration is asked in
relation to the matter. The last Coun-
Gil invited proposals for making about
$500 feet of 20-inch pipe, for digging
the trench for them, and for laying them
in 1t. Specifications were prepared by
the committee on Water Works, and
number of propositions were received
for the several parts of the work, and
the contracts were awarded as follows:
for making the pipe, to Cecil, Hobbs Il
Co.; for digging the trench, to James
s.
Morrison q Beck, each of the parties
named having made the lowest bids.
At the suggestion of the Chairman of
the Water Works Committee, Messrs.
Cecil, Hobbs IS Co., sub-let portion of
their contract to Messrs. Hamilton &
Co., and Sweeneys & Co.. SO as to assure
the most speedy accomplishment of the
work. The iron used in their manufac-
ture was principally, though not all, of
Hanging Rock charcoal iron, and is of
better quality than is generally used
for water pipes. The whole work was
done under the direction of the COM
mittee and the immediate supervision
of Mr.. John Cummins, the Superin-
tendent of the Water Works, and great
credit is due him for his faithful and
satisfactory discharge of the duty. The
entire cost of the work was sos, ,140 r.
Since its completion, all parts of the
city, excepting north of Washington
street, have an abundant supply of
water, even the Female College, situa-
ted on high ground, Fifth Ward, pre-
viously without water except at night,i is
now supplied at all times. a portion
of the old four-inch pipe still remains
in Main street, from Washington TO
North streets-two squares. In taking
up the line, it was found that the aper-
ture in the pipe was reduced by rust
and sedimenGto scarcely an inch open
ing. The Council made an order for 10
squares-connecting with the twenty
inch at Washington street; but 1t was
postponed on account of the lateness of
the season. Your attention is directed
| to the subject for examination. The
charter of the city, 1886, section 33d
provided for the as sessment of the
value of real estate, within the city by
| assessors annually appointed, one from
each ward, an exception being made to
the taxation of certain lands then laid
out into lots. In 1864 the same section
was rs-enacted excepting the real estate
on Zane's Island, owned by Daniel
Zane and the trustees of Ebenezer
Zane's estate; in 1855 an act was passed
providing for the appointment of but
one assessor for the whole city, the as
sessment to be made at least once in
| five years, but leaving it optional with
| the Council to have it made oftener
! at their discretion, and eXempting the
/ same parties on Zane'S Island from
| taxation: in 1862, section 33d was re-
enacted, providing for one assessor an
nually from each ward, and exempting
| from taxation the estates before men
toned, and also the property owned by
/ r. V. Whelan, on Zane's Island; in 1866
| 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-
sentatives OF the estates of Daniel and
Ebenezer Zane, and by X. V. Whelan,
and by E. ]. Stone, and this of course
/ is the law now in force. 1t is not
known that any Council of the city re-
| quested the Legislature to pass these
last named enactments. Although the
| expense is greater, am much in favor
of the appointment ofan assessor from
each ward, or at least more than one,
and that they proceed in a body to
make the assessment OF real estate, as
| in that way a more equitable and bet
/ aIr aIFra fiOFN ho do
| Why the exemptions above named
should exist, when many other Glands"
within the corporate limits, excepted
| by the original charter, are now paying
| taxes, Is unaccountable and demands
| investigation, that such legislation, if
wrong, may be corrected. Under the
law taxing personal property, stocks,
| bonds, notes, money, &c, the same in
| equalities noted in my communication
of last year exist, and it is impossible,
as at present operated, that it should be
| otherwise. If one mind could examine
and appraise each citizens personal
| property, there would no doubt be very
nearly proportionately correct value
assessed in each case; but when the
returns are made by a thousand differ
ent ones, some will be too high, and
| some too low, no matter how desirouS
each person of the thousand may be to
do exact Justice. It is exactly right
whether the returns be high or low, If
each is in fair proportion to the other;
but it is unfair when an equality does
/ not exist. 1t will be granted that all
any man should desire is, that the rate
of taxation being the same, his property
/ should be rated either low or high in
proportion to its actual value, as his
neigh boris is, and that result is impos-
sible, no matter how mnch desired, un-
der the present plan. cannot do bet-
ter than to extract from my communi-