The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-05
A Protest Against all Public I'm
prOVements.

Editors Of the Register:
What does the present with the i'm.
mediate future outlook promise to the
taxpayer in this city and county
Nothing very hopeful, say we, from our
standpoint Of observation.
We propose spreading before you and
your readers the picture as it looks to
US, and in doing so we hope 10 do no
one nor any particular interest any
injustice, but we do hope to have a little
Influence with the intelligent voters and
taxpayers of this community in at least
calling their attention to and arousing
them 10 a sense of duty with reference
to the importance OF their action on the
next railroad vote or votes to be taken
in this city and county.
One measure has just been carried by
which the county has involved herself
to the tune of 1925, 900 in bonds, pay
able in twenty years, and TO bear interest
at the rate of seven and half per cent,
which makes in rouRd numbers the
sum of 1862, 500, which we, the tax
payers, will pay in the next twenty years
for that precious boon, the Pittsburgh,
Wheeling and Kentucky railroad. We
will have this to pay, l say, no matter
whether the road is a paying one or
not; it ia we that have given the bonds,
and it is we who will have them to pay,
l care not what learned gentlemen,
presidents, directors, lawyers, stock
holders, DC, may cay to the contrary.
OF course if the road is paying one,
properly managed, the earnings properly
applied, &c, &c, we may get some
dividends from onr stock that will help
pay this principal and interest, but we
have the chances to run, and in my
opinion they are one hundred to one
against US.
This then being the case, what next
We have now two gigantic speculations
incubating which will be fully fiedged
and ready Tor perch upon our roost in
a few weeks.
| will speak OF the one furthest ad,
vanced in the state of incubation first
as it will most likely appear and be dis
posed of before the other gets through
the first stages Of the process.
We have bill pending in the Legis
lature, which will no doubt be passed
and become law, as the city has stood
godfather Tor it by an action Of the
Council asking the Legislature to pass
it, which authorizes DR.. Geo. Baird,
Thos. OBrien, A. J. Pannell, II. X
List and NJ. Reilly, besides many others
whose names l do not now remember
to take a vote OF the citizens, and il
three-fifths Of them vote in favor of the
same, then said city is to subscribe
$500, 900 to the stock OF this company
viz: the Wheeling and Ohio Union
Bridge and Railroad Co.; also $500, 00O
to the stock of the Wheeling and Toledo
Railroad Company, making together
$500, 1000, to be, l have no doubt, bonds
payable in twenty years, and to draw
interest at the rate of u per cent
The interest and principal for this deb
to be provided for in the next twenty
wears will make the modest sum of only
two millions Of dollars more.
Let us see what more this measure
contemplates. We run over the bill as
published in our papers, where notice
was given that the passage OF such an &C
was going to be asked for. In addition
to subscription, &C., the act itself asks
that they, the said company, that is tn,
Wheeling and Ohio Union Bridge and
Railway Company shall have power tt
build a bridge road or roads, locate
depot or depots in the streets and alleys
OF said city to the exclusion OF othel
roads, and that their capital may be
one million and a.half Of dollars, o
which the city will own $5OO,OO
balance to be owned by the patriots
and that their property shall be exemp
from taxation either for State, count!
or city purposes. Modestly and gently
how will that do2 Taxpayers, if i
don't do you must get some person O.
persons with more modesty in thei
composition than the gentleman wht
got up this clever thing to act for you
It was the very best they could do
especially as they propose becoming
the heavy stockholders in this company
themselves. ......
What next, Mr.. Editor? The Wheel
ing aud Tuscarawas Valley, say you
An, that is it! Well. she is modest also
only wants Three Hundred Thousant
at the same vote on the same terms
twenty year bonds, principal and in