The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-17
The City Brick Yards.

which the manufacturing Of brick has
been conducted.
Tho Island being almost exclusively Q
place Of residence Is subj ct to avery cod
siderable degree OF annoyance from the
smoke otthe ktlns In several ways. Two
principal sources Of annoyance arise from
thu TACT that in the very nature Of things
1t Is impossible 10 carry of the smoke by
means Of any elevated Aue such as
smoke stack, consequently the smoke
drifts along the ground, or at a very low
elevation becoming a very dissgreeable
nuisance and absolute discomfort 10 the
residents Tor somc distance around. The
smoke also Is very destructive to vegeta-
ton such as flowers and shrubbery.
Objection Is also made to the depth 10
which the clay Is exCavated, being In
some cases very nearly to level with
the surface Of the river; certainly so at
even y moderate rise In the stream.
1t is claimed that during considerable
periods the pits which have been abAn-
doned are partly filled with water, which
Is soon, ia summer, invested with all the
impurities that characterize stagnant wat.
er, and is not calculated to promote the
general health OF Tue surrounding neigh.
bOrhood, Again, II is claimed that where
the pits arc located in close proximity to
the river they promote q switter destruc-
ton Of land between them and the river
from the fact that the water accommodating
In them In seeking the river keeps the
ground constantly wet, and In an ever
present readiness TO cave in TO q greater
depth than under ordinary circumstances.
1t was in view Of these facts that MIR.
Stone offered q resolution in Council on
Tuesday evening, that the Committee on
Ordinances be INSTRUCTED TO take into con-
sideration the proprlety Of framing an or.
dinaucc 10 prevent the manufacture OF
brick within the city limits except under
certain restrictions.
In order TO comment on the subject in.
tGlligenlly we made q tour Of observation,
including both the Island and South
Wheeling On the Island there are two
pits which were dug in the operations Of
the Hunters and Mr.. Sweeney, which
have beeh abandoned for some time. The
upper or more northern Of these is located
short distance below the Street Railway
Co.'S stables, and west oil Wabash street,
and is about as feet from the edge Of the
river bank, 1t il something like $50 feet
long by an average width Of 100 feet, and
probably an average depth Of 10 or -
ieet, 1t lies above the dam in the river,
and the CaviDgs Of the bank are very
deep and heavy, aud no great interval Of
time will elapse before all land between
the pit and the river will be gone, and
the river cutting round the end Of the
dam will rapidly wash out tho strip Of
land intervening between the first and
second pit. The latter is but short dis
tance below the dam, and is perhaps 1870
or 200 lect long, with perhaps an average
width of IS feet and depth
OF not less than l2 or IA feet.
A considerable portion Of this pit
has been dug out of Wabash street. a
few feet below the south end Of this pit is
the trench in which Is laid the large terra
Gotta drain pipe which comes down the
alley between zapc and Virginia streets
to the river.
Here we might with prOpriety call the
attention Of the Committee on Streets and
Alleys to the condition of things at this
point Around the mouth OF this drain
pipe the bank has CaVcd away to the
depth of twenty-five or thirty feet, aud
the gulch thus formed extends back
within about fifty feet Of the pit. We
counted some twelve or fifteen sections OF
the pipe lying around loose without any
visible connection with the purpose for
which they are intended.
We are satisfied that the extent of this
cave is owing 10 the soakage Of water
from the brick pit into the pipe trench
and along the pipe to the river. AS we
have sAid, considerable portion Of the
excavation Of this pit is in what is now
Wabash street, and will have TO be filled
at the expense oil the city.
The depth Of tho excavations renders
the lots unavaiablelor building purposes,
This, however, is feature which, we
presume, is only legitimate matter Of
consideration to tho owner OF the proper.
ty. No attempt has been made 10 fill
either oithese pits. They remain in the
condition in which they were when aban.
doned.
WcnCxt visited the yards Of Mr.. Arm.
strong, which arc in active operation,
and arc located between South Wabash
and Huron streets and front on the south
side Of Ohio street. They extend south
ward to the ZIno orchard fence. We
should judge that the pit is nearly three
hundred feet long by perhaps width Of
one hundred and fifty feet. Tho south end
of the excavation extends nearly across
Huron street, or what will be Huron
street, 1t there should be any more lots
laid of in the orchard property. We
should say the depth of this excavation
is about twenty or twenty-five feet The
yards are probably the distance Of q
square from the river.
Legislation upon this subject Of brick
making within the city limits, and the
exercise OF prohibltory powers by Coun-
Gil in relation to 1t is . matter
in which We opine even that hon
orable body icels that, unless within
very circumscribed limits, any &C.
tion 1t might take in the direction Of Mr.,
Stones resolution would be at least Of
doubtful authority. We Judge so from
the careful wording Of the resolution and