The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-04
MONDAY, MAY 4. 1874.
A linn suect Improvement.

Main 6ueeL lmP'S'S
Al ,he instance OF property holders on
Main stroet, the City Council on last
Friday night appointed q joint committee
consisting Of MesSrs, shallcrcss, Hall and
Kelley from the First Branch and MesSrs.
Simpson, Pollock and Baird from the
Second Branch, to examine into and re-
port upon the propriety and feasibility OIL
making some alteration Of the grade on
that street.
The extent Of the alteration as we un-
derstSnd It, Is TO take of from the top Of
the hill in the neighborhood Of 11th,
(old Union street) as much as II Is possible
to excavGte without detriment TO the
abutiiDg property. Main street from 18th
northwArd seems destined to DO the great
center Of the retail trade Of the city.
There are many fine buildings on this
section and It Is reasonable to say that
the street itself should more nearly COM
port with the character Of the buildings
and Of the trade
We do not see where any well founded
objection can be urged against such On
improvement as is proposed.
HOW MUCH CAN BE CUT OFF.
Beginning say in the neighborhood Of
Smiths now building Or Messrs, Stone &
Thomas store 1t will DO observed that
iouIhward the street Is from eight TO
twelve inches higher than the pavement,
and perhaps on the apex Of the hill It is
as much as fifteen inches higher. A
street should as a rule be considerably
lower than the side walks and never
higher. .
/ We. observed in our tour OF Inquiry
that in front Of Thcs, Hornbrook's build.
ing, it is twenty.onc inches from the top
OIL the curbing TO the bottom Of the gut.
ter, and yet 1t Is scarcely noticeable and
cnrtAinly there is no difficulty Or incon.
oVeulence ingettiugof the pavement on to
the crossing,
-' -sa a REAL ADVANTAGE.
There being noinconvenience TO pedcs.
trians on account Of such heighth Of
pavement, there is real advantage in
loading or unloading wagons, particularly
IN unloading heavy dry goods boxes,
since the tailoI the wagon Is but a little
distance above the pavement. Another
advantage Is that in unloading, the flag
pavement,is not so aptto be broken or
damaged by the shock Of heavy freight.
As we have said, this considerable
,heighth oil Mr.. HornbrOok's pavement
above the street never attracts the notice
Of the pedestrian who has occasion to
step of on to the street crossing; and yet
It would take cut Of very considerable
depth on the Top Of the hill 10 put the
street to the same depth below the curb
ing at that point.
Such an improvement, while adding
greatly to the appearance Of the street,
would also decrease the grade SO az to
materially enhance itsvalue as a thorough.
fare either for wagon or carriage travel.
TIE SIDEWALKS.
Another very desirable change ID pro-
posed which needs only to be mentioned
to be approved Of generally. It Is the
widening Of the sidewalks from, say
sprigg House alley to the top Of the hill.
This is q change that Is particularly
needed on the west aldo Of the street
where for the greater part Of the distance
up the hill tho pavement is much too
narrow 10 accommodate the travel. From
the sprigg House alley 10 the north Of
11th street platform, rendered necessary
by tho grade Of the hill, occupies several
feet Of the sidewalk in front Of every
business house, leaving probably less than
an average Of five feet Of pavement and
considerably less at times, II we subtract
the space occupied by store boxes and
other evidences OF recent invoices Of
goods.
The proposition Is 10 widen the side
walks to fourteen feet on each. aide and
thus make ample room for tho travel Incl.
dent 10 this great retail section OF the
city. " '
We hope this enterprise will not only
receive the favorable consideration Of all
who hold properly, but OF all who do
business on Main street from Twelfth to
the Grant House. We do not think that
the Council will object to making the
improvements as soon as it is practCa.
bic to do so.