The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-10-27
Positively the last grand
Centennial Excursion via the
Cleveland and Pittsburgh
and Pennsylvania railroads,
Monday, Oct. 3Gth.
THE CITY AND THE ELM GROVE
RAILWAY.

For some months past number OF
principally residents OF East
Wheeling, have been laborlng with pa
Hence and diligence in procuring stock
right OF way, &c, for the
building OF n street railway from the
postoffice out through East Wheeling and
up the valley OF the creek. After much
labor, some $4,000 WAS raised in sub
scriptions. divided among over one hum
bred stockholders, the right of way was
procured where it became necessary to
pass through private property, and the
City Coahcil was applied to for the right
to use certain streets of the city. The
Council, prompted by q laudabie desire
to encourage public improvements, with
out hesitation granted the use of the
streets desired. An ordinance was passed
granting this company the right to lay
its track on John street from the post
office to AIcCulloch street, thence
out McCulloch street to Baker
and on Baker across the bridge.
Upon the passage of this ordinance, the
company's engineer, w. Z. Smith, Esq +,
made careful estimate of the expense of
building the road upon the then ascer-
tanned route, and reported that the work
could be done with about the amount of
money then subscribed. Thereupon the
stockholders, at q meeting held, author
lied the directors OF the road to proceed
to contract for the construction of the
work. After advertising for proposals,
a contract was entered into, and
the contractor went to work. The
company's engineer, accompanied by Mr..
Leon hart, the city street commissioner,
made the location Of the track up John
street and partly out McCulloch street,
when it was discovered that the COM
mittee on streets and alleys had, on su-
thority given them by Council, attached
a condition tOthe occupancy OF McCul-
loch street As this committee had not,
up to that time, made publcthei report,
the company's engineer was proceeding
with his work in accordance
with the wishes of the Street Commis-
sIoner who, it was supposed, understood
the wishes OF the committee. But, all OF
sudden, din and hulabaloo was
raised that the railway company was
usurping rights, defying city authority,
and the old Harry was to pay generally
in the minds OF few persons.
As we have pointed out, the company
was proceeding under authority OF Coun-
Gil and with the advice of the officer
chosen by the people to take care OF
their strects-and in entire igno-
rance of the fact that a
committee OF council had attached any
conditions to the use OF The streets not
found in the ordinance. Now as to this
condition: The committee locates the
line of the road not on McColloch street
as that street exists, but out IN
the air TO the east side OF
the street-out over bluff under
which runs the B. w. X p. K. K,-for
a considerable distance. The hardship
in this condition Is, that the work as
mapped out BY the committee would
be an exceedingly expensive one, and
would bankrup! the company II 1t should
attempt to build the street as required
But, with all due difference to the com
mittec. the members of which we are sure
acted conscienciously but probably with
out full consideration. VIC will say that
the condition is also an unnecessary one,
because the track. if laid on the west
side Of McColloch street, would not im-
pede travel on the street, any more than
the track on John, or the track of the
Citizens Company on Maine, Market or
Chapaine, impedes travel or is detri-
ment to property on those streets. On
the other hand, if!t were in the power
of the company to build the road out in
the air, Us proposed, it would be a
serious detriment to both public rights
and private property on that side.
We understand that all of the property
owners on both sides of the street are
Council to place the track of
the road on the west side; and we trust
Council. at It's next meeting, will grant
their reasonable prayer, and permit this
but much abused public I'M
to 60 on to completion.