The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-21
The Change in the National Road
Meeting nj the Vigilant I'm.
gine House.

A meeting oil the citizens oil the Fin
Ward assembled last evening at the Vigi
liant Engine House, North Wheeling, Il
protest against the action Of thu. Board o
Public Works in proposing TO abandon
that part Of the National Road from I
point in Fulton where the new Peninsuli
, Road strikes the pike to It's entrance intc
the city at 9TH street.
The meeting was organized by callini
W. p. Wilson to the chair and appoint
ing Captain RaWling Secretary.
Mr.. Alfred Caldwell addressed the
meeting on the subject, stating that as b.
understood the proposed action Of the
Board Of Public Works, It mean
that hereafter no more mon
ey Of the State would be spent
in maintaining the road over
the,hill, the consequence of which would
be that In very short time the road
would be useless unless kept in repair
at the expense OF the city. To compel the
city to do this he thought hardship
and great injustice; and yet TO abandon
il was TO sacrifice the interest OF the whole
northern portion Of the city, to cut them
of virtually, from all connection with the
country except by the distant route OF the
Peninsula. He commented on the made
quacy Of the bridges to accommodate the
travel Of wagons and carriages in connec'
tion with their use by the Elm Grove
Railroad Company. In fact, he said, that
so far, all the benefit arising from an
outlay Of some sixty thousand dollars by
The city and some fifteen thousand dollar,
by the county had enured TO private
corporation. The Elm Grove R. r. started
out nominally with capital Of
one hundred Thousand dollars, while in
fact by reason Of the outlay Of the city
and county that company had not been
compelled 10 expend $4,000, and the
road and bridges had been Of but little
use TO any one else. Mr.. Caldwell also
claimed that the Elm Grove Company
would never abandon the idea Of using
steam cars on their road and would re.
new their efforts to get such permission
from the Legislature Of the State, and the
use Of steam cars would simply render
the use Of the road and bridges impossible
by the conveyances Of ordinary travel.
The care Of the National Road should
under no circumstances be abandoned.
Mr.. John Armstrong remarked that he
had been 10 see some Of the State officers
connected with the Board Of Public
| Works, and il was not their intention to
maintain both roads. Hehad assurance,
however, that the petitions and remon-
strances OF citizens would be respectfully
considered.
Mr.. Edwards moved that committee
OF five be appointed to draft resolutions
to be presented to the Board Of Public
Works as expressive Of the sense OF the
meeting.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Caldwell,
Rawling, Squire Phillips, aanes and
Zeeckler, as Committee on Resolutions,
who reported the following:
To hs Honorable Board Of Pablie Works {:
Alta meeting OF the citizens Of the north
end Of town, embracing residents and
business men OF the First and Second
Wards, held in the Vigilant Engine
House this evening, the following pre-
amble and resolutions were adopted with
entire unaninity to.wit:
being apparent from the recent action
OF the Board OF County Commissioners
that Il Is their intention to change the
location Of the National Road, your Hon.
orbale body acquiescing, from the North
End, as at present located, TO the PENN.
sula route thereby committing an act Of
injustice to our end Of the city; and
WHARfis, The action OF that
Board In diyerting the funds belonging to
the Cumberland road TO the construction
OF a new road which never formed part
Of the original road is, in the opinion Of
many, unauthorized by law and contrary
thereto; and :.
WHEREAS, The action Of said Board
may cause litigation which will be both.
expensive and ve1atious therefore be II
Resolped /. That 1t be represented TO
the Board OF Public Works that the
abandonment Of the National Road as
proposed, and changing II TO the propos.
ed route will result in very short time
in cutting of entirely this outlet Of the
city by the way OF the north end; that We,
the tax. payers Of this part Of the city, are
not prepared for this, being directly in
opposition TO our interests and detrimen.
tai to the public good.
Resolped 2. That we, all ot the old part
OF the town, ask your Honorable Body in
the most respectful manner to consider
this matter serIously-not act hastily,
and ascertain what is involved in II.
Does Il not mean the abandonment OF
good, solid road, permanent almost as
the hills, for one defective in location,
unstable in character and dangerous 10
| life and limb, and st certain seasons Of
the year at the mercy Of turbulent
stream that cannot be controlled-liable
every spring to wash the ilimzy structures
Of bridges away.
Resoiped, 5. II the Board Of Public
Works accept this proposition greater
outrage will be perpetrated on the people
Of the North end than has already been
done by the authorities, In permitting the
North end Of Wheeling hill to be inclos.
cd, thus intirely cutting of access TO the
hill at this end, which has been looked
upon as the heighth Of folly in this line,
and as long.eared speciemen Of local
Legislation as can be found in this yicin-
ity.
Resolued, A. That inasmuch as the town
has few enough avenues TO the east 1t
cannot afford 10 sacrifice one Of them in
the interest OF any "ring" or locality,
especially when this sacrifice compels the
additional one OF skirting the rear OF
slaughter houses, cattle and pig pens, and
out houses generally, abandoning at the
same time the beautiful view which can be
had over the north hill, a view nearer
approaching the grand than any other in
this part OF the country, and shown with
pride 10 strangers by our citizens.
Resolved 5. II the people oi the eastern
part Of the city want the State to accept
their outlet the people Of the North End
advance no objection to II, but when 1t
comes to abandoning the northern outlet,
thus virtually closing 1t, We have very
decided objections and raise our voices as
one against the outrage. 1.
Rssolped, That the proposed change in
the Cumberland road is In our opinion
protected and advocated In the interest
Of 4 few lot holders on what Is known as
the Peninsula and in opposition TO the
interests Of hundreds Of citizens and tax
Il na yaFa of this cfty.