Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-18
SIXTEENTH STREET.
Its Condition and Prospects.

During the course OF this week
great many dmplaints, of various ma
lures, were revived at this Office against
the Sixteenthktreet improvement, and
TO give a corr&t statement of the entire
affair is the MISSION of this article.
In the aIhual estimate OF the ex-
penses OF subcommittee on Streets, Al
ieys and q aides, which was about
S23 700, was IOme 81, 200 set apart to
improve Sixteenth street. This
improvement contemplated resetting
the curbs, tidening the sidewalks
three feet. paving five foot sewer, low
ering the Elm Grove track TO conform
To the grade Il the street and cutting
down the twave foot spaces between
the track and Stters to the grade OF the
rest.
The lowerinI Of the Elm Grove track
was not Immediately ordered, and there
was some del y in stalking the gutter
lines &c, and although the estimate
aud appropriations passed Council IN
June or July. the work on Sixteenth
street was. rom some cause, not
begun until il September. Then men
were put 10 wfk and tine street torn 10
pieces from Ed to Jacob. The debris
from the Elm Grove track made great
banks on eitlfr side, and that torn
from the guttes came up to meet it, I'M
til the people dong that portion began
10 wonder whit il all meant, and TO
complain accohingly.
We went TO the scene, interviewed
the Street Commissioner, Surveyor
and committee. and were made to
believe that Everything was moving
along nicely But still the COM
plants came in. Mr.. Kimberly has
always been foremost in anything
connected with this street, and to him
we accordingly bent our steps yester-
dav. Mr.. X. said:
"On the night OF the regular meeting
in September. The Street Committee, by
resolution, asked that the Sixteenth
street improvement be postponed until
next season. Council rejected this and
ordered the work to proceed. Alter this
it was reported that certain persons who
could and wOu'd control this work, IN
stead Of ordering it TO be done, as in-
tended by Council, boosted that the work
would not be- done and they would llketo
see the friends dthe measure get 1t done.
Therefore, on the following Friday night,
4 resolution was offered, instructing the
Street Commissioner TO 20 on with the
work, as CONTEMPLATED in the annual
estimate. This resolution was adopted
bv votes OF 20 to and ii TO ], IN the
respective Bran,hes. Then it WAS
claimed that what was originally con-
templated was moi known and the work
was not pushed a. the lateness OF the
season demanded. | offered the'resolu-
ton now pending, which was for the
purpose OF making the work
clear and in order that
the Street Commissioner might under
stand his duties and have no fear OF going
astray. This resolution required two
thirds vote, and, not receiving It, laid
over and was passed again. When 1t
came mp in the First Branch | was
called upon to tell what ! knew OF it,
and did. thought 81 700 would not
do the work, which would cost at least
y, 500, and thught it had better be
done well and Il good job made. As the
appropriation could not supply this ex-
ira amount, the Mayor ruled that four
filths vote was necessary, and the mat
ter rested thereand is so now.
"Now | see the Jacob street I'M
provement is abandoned for this season
and this will leave sufficient OF the APP
preparation to complete this jolt"
"What objection have You TO the
way the work is progressing now"
alt is going all right now and the
Street Commissioner is getting into my
way OF thinking, but he should have
pushed it on sooner. He thinks it
would be a good plan to boulder the
street from Eof to Jacob, and agree
with him.
Finding that Mr.. Kimberly
seemed satisfied with the work as
now progressing, we left and visited the
street, where a large force Of men, UNI
der direction of the Commissioner and
Uncle John Boring, were hard at work.
Things are beginning 10 assume shape,
but it does seem strange, that arrange
ments were not made TO work without
blocking up such an important
thoroughiare. Both sides We're torn up,
We were informed, to facilitate work by
allowing one side to be made ready for
the PAYERS, while they worked ON the
other. Ii those in charge would escape
severe censure, let them push the work
RAPIDLY and not allow bad weather 10
overtakc the work when only half com
Melted.