Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-18
NORTHERN EXIT.
A Cut No Go0d-What u Tunnel
Might Do.

Scarcely one OF the last twenty years
has passed without the agitation OF the
question Of cutting roadway through
Wheeling Hill at the head OF sixth
street and avoiding the terrible ascent
and descent OF Fulton Hill. Especially
Was this project canyassed before tue
opening Of the peninsula road, But
since then the citizens Of North Wheel
Ing, seeing the advantage to the East
Finders, have become jealous, and,
anxious 10 enjoy similar benefit, again
took up the subject Of q cut. From va
rious expressions dropped by Council
men from the Hyperborean regions
North End, il seems that there Is an
indefinite intention OF bringing the mat
fer before Council; and TO avoid the
contingency OF having members
vote on something OF which they
know nothing, reporter oil the
RIGIsrER set out yesterday to ind
what Was in it. City Engineer Peterson
was hunted up, rs the reporter knew he
had studied the matter up. The re-
porter stated his mission and asked:
"What is there in the cut business
Not a dad hinged thing. II anybody
WAS TO 90 and look at the ground they
would see at once that IL is utterly i'm
practicable. A cut could not be made
that would bring up on the other side as
high as-as-tho cloud line, or some
other high thing. And what do you
suppose a cut would COST
"Give it up -
about S7b, 900 aud Sl50,OCO Il year to
keep it in repair
Are you playing with your fancy, or
are you telling facts
ooh, OF course that is an cxaggeration,
but il would cost fabulous sum. 4
cut is out Of the question, absolutely y
"Aud is there no balm in Gilead for
the North EndersH
Come 10 my office and | will unfold
a tale that will solve the problem, and
when the pair was seated in the "don,
he said: "What We want is a tunnel
they come high, but We must have
EN-" A map of Wheeling Was enrolled
and he continued:
"Ilere is Sixth street, 06 feet wide,
unimproyed above Market, and with
only one house fronting on It,! We
commence on the east side OF Main
street and open cut as far rs Market,
- feet in the clear. This leaves ~ feet
ON each side as IA way down from the
alley. We commence on the west side
of Market and tunnel directly through
the hill-thTough Il solid sandstone
ledge that will furnish enough stone 10
make foundation iorall Of the streets IN
Wheeling
That's Just the talk," said Street
Commissioner Nichols, who had Just
entered.
THE length OF the tunnel will bc go
feet, and II will have an inclination to-
ward the East of three feet in each hun
dred. This length will be about fifty
feet less than one of our squares. At
the eastern terminus we will have an
archway oi p feet.
where do we come out p
con landing provided by nature,
and We can strike right on TO the cir
rumbendibus road without any retain
inc walls or masonry. The tunnel Will
have double roadway of sixteen feet
and A six foot sidewalk. Three lamps
will furnish all the light desired, though
daylight will Ice enough Tor all purposes
while il lasts.
How high will the tunnel be"
"Twenty.Ouc feet at the centre Of the
Arch You might say there will bc q
five brick ring
What's that
why. five bricks deep in the arch >"
"lIow ioug will he required to build
this tuuncl!"
about six months
"llow much will it costH'
In the ncghborhood ol $4,000 or
$4,000"
After some further discussion IN r.
lation to the length OF time it would IT.
quirr To pay for the tunnel, II the city
should establish Il toll gate at the mouth,
the reporter left, and finding Jimmy
Nichols carriage conveniently near,
drove to the proposed location OF the
cut. After cursory examination,
through long enough to see the truth oil
Mr.. Peterson statements, the reporter
became absorbed, first in the beautiful
view and then III a dog fight and for
got what he came for.