Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-14
DELAY ON DELAY.
WISDOM or the SECOND BRANCH OF
COUNCIL,
As Displayed IN its Handling ofthe Propo
sition Of the 8. & 0. Co.-Aind
and Wisdom Promiscuously
Mixed Together.
SENT BACK TO THE RAILROAD CON-
MiTTeE.


the members shot eloquence at 1t. II
might have been thought. from the nu-
merous publications on the subject,that
every member had the entire affair thor
oughly dgested, but when it came to
the discussion the matter had to be en-
tirely reviewed. Nothing was done, by
the Branch, beyond canvassiug the mat
ter and it was fact worthy Of notice
that all OF the heavy real estate owners
favored the scheme and desired to see
the grant of such property as the city
owned, while the lighter taxpayers,
with one or two exceptions, were OPP
posed to it. As the matter now stands,
il is in the hands OF the railroad COM
mittee, with certain instructions, as
will be seen below.
THE REPORT.
Mr.. Laughlin, chairman OF the COM
mittee, presented the report, accom-
| panving il with a map, showing the
route, and with Mr.. keyser's letter, al
ready published in the REGIsTxR. The
report simply detailed the action of the
committee, in comforting with Mr. Keys
err, and in examining the route. In con
GLIDING, it referred the matter to Coun.
ell, asking advice and instruction.
A PowRRFUL ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Laughlin began the argument on
the railroad grant by presenting statls-
tics OF great weight and power. Now,
said he, here is the amount OF coke used
annually by our mills:
Benwood Iron ......2 900 cars.
Bellaire Iron car
Top Mill Iron WOrkS............ OOO cars
Belmont Iron VUO cars.
Riverside Iron OOOcsrs
Making a total of say 5000 cars an.
nually. The rate per car from Councils.
vile to Wheeling is S26, and the transfer
s., making S28. The rate from Councils
vile to Pittsburgh is Sl4, leaving dii-
ference OF Sl4 between here and Pitts
buryh, which on $1,000 cars is S2l0,OO
per annum. The capital stocks Oh our
mills are as follows:
| Top ...s1lOUO
~ ~ ~ ~
"uuyO
Riverside SiJUUO
So that the difference between the
present rates to Wheeling and to Pitts
burgh would be nearly q per cent. OF
our capital invested. Now here is the
difference in the cost OF coke:
WHEELING.
Coke at mine....................Sl.j0 per ton.
Frei -"''J 40. -S''e'"
PITr:BURGH.
Coke at mine. so per ton
do. -s26655
Diference........
! Say that il requires ton and half OF
coke to a ton o. pig iron, that is differ
ence in the cost, between Pittsburgh
and Wheeling OF $l.75 ton in favor of
| the former, or between s and 9 cents per
key on nails. Now, see the advantage
Pittsburgh has over us at present.
These points were very iorcibly pre-.
sented by Mr.. I.aughlin.
RESOLUTION TO GRANT.
Mr.. Baker said the report contained
| nothing on which action might be based.
Therefore, to bring the matter into
actionable shape, he offered the follow
ing:
ResoIred, That the right OF way over
| the route designated in the communal
cation Of Mr.. keyser to the chairman OF
| the Railroad Committee, be granted the
b. & o. Railroa! Company 81 far as
concerns any property through which
the city has power to grant the right OF
way, without purchase.
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
Mr.. Kimberly said re would like to do
what was right, but the question was,
have We the right TO vote away all the
franchises of the people. He would like
to have an opinion from the Solicitor.
"The streets" he said, "belong to the
people and they might get out an in
junction. / would like to hear from the
Solicitor"
Baker-Well, call him in.
Hoffman-Now, Baker, don't be in a
hurry about this thing.
| Mr.. Walter was very much afraid OF
going blindly. He thought the cost of
the concentrations should first be ascer.
tanned.
Baker-The question OF condem-
nation does not enter here, as the reso'
luton only contemplates such property
as the city can give.
Mr.. Schockey wanted to bring in his
plan OF having the road run back OF
Wood street and called the attention OF
councilmen to the fact that he had advo.
Gated this thing before the committee.
GENERAL TALK.
Mr.. Smith thought while the question
was up, the manufacturers interest was
the first thing to be considered. He
thought Wheeling's trade was such that
railroads would be bound to come here,
and il wasn't necessary 10 solicit them
or encourage them by Offering them ed.
vances. He was for not running any
risks in the way OF damages, and wanted
to see it in black and white that our
mills could get coke at competing rates.
He talked in this strain for quite time,
opposing the grant.
Mr.. Baker said he had heard various
opinions expressed about the B. 4 o.
Company, and he had no doubt it was a
mean corporation, as were all the rest
But what had that to do with the grant.
II the Company gave US that road and
connected US with the coke centre, the
company might be as mean as it chose.
But he wanted railroad and good coke
rates.
Mr.. Dunning wanted to know what
the damage to the streets would be, be-
lore he voted on the proposition TO give
the grant He thought the damage to
Nineteenth would be considerable, as
he could not see but that deep cut must
be made at the highest point ON the
street, or trestle built at the east end,
in either event making the street impas-
sable.
Mr.. Baker said he did not insist upon
action on the resolution to. night, but he
merely had it introduced for the pur-
pose OF opening mp the subject and hav-
ing an expression OF views.
Mr.. Scnockey made an attack upon
the B. 4 o, charging it with treating
OF the city ordinance with contempt.
Mr.. Hoffman offered an amendment TO
the Baker resolution, making il incum-
bent upon the company to pay all dam
ages and give our manuiaciur. rs COM
peting rates on coke.
Mr.. Kimberly said il was for the road
to pick its route and the Council to say
- .kn.I A..~ q.