Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-25
aTAKE IN YOUR SIGN"
Only a Case of Misery Loving
Company.
The Commotion Created by the Order TO
Enforce the Sign Ordinance
Comments CuITed by Our
Commissioner.

There was CONSERVATION, excitement anc
alarm along Market and Main streets, yes
terday, and merchants were on the ram
page. Officer Bird, acting under orders oil
the Board of Public Works, notified the
Market street men and officer Junkins the
Main street men, to take in their signs
There is a city ordinance which reads as
follows:
1t shall be unlawful for any person or
persons, to erect, set up, place or retain
any sign, sign post board, pole or other
device or thing to deno.e or show his, her
or their place of residence, or his.
her or their occupation or business, on Mar.
ket street between Twelfth street and
Wheeling creek, or on Main street between
Ninth and Twelfth streets, if the same
shall extend more than twenty -four inches
from the line of the street or building in
to or over any part of the said described
portion of Market or Main streets"
liz was this ordinance that was being en-
forced. Several years ago there was spas
modic effort TO enforce 1t, but it was soon
dropped, and now merchants wanted to
know Why it was raked up again. Why
is it?n asked REGISTER reporter OF DR..
George Baird yesterday. From the reply,
it seems to have been case OF misery low
ing company. The Board is compelled to
keep the sidewalk clear OF distractions,
and in the performance OF those duties
they met something like this:
"Leok here, jou mustn't move that
stone on the curb, that has my sign on IL. v
Cant help it, against the rules and it
must go"
But you allow Others to keep out their
signs"
How is that?'
why, you let merchants hang big signs
out over the sidewalk, which Is against the
law, and We have TO move our sign stones,
they must take in their signs, no dis
elimination.
So the Board had to enforce the other
ordinance. Accordingly the signs began
to come down. Handsome saloon and
cigar signs, strung across ownlngS,
were taken in and jewellers watches were
pulled in, for repairs. Nothing was al
low ed, no matter at what height, to project
over the sidewalk more than two feet. Ot
course there was great kick. Merchants
stood in their doors and gravely discussed
this nuisance Of their rights and cussed
the law which made il necessary. But
still they took IN the signs.
"By George, Market street looks like
funeral" exclaimed one TO the REGISTER
=
village where they don't do any business
why the devil should they make that
ordinance read only Market and Main
streets Why don't they put Twelfth
street down, too" growled another as the
man Of news passed.
That's the way with this dOd hinged
town. They suppress anything that looks
ike business, and want to make Market
street look like row of boarding houses"
chorused third.
SO it was everywhere. The worthy mer-
chants, to use a slange phrase, were ''on
their ears about il and were disposed TO
make it decidedly sultry if they only knew
how. Thank heaven | can get red wagon
and run it round anyhow" grumbled
dealer. Just look how they
run things in the large cities, Why
the streets are one mass OF signs and look
business. How can a stranger tell any
thing about a town if there is no sign?
Wonder what they'd say if some one would
fling out a wire sign across this street, like
you see in every large city? BY George.
lhcy'd take conniption fit"
These are only samples OF the comment
heard by the reporter as be passed along.
There is talk of an indignation meeting,
with chairman, three secretaries, and a
committee of twenty seven on resolutions.
But such is life in this small manufactur
ing community.