Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-12-14

From The Intcligenc'r.
SIR:-In this mornings issue ofyour pa
per here appears veuomous attack upon
me in an article signed &C." The article
emsnates from the Board of Public Works,
and is caused by my communication to
Cornell last Tuesday night.
&C" or may say the Board, states that
| signed Porters contracts for brick by or
der of Council. That is true; | was com
PEELED TO do so by Council but before do
ing so ] reported to Council the price Of the
brick and suggested that the Board should
be required to advertise for bids before en-
tering into such large contracts. |
then determined that would sign no
more contracts until l should ascertain
whether the same quality and size Of brick
could be bought for less. price or not. No
contracts have been presented to me for
signature since then, and L had no occasion
to look into the matter until recently, when
/ learned that more brick were coming
here than had been contracted for. A few
sfterward | hsd occasion to go to Pittsburg
on BUSINESS and took the opportunity to
stop off at McCoy's Station. l went to Will
son. Stewart i Co, brick manufacturers at
that place, told them my name and place
of residence, showed them sample OF our
brick blocks, and asked them to make an
offer at which they would furnish 100000
to the city ofeWheeling. They gave me
their proposition in writing at Sl6 per
1000, delivered. Since then they have
sold out to Bowles & Goucher, who came
down to Wheeling and gave me their bid
at $3.50 per 1000 for still larger brick.
The bid was addressed to Council and sub
mitted to it, After leaving W., S. X Co. 8
place visited three or four other concerns
near by made the same statements and in
uuiries, got bids from two of them, and an
other promised to send prices to me as soon
as lie could ascertain the loves. rates OF
freight by rail and river. All OF the time
spent in the matter was about halt day.
The statement that / offered to purchase
100, 1000 brick, and tried to conceal nv name
from those called on for proposals, is a
ridiculous Gaisehood What business firm
would deal with man that would do so :
The inquiries we're made not in malice
toward the Board, but rs duty
[ owed the city as an officer. The
bids we're made in good faith by reliable
firms who will give the bond and can furn
ish all the brick the city may need at any
given time. ! have sufficiently examined
the subject 10 be willing to make personal
guarantee that the blocks can be obtained
at the prices named BY these firms, which
IS from 81 so to So 90 per thousand less
than the city has been paying-unless other
manufacturers should be prevented from
furnishing the blocks by the lawsuits with
which DR.. Baird in his Interview in the Reg
lS1ER of Wednesday seems to threaten
everybody bat John Porter. How does
John Porter acquire the right TO monopollzt
the paving brick business OF Wheeling2
do not insinuateor charge fraud against
the Board; ! do not know Of any. there
fore see no reason for swearing to the facts
stated in my communication TO Council i
the Board wants TO consider what sal l il
that paper as charges against it, | AN per
fectly willing to be sworn to the statements
! do, however find fault with them for ask
| ing but two firms (as DR.. Baird states IL
Wednesdays REGIsTER) for bids when there
were q dozen others not invited
For this reason want the rule
amended 10 that the next Boar(
will be required TO advertise for proposals
before making contracts. The amend
ment could not be passed in tune to sfec
either the present Board or myself Thu
| Board says that the 500, 900 brick bough
| for Eoff street could not be laid there; tina
! is surprising information without reason
The brick suited very well to lsy on thu
Island, where Mr.. C. has real estate that j
benefited thereby. The property owner
along Virginia aud Huron streets, an
satisfied, would have paid the 81 900 ifthe.
had known they would get the improvement
un,ess they subscribed the money.
The charge that I united vim ms calu
met company in scheme Of revenge is ut
terly false and hbelous. hare no knowledg,
except that furnished By the Board, tina
there is any unfriendly feeling between .hs
company and Mr. Porter No such subjec
VAS mentioned between me and any bricl
manufacturers that | saw. The abus,
heaped upon ne BY the Board was expecteC
as / well knew their ability in that line, AND
that it was their farorite weapon with which
TO prevent or answer criticism, bu
the most unkind cut Of all i
| the assertion that / an trying t
acquire sufficient glory to get reelected Il
the Mayorality. have, heretofore, sta,et
whenever occasion called for il, that
would not be candidate After the ex
perience ! have had in the Office there i
nothing that could Induce me to accept an
other term. But willie / am Mayor vii
discharge the duties cs the Office as I under
stand them, and will accept the consequen
ces, even though my motives and actions b
traduced by the foul tongue or pen o
SANDER. | have no desire to abuse tn
Board for any Of its mistakes or faults, an
do freely admit that il has done some goo'
work for the city. J. A. MIILsz.
FLnxI,n1 Ha-s.,hs- II