Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-11
MARTINS FERRY'S
Public Works-A Former Statement
Denied.

LffOF q NE AeylSter.
As my name is mentioned in your issue
OF the 9th inst, by a correspondent from
Martins Ferry, respecting water works aud
other things, permit me to offer this reply
TO some of the statements be has made
without warrant either OF reason or Of facts.
| do his because he reflects upon myself
alSO DO 1t for the opportunity furnished in
bringing before the citizens Of Martin
Ferry, more clearly, some facts in relation
TO the projected water works, which they
should know in order to a more favorable,
because better informed, judgment Of these
works.
| believe in public discussion in matters
respecting public interests, but | certainly
regret that this correspondent should resort
TO the trick Of convincing the intelligent
people of Martins Ferry, by attempting to
cast asPersions on those who are exercising
their public spirit in legitimate channels.
lie asks: please explain how it WAS
that the Owl hsd to pay $1,000 more 70
the new cemetery than the land for it could
have been bought for
If such were the case, why didn't tie
gentleman give the information in time 10
save the people their money? Fine con-
servstor of the public veal, this, to come in
and tell 8 dead man that he is dead
He assumes that the land could have
been bought for so much less, and then
with all the buster of q Falstsf, asks why
the council didn't so buy it.
The facts in the case are these substantial
IL: This piece Of land consisted OF about
Is acres, including a house also. The
house and the lot it stands upon, are alone
estimated at 81, 200. Mr.. O. P. Evans
owned this land with the house. The
Council wanted to buy. Mr.. Evans made
them an offer Of e, 500, without the under
living coal, or $500 with the underlying
coal. They took the latter alternative. |
acted as Mr.. Eyans's agent in negotiating
the sale, and this was my sole and only con-
nection with the transaction. The deeds
were made out and left with the cashier Of
the First National Bank Of Bridgeport, VIC
was instructed to deliver then to the
Council when they should pay over 49,: :c Ecl
amount Of the purchase money into his
AMI.
| received a commission from Mr.. Evan,
only, in effectiny the sale, and handled nc
money whatever as between the purchasers
and seller. These are the facts. Will the
correspondent in question, be kind enough
to write to Nc. C.. P. Evans Iron,
ton. Jefferson county, Ohio, and verify
what | have said. aud when he gets Mr..
EvGus's letter, then publish IT'D | make
this as q request ofhim, and if he is actual
ed by any principle Of honor or public
spirit, he will do so, otherwise let him keep
his company with the dark where he seems
properly to belong.
Again he says: Please explsin why the
Council paid $500 for plating snd lay
ing out this cemetery when another equally
as good civil engineer would gladly have
done the same for 800" This is not true.
Consequently it has no explanation only as
a falsc hood. Why didn't this writer go to
the office Of the municipal clerk and make
an honest examination of my bill which Is
there on record, before making a statement
which he must have known could only be
calculated to delude the public mind
and cast reflection on me? 1t be-
had made this examination, he would
have found my charge to De, not $500, as
he alleges, but 1854, for the work named,
which amount was for laying ard stalking
ont and mapping the cemetery. The same
bill also shows hat for searching the rec
ords, with q view to determining the outside
boundary lines, establishing grades on the
roads therein and thereto. making estimates
OF the amount of excavation for superIn-
tending the construction Of these roads, and
for the measurement of the amount OF
uacadam used in this construction, | re-
ceived the additional sum OF S9S.50.
The sum total therefore Of my bill was
S24T5O, of this sun total 1854 and not
S5OO. as he slledges, was for the mapping
and LAYING out of the land. He is is thus
$40 wide ofthe mark. He is equally Wild
of every other mark he has aimed at in his
communication. Is opposition so dear or
talk so sweet, as to be purchased at the
price of classification and deceitf
Would he deceive the people by misstste-
mems so bald as to be so apparent to
mere child2 Not the people Of Martins
Ferry, anyhow.
I Please explain how it comes that A.
Lash was hired to get up plans at a cost OF
81 600. and the same old plans and speclI.
cations of B. Walker Peterson we're used'
and WHY the last named gentleman IS to
cetlor has gotten $500, and the balance goes
10 Lash? -
tally misleading and untrue. Whether or
not these were the same old plans and
sneci6caion Of B. Walker Peterson, let that
gentleman say: c ,eo.
ITO whom it may concern;
This is to certify that the drawings now
before the city Council Of Martins Ferry
RsImont county, Ohio, for q water works,
are entirely new and original, and were
made especially for these works
"The plans, drawings and details we're
made and worked from surveys and meas
rraments; and no drawings details or de
-, for auy other works were used IN max
inS them. 1t took my entire time ana
labor for nearly two months, oeSIdeS the
employmentat times ofsn assistant draughts
B. WALKER Peterson.
aSnbscribed and sworn to before me-ths
9Th day of March, 1885.
ON TSsSIS GEORGE ARELE,
Notary Public,
Asto whyt the Council employed me- ld0nt
- IS INV other reason mysel, than that
AS ossr 10 do he work was lower than any
nF,Sa rest. The Council advertised for
a. and / put mine in along with Others.
tn lsst hid but mine. wss two and q halt
ner cent of the estimated cost OF the water
EorksS Estimating this eostst SIo,Vto0,
his bid would have been $l.s7o, OF the whole
NJ charge xas $1,000. The differ.
sOSS between $l,eT5 and $1,000, was
e.aSnme sufficient reason to the Council
tor awarding me the contract
iOi ..yrar further inquiries.