Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-08
MARTINS FERRY.
A Chapter on Water Works and Their
Construction.

about water works both for aud against IL
Ii seems that the so-called "Mossbacks are
opposed to the move and the "MaSSumPs
in favor Of it against which find no tsalt-
But what does excite my curiosity Is to
see the Council take so great Nm interest IN
water works, and work so hard to push II
on TO the taxpayers against their viii, when
il was never petiliond for, Nov u IL po',
sible that there ia no "nigger in the WOOL
pile" but they must have more than natur
al interest In the matter than poor Mag
vumu" csn see, or they would no!
work so hard to get the bin through
while they are yet in CoIacil.
Why is it that there has been petition sent
in 10 this Council of some ofour very hes
men to open up streets, aud do
other things which would be Of great i'm
portance to our whole town, and would not
cost US any money? saI this Council re.
fuses to give these petitions any recogni-
tiQp for fear some taxpayer might be bene.
fitted by Il. We know of a certain arrange
ment made with Mr., Bell to open up Fifth
street, and Mr.. Spence made deed to the
town giving them the right of way through
his properly for Centre street to Fifth
street. Now, the opening Of these two streets
is of more Importance to the town
than any other unopened street. because Il
gives direct route to the new cemetery and
also to the new school house from both the
old town and the new additions, and to hurry
he opening Of these streets, Mr.. Spence,
with the consent OF the Mayor, put forfeit
in his deed annulling it. provided Fifth
street was not opened in six months. Some
of the bigotted members OF the Council
thought that this might be Of some benefit.
to the Penn Mutual Insurance Company
and Mr.. Spence Cor perhaps they were not
paid for lobbying these street bills through
so they defeated the motion to open Fifth
street and thus lost the right
of way for Centre street, which
was undoubtedly great loss
to our city. 1t seems strange that a Coun
Gil that will not accept gifts from private
citizen should be so anxious to improve the
town at such an expense as the water works
will be. also believe that Council has no
right to pay $1,000 or any other sum for
survey OF the town for water works until we
first decide that we are to build water works
Unless our Council takes immediate action
looking to the opening of these streets We
think it unfair to vote W. W. on our tax
PAYERS. Our ringster in his wise article on
the seventh denies everything that is said
about water works in the issue Of the sixth
but he explains nothing, and we are still lefl
in the dark on all subjects except one
That is that we must vote for water works
without knowing how they are TO be built
or who is to have control of the letting OF
the contracts or whether the bill to take thu
water works business out Of the hands Of
board of trustees and place 1t in the hands
of council is to pass the Legislature or not
Before vote for water works / wish to
know l am voting for. 1t is better to loose
little of good thing than to accept too
much of a bad one. D.
ANOTHER VIEW.
To he Editor Of the Register.
In your issue of the 9th inst. is an article
from Martins Ferry, in which the author
discusses the question of water works, in his
Chesterfeldian (?) STYLE That was re-
markable article remarkable for the many
assertions it contained, without the sEghtes
attempt to back them up with the facts
which the people desire, much more than
The display of billingsate contained therein
But the most remarkable part of this
whole performance, is the witnessing oil
this gentleman in the role Of reformer
Mrabile dictu! We could not beleYelt
ourselves, only that we have heard that
within the last few weeks this gentleman
has experienced change OF heart. But 1t
shows the versatility Of the genius. We have
great respect for honest opinions, honestly
asserted, but an utter contempt for the man
who will make assertions without ingestigat
ing or wanting to know the real facts, for
The purpose OF injuring his fellow men, in
order to carry through his own peculiar
notions. This gentleman can be found
sitting at the receipt Of custom willing al
all times to do the bidding of his littlecoterie
of admirers, dances when they tell him to
dance, and apparently asserting anything
they tell him to assert. The first assertion
is that in buying the new cemetery $1,000
more was paid for the land thsnit could have
been bought for. We charge this as absolutely
false, and refer the gentleman to Mr.. Evans
of whom it was purchased, for the facts and
figures; he surely can have no object in
concealing them. The next assertion Is
that $500 more was paid for plotting and
laying it out (the cemetery than another
equally good engineer would have done the
same work for. In the first place
it did not cost the half OF
1900, and we would like to
know the name of the engineer who works
so cheaply. If lie, the engineer, is in favor
Of water works, it will be great saving in
constructing them. Consider him engaged.
Thirdly, he wants to know why the contract
of furnishing lamps was not given to one
of our own citizens instead OF foreigner.
We would answer that this proposition of
$I.S73 was for the lamp alone, without posts
or anything else, while the other parties
furnished everything. set them up and spent
some time instructing a lighter, besides
thew did not cost SO as stated.
The next thing the gentlemen wants to
know is why Lash was paid 81 200 when
the same plans and specification were used
as B. Walker Peterson had, and Lash got
5000 and Peterson the balance, which is not
the truth in any particular, and so on to the
end. We will give your readers our ideas
Of the advantages OF water works In anoth'
err issue.
As there have been statements made that
the plans for the water works were not got
ten up for Martins Ferry, bat were some
old plans in the possession of Mr.. Peterson,
the following affidavit will be interesting:
WHEELNG, W. Va, March 6, 1885.
To whom it may concern:
This is to certify that the drawings now be-
fore the City Council of Martins Ferry,
Belmont county, Ohio, for a water works
are entirely new and original, and were made
especially for these works.
The plans, drawings and details were
made and worked from surveys and meas
urements; and no drawings details or de-
signs for any other works were used in max
ing them. 1t took my entire time and Ia
Dor for nearly two months, besides the en-
ployment at times of an assistant drsughts
man. Is. WALKER PETERSON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
eth dow of March 1855