Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-06
MARTINS FERRY.
The Water Works Question-A Criticism
of Previous Statements.

communication, which has been ELECTED by
communications previously Published in the
REGISTER and Ohio Valley News:
Editor Of h. Register.
In your issue Of Tuesday, March lst ap-
pears an article on the water works ques-
ton st Martins Ferry, D." that deserves,
from its own internal inconsistency, pass
ing notice. although its general merits
would consien it without comment to the
vortex Of oblivion"
In the first place, misstatements are made
that apall, though they do not equal such
as were made by the Committee Of Council
before Judge Pruden and the balance Of his
committee in Columbus. No such paper
was ever circulated, having at its
head, or as . part thereof,
such words as we, the heavy taxpayers -
neither was it said that our manufactures
would be taxed out Of existence. All that
was said was, with present rate OF taxation
of 81 90, with Sl50,o00 court house to
build and two school houses costing about
$26, 1000 and bonded debt ofabout $50, ,O0O,
that the rate OF taxation would be run up to
three and a half per cent. That high tax.
alton would necessitate high rents (which
have always been too high here), and that
with high taxes and high rents, new
enterprises of the manufacturing
order would be deferred from CON-
ing here, and those already here
would be embarrassed. Next this anopy-
nous writer says: Now beg you to turn
10 the tax duplicate, which these obstrue-
tionists paraded, etc. But does he really
show up anything. Does he really turn to
the tax duplicate? Or Is this merely fancy
expression of his, sort OF rhetorical Hour.
ish, SO to speak, on which to base the awful
charge that Taxpayers in Mariin's Ferry do
not pay taxes in proportion TO what they
own? and if they do not, cui bonop should
water works be built? In another commu-
nication in the Ohio Valley News OF Feb
rusry &c, 1885, parry who signs
himself Councilman" and from ear
marks" supposed to be the same brilliant
genius that indited the article TO the REG.
IsrER, starts out to show that all legal.
proper and equitable matters had been
diligently performed, by fatty denying the
statement that Martins Ferry council had
rever been petitioned for water works, and
The next line or two "refutes" his own
statement by faying that council had been
petition verbally, &c. Thus giving the lie
TO the whole question, for council, the dehb-
erative body of law makers for
municipal corporation, cannot be
petitioned verbally" And finally, the
whole subject OF niger in the wood pile is
dismissed with Chesterheldan wave OF
the hand, and TIE clinching assertion that
mo honorable man would make use Of such
an argument" Is not this truly refreshing
Shades OF honesty, preserve this addle pated
Councilman. Imagine Boss Tweed, when
behind the bars OF Ludlow street Jail in New
York, airily putting his fingers in the arm
holes OF his waistcoat and saying 10 some &C.
ouaintances on the outside, in answer to their
inquiry, why he was there: "All mistake
gentlemen" No honorable man would use
such an argument as "nigger in the wood
pile" But is there anything wrong in us
ing such an argument if surrounding cir.
cumstances point to moral, if not legal
certainty Of there being a niger IN the
woodpile? If "Councilmsn" will only ex.
plain few of the many strange things con.
| nected with this water works movement,
| doubtless he can have what his hungering
and thirsting soul wsnts-an unanimols
affirmative vote. Please tell us Mr.. Council
man, why two or three OF the Councilmen, and
possibly his excellency, another officer,
urged the peop'e 50 strongly to vote for the
first water works proposition. saying IL
Martins Ferry was ever to have water works
now is our time, at the trifing cost Of $780,
OOO." Please explain how it was that the
town had to pay 81, 300 more for the new
cemetery than the land for it could have
been bought for. Please explain why
Council paid $500 for plating and laying
out this cemetery when another equally
as good civil engineer would gladly
have done the same for 500.
Please explaine when Council is 10
eager to build Water Works, SO the peo-
pie in the town that are idle and wa..;, work
could be employed VIII Conrad Long 8
bid Of furnishi--g better street light than
th,te one DOW in use, for SiS7!, was not
taken and the whole contract given TO a
foreigner at 81 90 per light Please ex,
plain how it comes that A. Lash was hired
to get up plans at q cost oil $1,000, and the
same old plans and specifications of b.
Walker Peterson were used, and why
the last named gentleman ONLY il
10 get, or has 90 ten, 500
and all the balance goeI to Lash7 Please
explain, Mr. Councilman, WIZ and for wha,
| purpose the old saw-mill site or Williams
tract OF land Is kept ready for sale by one Of
those parties who are so an gious for water
works. Please explain why the city engin.
gineer land perhaps others have been so
anxiously talking" up the project to build
our water works OF Or gear the saw-pil!
tract and the great advantages ol the point
Of the Island? And lastly, please explain
how II comes that the great iinanciers OF the
Council could be inVeigled into supporting
the $3.50, 600 water works scheme when the
same parties af,erward offered TO
give bond to build the same water
works for $4,000. And please, we beg
OF you most urgently, explain
why does certain ones Of the Council, and
only they, so persistently. increasingly. in
season and out urge this water works ques'
,ion? No person in our town has shown
onetenth the interest and anxiety that the
Council and those that meet with them
have. Citizens Of Martins Ferry vote, /
say too your honest sentiments. Do not be
deceived with promises Of employment.
This is but catch for your vote and 10
profit the rings pocket. too, want water
works, but will never consent 10 any prop.
osition that will illegally sad wrongfalIy pot
money out Of my pocket into that Of
another.
The Martins Ferry stove works are now
running fall and turning out twenty-five
stoves day.
There has been a meeting called BY the
trades miners and labor organizations Of
Martins Ferry tomorrow night to discuss
the water works question.
DR.. j. ID. Hobensack having found bis
practice so much inereased that he is un-
able to do it justice and attend to bis store
at the same time. has sold his stock