The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-14

E ;:: (; : $:;.. 4, * 4;
~ rapidly, 1t is true,
but surely and
steadily in that
manner for which Wheeling
"a noted, until to-day the manner in which
llnr municipal affairs are handled Is some
thing that she has no occasion 70 Do
Of, Her career has not been an ex'
travagant or foolish one, Her debt Ia not
large, and for almost every cent OF II
there ia something substantial to show
Her various departments are well equip
ped and ably managed, Her credit 10
yood-mnre than tirst.Clans in TACT, rs
demonstrated by the liberal premium
paid for her last issue Of bonds. BY the
adoption OF "restraining ordinance" 30.
called, a check Is kept on every cent oil
money received and expended In al Ge"
partmen,s, and In no single year Is ahe
allowed to expend more than It's revenue
without the consent OF the people, In
other words, her debt cannot BIO increased
except by the Issuance and sale Of bonds,
and this can be done only with the con-
Rsnt Of three-ffths Of the voters-a plan
At once cafe and sensible.
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
The head Of the city government ia the
Mayor, ar official elected for term Of two
yeats 10y tho people. At the same time
tyenty.eisht citizens arc elected to form
the Second Branch Of Council who serve
twoyeaTs; there HTeAlSo elt dat the came
time eight CitizanF, ono from each ward,
who, with the eiGhs holding over, form
the fiBt Branch Of Council; these mem.
beers serve four years. The City Clerk and
tbs Chief OF Police are also elected by the
people for term OF two years. The Coun'
ell In Joint session elects all other officers
Of the city or else confirms their appoint
ment made by tho officers or Boards elect
oil by tho Council. All measures looking
TO an expenditure oil money must originate
in the Second Branch, and oil matters Of
city legislation must be adopted by both
brauches before being in force. This
hriei outlining, with what is to follow,
will give tho reader general idea Of the
municipal organization.
CITY DEBT.
The debt summary OF tho city on Janu-
Nry /, 1886, showed net debt OF SG20, 23O
not live percent Of her real estate vllua-
ton, which Is the limit allowed by the
State. Her total founded debt at that
time was SG2S500, and this has been ra-
,luCed somewhat since. For tho year 1885
tho total revenues were 1858. GOB 0S, and
tho many improvements that werO made
nj hak IA I'm al
consumed all Of that and made necessary
the issue and pSle oil bonds 10 the amount
OF 100000, which sum Is included in the
total bonded debt.
The revenues were from tho following
sources and in the amounts named; Board
Of Public Works, 500 20; City w. &. @.
BlaCb, SSH 50; Cemeteries, 81, 264 40;
city property, S9l3 %; CITY Water Board,
$57 GO4 90; Gas Works, $l07,3O2 so; fines
and fees, $7,224 %; Fire Department,
$50 IS; licenses, $l2, 600 50i markets. SILL
6iG 10; premium and interest, 81, 2GG 50;
Slate appropriation, 81 1000; scales, 49,.
1891; taxa, 1885 AuI part oil 1881, $780,
0lS Is; Wharves, 81 ,703 4B.
EXPENDITURES.
Tho expenditures during 1885 we're rs
iollowa: Board Of Public Works, $685.
0iO IS; Cemeteries, S5O5 Al; City Prison,
Si,GI2 %; Gan Works, Sl2O FOL 90; Water
Works, Sll,G2l l2; Contingencies, $l0,-
400 %; Fra Department, S20,S5S 60;
Health, $3,Gl7 10; Lights, Sl505l 60;
Loans, $il $50 o.; Markets, $2,043 02;
Police, SIS, sol IS; Public Building, SILL
202 40; Real Estate, LILO 81; Salaries,
s., 4OS 80; Scales and Weighing, 81 100 10.
It having been shown what the various
city departments earned last year and
also what thoy Cost-Rnd tits to be Haid In
this connection that last year was an I'M
usually expensive one-it now remains to
DO told what condition they Are In, and
in 70 doing chow tho snug, compact order
OF thinga that prevails in tho city govern.
ment Of Wheeling. Before doing this,
however, 1t should be stated that Of late
years nearly all the departments have
been put under the control OF Boards,
and In that way has the government been
changed from cumbersome, heavy ma
chine to ono light and easy to handle.
FIRE BRICK STREET IMPROVEMENT.
The Board Of Public Works consists OF
three members elected by Council and
has charge Of the streets, alleys, sewers
and wharVes, Ever since its foundation 1t
has been buslly engaged in putting the
streets Of Wheeling into respectable
condition, and the fruits Of It's labors are
to be seen all over the city. Wheeling's
brick paved streets are not only her Joy
and pride, but their fame has gone abroad,
and committees nom other Citiea have
been sent here to view them, and seeing
have been charmed, and going home have
sung the praises OF WheelinS's brick
streets 80 loudly, that their people have
adopted the pavement and In turn point
to their own smooth, level streets with
pride. The brick block is a wedge.shaped
one, harder than FIRE brick, laid in sand
with broad and narrow edges up in
alternate rows. Hot tar and pitch Is then
poured over them and sand thrown on
top OF all. The result Is firm, clean,
smooth roadway. Mr.. 7. Il. Moore, in a
letter to tho st. Louis Age Of Steel, about
Wheeling, snys Of these brick streets: at
ia not only an economic departure from
ioeSilized customs but progressive and
an emlnently BagaCious one as we'll; In
fact, alter one has been harrassed into
profanity by the noisy, even deaioning
clatter and rattllng OF vehicles over stone
pavements, It verges OH the luxurious,
This pavement has boon tested on the
most frequently used streets for three
years, and for durability, cost, smooth.
ness, resistance 10 climatic changes, clean.
illness and noiselessness It not only gives
satisfaction, but Ia esteemed superior 10 |
any other. II Ia surprising, after three |
yeArB' use, how free from irregularities,
depresslonS, or even material abrasion this |
pavement appears, and how merCitul II Is |
10 ones tympanum."
These blocks are manufactured by John |
Porter, one Of the patentees, at his exten.
Bive works at New Cumberland, Hancock
county. They are burned TO tho almost
grAnite.like hardness they possess with
natural gas. Wheellng'g brick streets are |
a monument 10 the wisdom displayed In
putting the management OF the streets |
under q Board. The end Of the present
season will see nearly Eve miles Of these
streets In 1He.
Wheeling has about iorty.Hye miles Of |
aiFhnia and AlleVH. Mbnt NJ lhhsn 20 aiIhnt