Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-15
CITY STOCK YARDS.
A LIVELY DISCUSSION AT THE CITY HALL
LAST NIGHT,
Before the Council Committee on 0rdinanCes-AbOut
Fifty Talented Citizens Present 1.-THE
Meeting.

The Committee on Ordinances met in thu
chamber of the Second Branch of Council
last evening, to consider the resolution IL
relation to the maintenance of stock yard:
within the city limits, referred tolt by
Council at Tuesday evenings regular SEES
sion. Chairman Caldwell presided, and
there were present quite a large number
of citizens interested in the contemplated
legislation. Some delay was Oecasioned
by the absence of the City Clerk, but about
ten minutes past eight o'clock, the Com
mittee commenced business, the Chall
stating to the gentlemen assembled that
Council had ordered the Committee to re-
port an ordinance forbidding the keeping
of cattle or stock of any kind within the
corporation limits, and invited the sub
mission of views by those interested. On
motion of Mr.. Hildreth suchspeeches were
limited to five minutes each.
Judge Houston first addressed the com
mittee on behalf of certain proprietOrs OF
Market street stOckyards, alleging that the
owners of hotels along market square de
rived a large revenue from the s~tOckyardS
and that the yards were of decided value,
both to their owners and the city at large.
He said that to close the yards would de-
strOy, in a very large measure, the stock
trade of the city, and cited in support OF
the assertion, the case of Mr.. Griffin, OF
Ohio, who was present in the audience.
The gentleman had declared that If the
wards were closed he would never bring
another herd of stock to the
city. but would transfer his trade to Pitts
burgh. Other dealers would do the same.
He called the attention of the committee
to the fact that this is a boom year, and
protested that it was q bad beginning to
thrust from the city a very large interest
To close the stock yards was to close the
Market street hotels and to close the
hotels was to ruin the stock market OF
Wheeling. Mr.. Houston said there was a
rumOr aflOat that q certain local corpora
ton was behind the contemplated leglsla-
ton. and warned the committee that in
striking down the individual dealers they
were putting the city in the hands OF n
monopoly which wOuld not fail to improve
the opportunity given it.
Judge Houston was followed by Henry
Neuhardt, who spoke to the same general
effect. He said the small yards were Of
vital necessity, and could not be dispensed
with without seriously disseminating
farmers, dealers and citizens as well. His
premises was kept in uniform good con-
dition, and was at all times open to in
spectiOn By the Health officer.
Mr.. Frank Rothakar said there was
some misunderstanding rs to the purpose
of the call. He, with others, had suppOS-
ed they were TO hear the draft of III Ordi-
n read, whereas the evening was spent
in improbable talk.
In reply to this, Chairman Caldwell
read the resolutions of Council, the petit
tons presented that body, and explained
the situation.
Mr.. Rothaker complained that he had
been singled out by Mr.. Egertcr and 9TH
er personal enemies. He WAS sure he
would be compelled to close up his hotel
if the stock yards were prohibited, and
urged the committee not to do it.
Captain Thad. Thomas next addressed
the committee. He was not sure the clos
ing ofthe cattle yards would ruin the cat
tie business OF the city, but he was sure It
would cripple it to sOme extent. He
thought it would not be good policy to
drive the yards to the country.
Mr.. Somehow, n of the signers TO the
petition, said it was not alone the stencil
from the yards. A great nuisance was the
noise of the cattle ut night. Many nights
it was impossible to sleep. The yards
were very offensive.
Mr.. BeutCr said the yards were a great
nuisance, both rs regards the smell and
the noise. The stable or stock yard next
to his residence was the cause Of great
sickness in his family.
Mr.. A. c. Egerter said he was one Of
the petitioners. He had not visited the
Rothaker stock pards. 1t was not neces-
Sary; he could get all the information he
desired without going out of his own
house. He had stood the nuisance until
fOrbearance had ceased to be a virtue. He
had no personal feeling against MIR. ROtha-
ker, or any other stock yard owner. Mr..
Egerter described the condition of the
yard next to his residence, and said it was
unsafe to live alongside of it. The yard
might put a few pennies in the owners
pocket, but it took many out of the peck
cts of the speaker and his neighbOrs. He
asked the committed act promptly.
Mr.. Welty joined in the cutlery against
the stables. Hogs were kept in Roth
aker's yard for months ut n time, and it
was impossible to keep the doors of his
house open.
Mr.. Egerter again addressed the COM
mittee, saying the ROthaker stable was Il
violation of the fire ordinance, and was n
nuisance from that point OF view Is well
as others mentioned.
One or two of the owners of the yards
having referred to the possible fingers of a
monopoly in the present move, Chairman
Caldwell stated that abundant care would
be taken by the committee that TO aSSocia-
ton or corporation should enjoy undue adj
vantage from any change which might be
made.
The Secretary of the Wheeling Stock
yards, Mr.. Lindcrmuth, and Mr.. William
Bayha, one of the owners of the yard, adj
dressed the committee next, pointing out
the fallacy of the assertion that the stock
business would be ruined if the Market
street yards were closed up. The discus
sion, pro and con, was continued at some
length, and at its conclusion Clerk CALI
gan produced a 3x6 ancient map of the
city. and after the members had studied it
a while it was agreed to have an ordinance
drawn making it unlawful to keep live
stock within the city, except north of
Eleventh street on the west
side of the creek, and north of
Fourteenth street on the east side, iBclud-
ing the peninsula and the east side Of
Wheeling hill up to within 100 feet OF the
top.