Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-15
THE DEBATE

tho AuODtioh VI thO
The ordinance to authorize the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company to oon'
struct, maintain aud operate two addition
al tracks on McCulloch street, between
Fortieth street and the Marshall county
line, was taken up for consideration in the
Second Branch. On the second reading OF
the ordinance, Mr.. Caldwell offered an
amendment requiring, as q condition OF
the grant, that the B. & o. company allow
two crossings of their line in Benwood by
the Wheeling Railway Compsny's line.
Mr.. Cruise said he did not blame Mr..
Caldwell for getting all he could for the
rail way companies he represented, but he
desired to call attention to the fact that
Mr.. Caldwell had already incorporated the
sane thing in the ordinance giving the
Pittsburgh and Wheeling junction Rail
Company the right Of way up the
south bank of the creek, He thought
this was sufficient, and he was therefore
opposed to burdening a second ordinance,
which promised a good aud sure thing
Mr.. Caldwell replied to this at length,
n which MIR. Gruss in turn rejoined.
Finally the amendment was adopted, ayes
Is, noes 5.
MIR. Mitchell then offered q substitute
for the whole second section, in which 1t
was provided that the b & o road b
Mt ali tinles permit crossings of its lines by
other railroad companies, upon the demaud
the Council Of the city. In support OF
his substitute Mr.. Mitchell made q some
wha. lengthy speech, in the eou'ss OF
which he said it vas certainly desirable
that no railroad have the power to shut
ont any other road from reasonable and
propsr facilities. The citizens ought TO
take care that new roads be not hindered
In this attempt to yet to and through the
city. This precipitated the fight.
Mr.. Gallo we'll said he had been assured
by the counsel for the B. & o. road that the
of any such provision as was
contained in the substitute, in the ordi-
nance, would inevitably result in the
prompt rejection, by the b. go Company,
of both the pending ordinances. That
meant the retention of the Internal Six
street nuisance, and the loss Of the
B. & o. machine shops and other improve
ments. He made q forcible speech, and
was listened to closely by the large audi
ence in the lobby.
Mr.. Mitchell, in reply, wanted to know
the b. & .. road was to forever control
the railroad interests of Wheeling. The
competition of one additional road was OF
more value TO the city of Wheeling than
ten B. & o. shops. 1t would profit the
city little if, in acquiring the b. & U
shops, she lost the Wheeling and Harris
burg road, and Others.
Mr.. Cruise said it was just such q cap
tious policy as wa contemplated by Mr..
Mitchell, that had cost the city railroad
prestige in the past. The Bellaire bridge
was a case in point. He hoped for the
Of q better and more liberal
Mr.. Maxwell was opposed to certain
features OF the pending substitute. The
clause demanding that the b. q U. permit
crossings at any point selected by Council,
was going q good deal to extremes.
Mr.. Caldwell reiterated that to incorpo-
rate the substitute in the ordinance was to
kill the whole matter. He did not know
whether that was the object or not, but
that would be the result. He was opposed
to legislating for roads yet within the
womb of time. Old fogy legislation had
kept Wheeling in the town class, while
other places which were laid out when che
was gray haired, had beat her out OF sight
in the race for population and wealth.
The city had fought the B. q D.. road ever
since the road was built-aud much bad
we gained by it. He at times felt resent
ment, but he did not want his resentment
to run away with his reason.
Mr.. Mitchell's amendment was laid on
the table with q dull thud, and the ordi-
nance was adopted, and sent to the First
Branch, whittier the crowd followed.
In the First Branch, while the ordinance
was being read O second time, Mr.. Tracy
moved to strike ont the amendment incor-
porated in the ordinance, in the Second
Branch, by Mr.. Caldwell, and in doing
this, he desired to correct a statement
made BY Mr.. Caldwell, to the effect that
Mr.. Tracy had given assurances that the
railroad company would not oppose the
Benwood crossings. He denied this, and
went on to oppose the amendment.
Mr.. Russell, the resident counsel OF the
B. & o. Company, then addressed the
Branch, upon invitation, outlining in q
general way the plans of the Company he
represented. He assured Council that an
amendment of the nature proposed
by MI. Caldwell would not
only be fatal to the pending
ordinance, but to the one which provided
for the creek route. The two ordinances
would have to stand or fall together; what
would be fatal TO one would be equally
fatal to the other. The position Of the
Company was very clear upon this point.
II was the hope Of the B. & o. to run its
main east and west line through Wheel
ing, and in doing this, the creek route,
the additional tracks on McCulloch street,
the northward approach to the Bellaire
bridge, and the round house, etc, were all
prime and essential factors. He hoped
Council would grasp the situation fully,
and aid the Company in making the great
improvements il had in contemplation.
Mr.. Caldwell sought and obtained per-
mission to address the Branch in reply to
mTs huoccl. ~ uNu uOt buluA SOuuCL1
was in the frame Of mind to shut ont all
other roads in the interests of the B. & o.
The w~orkipgmen of the city demanded
cheap and rapid transportation to their
homes and work.
Mr.. Tracy took OCCASION to say the gen.
tleman talked q good deal about the work.
ingman, but he only did ii when his pocket
was affected.
The roll was then called on Mr.. Tracy's
motion to strike out, and it WA lost, ayes
!, noes 8.
The ordinance was then adopted.
THE ORDINANCE.
The full text of the ordinance, "a passed,
Ia as follows:
SECTION /. The right to construct, main
tain and operate two additional tracks on
McColloch street, between Fortieth street
and the Marshall county line, is hereby
granted to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-