Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-23
The Loan Ordinance.

To the Editor oft he Register:
sIR:-A writer in yesterdays Neios Let
ter, who either does not understand or
wilfully misrepresents the loan ordinance
and it's effects, indulges in over column
of TRADE against it. He makes four
points. First, That a stone bridge can be
built in two or three years out of the cur
rent revenues Of the city. Second, That
the city is not compelled TO straighten
Caldwell's run. Third, That refunding the
loan of 1877 will not save money to the
city. Fourth, That the loan ordinance will
increase taxation. Lsst summer an uu-
precedented freshet washed out the stone
bridge over the creek To put a snbstan-
tial stone bridge there, according TO the
most conservative estimates and figures
obtained and submitted to Council, will
require $74, 600, and long time. Ii this
should be taken from current revenues,
farewell to our stree, paving or other i'm
provements. The statutes of this State also
forbid any city TO incur debt except after
sptcisl vote of the people.
If the bridge was built in one year no
contractor would wait for his money TO be
dOled out to him for three years, and the
city is forbidden by law to run into debt
to him if lie would wait.
The temporary bridge was demanded by
public sentiment. 1t Was neither Just to
our trade nOr property holders that only
one bridge should exist connecting the
north and south parts of the city for the
length OF time necessary 10 build peTma-
nent, substantial stone bridge. Bat the
temporary bridge may be washed out at
any time. Are we prepared to do without
permanent bridge? The alternative is
either that or stop ell street paving. unless
this ordinances is approved BY the people.
As to STRENGTHENING Caldwelps run. the
writer in the NeiCs-Letter misrepresents
when ne says that no estimates have been
obtained. The City Engineer estimated it
carefully at $4,000 over two years ago.
Assumption and assertion are not cslcula-
ton. Those who say il will cost over $25,-
coo simply contradict, without figures,
every estimate obtained by the Board Of
Public Works and officially reported to
Council.
No city in the land would have suffered
this long, litigation or TO litigation, itself
to be cut into by such an unsightly, cork
screwed stream. 1t has destroyed both
life and property during the last year. 1t
is dangerous stream. Strengthened, the
water will run off and obviste the peril.
The litigation is not at an end. Judge
Jacobs decision will be appealed. After
year or tTo it may come back
from the Court of Appeals to the
Circuit Court for further expenses and
tedious proceedings. If the present decision
should stand, the city loses fifteen feet
in the middle of the street along the run,
and is enjOined from building the necessary
walks for the bridge on Eoff street over the
same. If the loan is voted the city not
only retains the ten feet, bat fifteen more
in the width in the street along the run
will be given, not sold, to the city.
The loan of 1877 bears 6 per cent. inter-
es!. The proposed loan Of 1889 is only 5
per cent. This makes a saving to the
city of 81 800 per ennum. But it is COM
planned that the loan ordinance Of 1889
provides for direct tax in addition to all
other taxes for "a years. And so does
every other loan ordinance since 1873, in
cludiog the loan ordinance Of 1877. The
Acts of the State Legislature of 1928 re-
quire every city to put such provision in
erery loan ordinance. Yet no such tax has
ever been levied, or collected in the city
of Wheeling. The principal and interest
ofall loans have been paid always ont Of
the regular yearly income of the city. The
writer in the Neics Letter was strangely jg-
nOrant if he did not know this. There
are none so blind as these who do not want
to see.
The income of the city will be amply
competent 20 pay this loan az all previous
ones have been paid, out Of the income Of
the city, as is being done, although the
provision for the special tax is contained
in each ordinance authorizing any loan
since 1872 3 No other course was intend
ed or thought of as to this loan, and it will
never increase any mans taxes one cant.
The approval of the ordinance will only
cause certain portion of the usual annu-
al income of the city to be appropriated to
pay the loan instead Of being used for
other purposes. It is only a question Of
how the annual income shall be spent.
The increase in the net, not gross,
debt of the city in 1883 over
1887 is a very simple matter. The
restraining ordinance has never been
violated, but strictly observed. 1t per-
mits the Council to spend oil the city's
revenue, bat forbids creating debt. In
1887 the income was not spent by S23, 600;
at the end of that yeAr the $23, 900 was
deducted from the gross debt with other
credits, leavizg the net debt. This S23.-
600 has besn spent during 1888. and also
the income of 1888. Consequently the
sum of So, 900 of the credits deducted at
the end of 1887 fIom the amount of the
gross debt was not deducted from the
gross debt of the city at the end of 1888;
only the city's income was spent, OF course,
during the two years and no debt was Gre
ated. Let those who are opposed to public
| improvements who DO not desire any stone
bridge or any permanent bridge, who have
no public spirit, who desire to peTpetuate
dangerous, tortuous nuisance as Cald-
wallis run now is, who want the city to
pay the bondholders per cent. instead OF
5 per cent, who sre satisfied to see the
paving Of our streets dropped and the old
fogy policy perpetuated which has kept
Wheeling back in the race with other cities
of no more advantages, vote against this
lean ordinance, Gnd they will not save
cent OF taAesi Dut nhSVo ihVoie''
might be ssved.
The writer has TO interest in the matter
save as citizen of Wheeling. will derive
no private or individual benefit directly or
indirectly if the loan is carried, but is not
willing that The people be subjected to
Misrepresentation through the press, and
misled for want of a reply, into concluding
they are correct presentations of the mat
ter to the detriment of his naive city, IN
which his all is comprised. This is the
onIv motive for this communication. He
can not conceive why any voter who is
correctly informed should cast his ballot
AGAINST the ordinance But there are
always some persons who are hostile to
every thing in Heaven or earth, They are
built that way. God made flies and he
made "kickers." His ways are inscruta-
BILE and past finding cut.
ECONOMY.