The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-08
A SERIOUS OBSTACLE
Thrown in the Way Of the Union
Railroad Bridge Plan,
ILL ADVISED LEGISLATION
Which May Defeat the Whole Scheme
The W. s H, Railroad Company
Lays Down Its Views in Regard
TO Home Labor's Wish.

10 nome Lnpor'h WISH
When the circumstances began to in
dictate that the Union Railroad Bridge
project would be carried out at as early
a day as labor, skill, enterprise and
plenty Of hard cash could carry It out,
there was general rejoicing, OF course
every sensible man who has the welfare
Of the city at heart, desires that the
bridge may be built speedily, Below is
some correspondence which passed be-
tween President Cochran, Of the rail-
road company, and the committee Of the
Chamber Of Commerce appointed to
consider the subject Of the bridge. In
Judge Cochran's letter he states why the
amended ordinance now pending in
Council is considered Objectionable to
the company, His argument deserves a
careful reading, and the points he makes
ought to be well weighed before any
thing is done that may tend to retard
the progress Of the bridge and It's con.
nechons, and 30 iniure the prosperity OF
the city;
. WHEELING 4 HARRISBURG r, W, Co, !
Or WEST VIRGINIA,
WHEELINd, w, Va, Jan. 5, 1880. }
DR.. r. ", Hasleti, Chairman Special Committee,
Chamber Of Commerce, W6ediHg, ". "a
SIR:-The ordinance substantially as
approved by your committee and the
Railroad Committee OF the City Council
unanimously passed the Second Branch
with an amendment as TO local labor,
and that amendment was stricken out
last night In the First Branch and an.
other substituted, which you will find
written in its proper place In the printed
ordinance which / have the honor 10
enclose herewith.
The amendment, inserted as 1t Is,
leaves the sense somewhat obscure, yet
1t seems too seriously Objectionable to
leave 1t safe for US to attempt further
progress until our status is settled.
Under skilliul and unfriendly manip,
ulation, 1t may indefinitely delay aud
increase the cost OF construCtion-a con-
tingency to which We feel we do not de.
serve to be exposed.
| We believe no company has shown
disposition to treat the public more
openly aud fairly than we, and we know
OF no company proposing to occupy 80
small a portion OF public property as we,
whose operations are 80 limited and
hedged as ours will be by the proposed
and existing ordinance,
We Cheertully accepted former con;
ditions, many Of which were suggested
by us In our original draft Of ordinance,
because they seemed fair and such as
tho public in It's own interests should
demand from railroads asking right 10
use public grounds.
But here Is an amendment involving
we know not what, putting us at the
mercy OF we know not whom, and threat-
ening iorieitures we know not how far
reaching, nor when nor whence they
will come.
It introduces TO the contract between
the city and the company u new ele.
ment which in no way relates to public
property or grants, and which was not
Ia th6 former ordinance, under the faith
OF which work was begun and Is pro.
crossing, and 1t Is improbable that this
company will risk its entire future
under any such grant.
/ doubt whether any company any.
where has been exposed TO or has as.
sumed such hampering conditions and
forfeitures.
We desire and aim to favor home
labor. The correspondence between the
Secretary OF the Labor Assembly and
myself was, on my part, In good faith,
and there It should rest rs sufficiently
binding upon us all, leaving us both
power and inclination to carry on the
work and favor honest home labor.
No committee or man has given this
company the name or instance OF any
worthy or unworthy man having been
refused or discharged from work, while
am advised that hundreds have been
employed who In few hours ceased
work because they disliked or were I'm.
accustomed 10 such work, and not be.
cause OF inadequate pay:
The amendment would be extremely
injurious II not ruinous to the enter.
prise, and 1t Is not calculated to aid the
best and most respectable labor element
in the least, but will operate to injure II
by pushing forward and placing upon
equal terms with honest, competent Ia.
Dor every lazy, shiftless and irrespon.
sible party who may present himself
To say that home labor and none other
shall be employed when the same
can be had, Is To say that the company
shall contine itself exclusivelyto Wheel.
ing labor without regard to It's quality.
Was there ever time when alleged
labor did not ostensibly offer itself on all
our street cornersP So long as such labor
could reach q foreman at the work and
blusteringly demand employment, so
long would contractors be obliged under
this amendment, II 1t has any force, TO |
delay the assistance Of competent labor
from other quarters, and II is patent to
all that 1t would be easier to remove
mountains and cast them into the sea
than TO excavate our tunnels, build our
bridges and do much other work with
only the unemployed men in Wheeling,
II would be as reasonable to invite the
proprietors OF q watch factory to estab'
fish themselves here and, after build.
ing was half done, pass an ordinance for.
bidding them, under penalty and for.
FIXTURES, employing any but Wheeling
labor, Would a company be induced 10
come or remain under such conditions
When labor strikes, what becomes Of
the ruling rate, and when, by whom
and how often shall the quantity and
quality OF work, and the rate, be fixed
II We are permitted 10 proceed, II Is
assumed that some fifteen hundred men |
will be employed on this work this sea.
son In this city and Martins Ferry,
Under the proposed ordinance innunl.
erablo methods may be adopted to make
a case, to crafty restless spirit or cap.
tious whim, under which the relation |
between the city and company may be
4 4 N. Il