The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-22
THELOAN ORDINANCE.

sees sfN%AAN bARAA'RNNAa
A Correspondent C0FreotH Some Impress
Ions sOushttO be Created byAn oPpOn'
ont OF the Proposed Loan.
TO ne Editor Of ne la.sLliga,eer,
Sin; A writer in Sundays Nsui.Letter,
who either does not understand or viii.
fully misrepresents the loan ordinance
and It's effects, INDUCES In over a col
umn OF TRADE against 1t.
He makes four points; First, that a
stone bridge can BIO paid for in two or
three years, out Of the current revenues
OF the city; Second, that the city is not
compelled to straighten Caldwells run;
third, that refunding the loan Of 1873
will not save money to the city; fourth,
that the loan ordinance will increase
taxation.
Last summer an unprecedented fresh
ct washed out the stone bridge over the
creek, To put substantial stone bridge
there, acCordingto the most conservative
estimates and figures obtained and sub
mitted 10 Council, will require $74, 600
and long time, II this should DO taken
from current revenues, farewell 10 our
street paving or other improvements.
The statutes Of this State also forbid any
city 10 incur debt, except after a special
vote Of the people.
II the bridge was built in ono year,
no contractor would walt for his money
to be doled out to him for 8 years, and
the city Is forbidden by law to run into
debt TO him II he would wait,
The temporary bridge was demanded
by public sentiment. 1t was nelther
just 10 our trade or property holders
that only one bridge should exist con.
Meeting tho north and south parts oil
this city for the length oil time necessary
to build a permanent, substantial stone
bridge,
But the temporary bridge may be
washed out at any time. Are We pre-.
pared to do without a permanent bridge?
The alternative is either that or stop all
street paving, unless this ordinance Is
approved by tho people.
AS TO strengthening Caldwell's run,
the writer In the Nelrs Letter misrepre-
sents when he says that no estimates
have been obtained. The city engineer
estimated 1t carefully at $4,000 over two
years ago. Assumption and assertion
are not calculation. Those who say 1t
will cost over $685. 900 simply contradict,
without figures, every estimate obtained
by the Board OF Public Works and off.
Cially reported to Council. No city in
the land would have suffered thus long
Obligation or no litigation) itself to be
cut in two by such an unsightly, cork
screw stream. 1t has destroyed both
life and property during the lust year.
II Is q dangerous stream. II straight
ened, tho water will run of, and obviatc
the perils. The litigation Is not at an
end. Judge Jacobs decision will be APP
pealed. After a year or two II may
come back for years more from the Court
Of Appeals 10 the Circuit Court for fur.
ther expensive and tedious proceedings.
II the present decision should stand, the
city loses fifteen feet in width Of the
street along tho run, and Is enjoincd
from building the necessary walls for
the bridge on Eolf street oyer the same.
1.-THE loan Is voted, the city not only
retains the ten feet, but fifteen feet
more In width in the street along the
run will be given, not sold, to the city.
The loan OF 1877 bears six per cent in
terest. The proposed loan Of 1880 Is
only five per cent. This makes a saving
To the city Of about 81, 800 per annum.
But It Is complained that the loan or.
dinanco Of 1880 provides for direct tax
In addition 10 all other taxes for thirty.
foyr years. And so does every other
loan ordinance since 1879, including the
loan ordinance OF 1871.
The acts Of the State Legislature Of
lS72-73 require every city TO put such
provision in every loan ordinance; yet
no such tax has ever been levied or col
leCted In tho city oil Wheeling. The
principal and interest OF all loans have
been paid always out Of the regular year
ly income Of the city. The writer in the
Nc,rs-L Letter was strangely ignorant II he
did not know this, "There are none 80
blind as those who do not want TO see."
The income OF the city will be amply
competent 10 pay this loan, as all pre-.
vious loans have been paid out o tue
income OF tho city as Is being done,
although the provision for q special tax
is contained lii each ordinance authoflz.
ing any loan since 1928. No other
course was intended or thought OF % to
this loan, and II will never Increase any
mans taxes ono cent. =.
The approval Of tho ordinance will
only cause certain portion Of tile usual
annual income Of the city 10 be appro.
ptiated to pay this loan, Instead OF being
used for other purposes. II Is only 0
question OF how q portion Of the annual
lnpome shall be spent, The increase In
the net, not grosSCdebt Of the city In
1888 over 1887 Is o very simple matter.
The restraining ordinance has never
been violated, but strictly observed, II
permits the Council 10 spend all the
city's resources, but forbids creating
debt, In 1887 the income was not spent
by $4,000. Al the end OF that year the
$4,000 was deducted from the gross
debt with other credits, leaving tho net
debt. This $4,000 has been spent dur.
ing 1888 and also the income Of 1855
consequently tue sum $4,000 OF The
credits deducted al tho end Of 1887 from
tho amount Of the gross debt, was not
Vleunuleu from Iub 8tubB uvLlt W yue WY
AZ the end OF 1883. Only tho Olty'B In
como was spent, Of course, during the
| two years and no debt was created,
Let those who arc opposed 70 public
improvements, who do not desire any
stone bridge OF any permanent bridge
who have no public SpiFlt, who desire Y
pCrpetuate a dangerous, tofLHoua, nuts
hnce, a. Caldwellls run now y, who wanI
tho city 10 pay tho bondholdOrB SIX pei
cent, Instead Of i've per cent, who art
satisfied 10 SEQ tue paving Of our street,
stopped and the old iogy policy petpet'
uaIed, which has kept Wheeling back Il
the rdOe with other cities oil no more I'D
yantages, yoteagainst this loan ordinance
and they will not save o cent Of hxeg!
but waste interest which might be saved
Tho writer has no interest In the mat
lef, save % d citizen Of Wheeling, vii
derive no private or individual 1eneh
directly or indirectly II the loan ID car
Iled, but ID not willing that the peqpl,
, shall 10 subjected IN Misrepresentation
through the press, and miblpd lqr wan
! Of q reply into concluding they are pot