Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-04
somothlne About caldwsIis Run.

Something About Caldwel's Kun
IL l,e Editor Of tte Register:
BY the report of the recent proceedings
Of our City Courcil, it seens that Cald-
well's Run, has become an important sub
iec; il our city legislation. A few per
sons having private interests to serve, ore
trying TO saddle upon the public an tx
perditure corrected with this run which
they themselves ought to incur.
The most Of the residents Of the upper
wards Of the city have butli,tle knowledge
about this wafer course, beyond the mere
fact that it il lcc.ted someW mere in tie
undeiuci territory known as south Of the
cresk
All Of the old town Of Wheeling wss
north Of the creek. In process OF time,
population began TO locate Oh The streets
near the creek On the south side. Scms-
thing ever City yesIs ago, Sprgg Richie
! boldly laid out into town lots large
| tract OF land lyioe more than mile south
OF the ieitled part Of the town, most OF
which hsd previously feen osed os Il race
course. and called it Richie Town, under
which meme, aud as an independen.
muui,ioality it was built up and known,
and 70 remained f5r a generation, until an
nexed in late yesrs 10 the city as South
Wheeling.
As the settlements at that time xtsnded
but comparatively short distance south
Of the creek, there was then, and contiu-
ued to be for number of years aiteTgGrds,
q long stretch of vacant ground between
Wheeling ard Ritchie.Own, which was
commonly known as Csldwell's fields, be-
ing owned by the late Joseph Caldwell,
aud running through these fields from the
bills on the east TO the river mean dered
Caldwell's run.
These fields have long since been laid out
into streets and alleys and lots, a0d have
90 great extent hten built Up. From an
inspection Of a map OF that portion Of the
city, i. sppeaT5 that il laying out these
grounds the existence of this run was prac-
ticaily disregaried, as the lot lines cross
the run and take in its bed and convert II
into lois the same az o,her parts Of the
fields.
This run drains several square miles OF
the hill country, Immediately east Of the
southern part Of the city. Ordinarily i ie
very smsli Iivulet, but when heavy
rains occur it becomes az urFovernshle
torrent, and its ba1kg, which IN ihe city
are for the most part low and iil defined,
are quite insufficient to bold its waiers
The valley among tie hills through VIII ca
1t runs il An immense ravine. It's branches
descend the PERCEPTIONS hillsides On either
hand, and when rGins are exceptionally
heavy, a vast volume Of water comes down
which speedily OVERT )ws The valley and in
uudating the streets and lots in its 60 lTse
towards the river. spfelGg 0ut into an
angry sea, BEARING destruction and some
times death on its bosom.
Under these circumstances. OF course,
the lots siiuated ia the bed OF the run and
bordering epon { can baye bat little value
and it is not surprising that their owners
wou!d like the city TO take charge OF the
run and take it away of their lots, ard
accordingly we find that poyties interested
have been industrioualy manufacturing
ard working up sentiment in favor oi
the lob. II the city was esked 20 buy al
Of the lots along the coarse Of the run,
such on idea would rot be entertained
but proposition obligating the city e.
spsrd several times the value oi these lots
for the benefit of their cwEefs, seems 70
he thought rot C. easonsble.
II Is proposed, in effect, that the city
shall take charge of the run and thereby
become responsible for its coed behavior
and for any damage it may do hereafter
The direct pioposit on Is ior tie city 10
remove the run off priya.e property snd at
pnblic expe-se 10 exosyate an entire ne"
ned tor II in one Of the most public streets.
The proposition is 10 confno the work
at present 10 two ssuaTes, bat having IN
view its ultimate extension to Mount I ca
ce.,etyry. The ides is held ort tnat the
cost of the work for .bsee two squares VIII
he hut a tribe. say fifteen thousand do
lars mt after the work IL commenced II
viii be seen how inadequate Il this es1i- /
nate II the improvement ia made as al |
i onpht 10 provide tor extraordinary Hoods,
aad io make = channel CT les than 30
C.ft width by II feet depth, would only IN
v;te disaster. This will need walling and |
navi7g with masonry OF the best class,
and the cost will necessarily BE- several !
times fifteen thousand dollars.
Tha proposition &c ia'Aes ri astounding /
cne. vii osr citiz ne give 10 their support? |
OBSERVER.