Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-03
THE B. & 0. TRACKS.
VICE PRESIDENT KING CONFERS WITH THE
RAILROAD COMMITTEE,
At Session Held at the City Hail. Yesterday After
MONA Subcommittee Named to
Make Survey.

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The Council Committee on Railroads
convened in the chamber Of tn,
First Branch of Council, at Lalf
past three o'clock yesterday after
noon, for the purpose of meet
ing with Vice President King, oi
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany. and talking over with that Official
means aud methods which, it is earn
estly hoped, will ultimately result in
the removal of the railroad tracks from
Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets. The
Committee had been originally called
for half-paSt two o'clock, at the request
of Mr.. King, but when the hour named
had arrived. Mr.. King sent word that
he was stuck somewhere between th,
depot and Benwood, and would not be
able to reach the City Hall for half an
hour or more. During the interim a
number OF members Of Council not on
the Committee, as well as many promi.
ncnt citizens, called at the City Hall, and
altogether there was a very lively inter
est shown in the matter TO be brought
before the meeting.
When Vice President King, accom-
panied by Col. Douglass, Chief Engineer
of the Company, finally reached the city,
they were met by Mr.. II. NJ. Russell,
the local counsel for the Railroad Com
pany, who escorted them 10 the City
Hall. There they met and were ip-
troduccd to the gentlemen Of the Com
mittec and other COuncilmen, by Mr..
Russell, and as soon as these cOurtesieS
had been gone through with, Mr.. Far
rell, chairman Of the Committee, called
the body to order. Roll call showed
that seven of the eight members Of the
Committee were present, Mr.. Hamilton
being absent from the city. Chairman
Farrell at once directed the reading of
the resolution. under which the Com
mittcc was acting, and this done, the
Chair said Vice President King was
present, Is a result OF correspondence
passing between representatives Of the
city and the railroad authorities. and
that the meeting was ready for the
transaction of.business.
Mr.. Handlan took the floor, and said
he supposed the Railroad Company had
at its command Il considerable number
of surveys. and was therefore, in some
degree, at least, in position to aid in
solving the problem Of how to get rid
of the Objectionable tracks on Sixteenth
street. There was great public de-
mand for solution Of the problem, and
he hoped Vice President King had
something to suggest.
In reply to this, Mr.. King said hc was
present in Difference 10 call by the
city, and was ready to listen to what
Wheeling had to suggest. The queS-
tion was one Of many years standing,
as all present knew. aud yet all pre-
yiouS attempts to arrive at Satisfac-
tory solution had always resulted in
nothing. lie said:
"The Railroad Company, years ago,
put a great deal of money into property
on the south side of the creek. with a
view to getting an outlet in that direc
tion. but since then the new Terminal
Company has shut us out in that direc-
tion and we are all at sea again.
would be glad to hear from the Commit
tee, but am frank to say that ! have
no proposition to offer at this time. as
have no knowledge Of the ideas Of the
city. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company feels that il has done gooC
deal for Wheeling in the past. Tn,
opening Of the road through 10 Pitts
burgh is q case In point. aS it resulted
i'm great reduction in freightS on coke
etc. While personally | have Away
received courteous treatment, some O
our people have thought. at times. thai
Wheeling has not shown proper diSpo
SitiOn. But while this is so, am here t.
say that it would be good thing fol
both interests to get together and con
fer over the natter
At the conclusion of Mr.. Kings re-
marks, Mr.. BrandfasS. Of the Commit
tee, said
"Thc occupancy by the Railroad Com
pany Of Sixteenth and Seventeenth
streets, and Of the square south OF this
building. Is the obstruction in the way.
The city would like to have her streets
back again. am sure the Sixteenth
street route is not such one as the
Railroad Company would desire. and
there Is also a great public demand for
the clearance OF the street. 1t being re-
allied that the Railroad Company would
desire better route than the one now
operated. that would be prerequisite
for action. There seems 10 be no line
available on the north side Of the creek.
but think there is a practicable line on
the south side, crossing over at proper
point. am not prepared to indicate
the line more exactly at this time, but
at the same time | have a route I'm my
mind which believe would be practic-
able, if il could be examined by repre-
srntatiycs Of the Railroad Company. IN
order that we may get at such line, J
think a subcommittee, say OF three,
ought to be appointed to meet with the
representatives Of the h. X. O., and con
fer as to the whole matter, possibly
while Mr.. King Is here. | make that as
motion
Mr.. Tracy asked Mr.. King If such ac-
tion by the committee would bc satisiac-
tory. and in reply Mr.. King said:
This question is an important one,
and think the suggestion for sub
committee a very good one. but IL ear
ries with 1t no definite proposition on
the part Of the city. think ii would
be- better TO have the subcommittee lay
down a line on a map, and then call on
the Railroad Company for an opinion.
That would, | think, prepare the way
for better under standing ol the whole
matter"
Mr.. Gruse asked for permission TO
make a statement, and consent being
accorded, he said:
"Thc Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company have a right OF way through
the city. partly on Sixteenth street and
partlv ON Seventeenth. That route
seems 10 be not only Objectionable To
the citizens. but il seems 10 be hardly
the proper thing for the Railroad Com
pany itself. They seem to have more or
less difficulty with their trains at all
times. II therefore appears to me that
the Railroad Company would be as much
interested as the citizens Of Whrcling in
finding another and a better route. J
think the motion pending is a very
proper one, except that IL seems 10 me
that the Railroad Company could much
aid the subcommittee by having some
one to act officially with it. Itmight be
that the Committee had a route in view,
which. to the eye OF an experienced rail-
road engineer, would be- at once seen
to be impracticable. 1t therefore
might at once be rejected, or amended.
/ think a favorable route can be found
by abandoning al least part OF the
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