Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-21
THE HILLTOP.
TIE INITIAL MEETING OF THE SPECIAL
COUNCIL COMMITTEE
A Number Of Citizens Present and an Interesting
Discassion-A Subcommittee Appointed
10 Obtain Information.

ing, for the purpose of considering IN pre-
liminary way, the objects covered by the
resolution. The absence from the city Of
Engineer Hoge embarrassed the Commit
tee somewhat, but as the meeting was Tor
general discussion and the interchange OF
Individual views, rather than taking any
decisive action. his presence was not so
necessary as ii will be later on. None OF
the members of the Board Of Public
Works were present, but there were
abort dozen citizens of the
Island, interested in the proposed NIL along
North Front street, in attendance, as
was Mr.. George busch, representing the
owners of the real estate on top OF the hill.
The session lasted until about hali-past
nine o'clock, and ended with the appoint
ment of a committee OF two Councilman TO
receive a definite proposition from the
Island citizens as to what they want in the
way of the earth, and on what terms, ON the
one hand and an agreement from the own
ers of the real estate embraced IN the vine
wards on the hill, on the other, the Joint
committee TO meet again at the call Of the
subcommittee.
The committee organized by electing Mr..
| Young chairman, and the discussion OF the
matter of removing enough of the hill top
TO make the present unsightly heap OF earth
available for building purposes was begun
bv Mr.. Eckart on behalf of the Island citi-
zens, stating that If the city went into the
lob. and would excavate and load the earth,
! the North Front street lot owners would
agree to remove the stuff to the total
amount of half million cubic yards or so.
The Chair asked if it would not be better
for the Island citizens TO effect an organl-
cation and then come 10 the city with some
thing like an authoritative and business
| like proposition. In reply TO this DIR. Cad
die said IL was the understanding OF the
Island people that the city was considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of removing a part Of the
hill If that was the fact, Island people
offered to help on the enterprise by taking
n large proportion Of the material off the
city's hands.
Mr.. Young said the city had appointed
committee to make a thorough investlga-
ton of the matter, and any business-like
proposition would aid in solving the prob
! lem.
Mr.. Eckhart-Can the city take away the
hill!
Mr.. Young-I think she can. That is
one of the questions for the Committee TO
ascertain.
Mr.. Eckhart-There was a similar ques-
ton raised with regard to the old CITY
Cemetery property. The Zane heirs at
! tempted TO recover, but lost it.
The Chair-Yes, that is so.
Mr. Eckhart-I understand the hill is
city common. given TO the city for public
purposes. Probably Col White can give
us some idea about that.
Col. White think the Zane case was
lost on techncalities.
The gentlemen present then launched
out into a general discussion Of the ques-
ton as TO what the owners OF the property
on the hill would be willing to do in case
the city began the work OF improving 1t,
and in the course of the debate Mr.. Young
said Rt Rev. Mgr. Sullivan had told him
he was prepared TO act in u very liberal
manner towards the city. He would pre-
| fer to sell out, but if ne could not do that
he would act literally in order TO bring
about the Improvement Mr. George
busch, who is a large owner of hill top
land. said there would be no troublein that
quarters. Island people or the city could
have all the earth they required, and there
was nothing to be feared from possible
| legal obstacles or other delays. The
owners of the vineyards recognized
that whatever was taken from the top OF
the hill would add greatly to the value
Of the property, and Mr. busch said should
| the city, in the course of the Improvement,
cut through Grand View street, running
along the hill top, down 70 the cut Of the
]
owners would be willing to obligate them
selves 10 also cut down their land to the
same level Mr. busch pointed out that
the city must necessarily have the most OF
the work to do, even when the cut pro-
crossed as far as the vineyard property,
! for Grand View street, which was clty
property, was directly on top OF the MIL,
and must therefore be cut to the greatest
depth. while as private property sloped
hot rrlnQnallV
less as il progressed east and west from the
street, and finally ran out 10 nothing
/ The city must not take the view that the
public property would alone be benefited
| THAT was far from the truth. The whole
city would be benefited to tremendous
extent as by taking OF the top of the hill
! the entire vineyard, on the east SIDE, now
/ far from steep, together with the newly
made level ground. would be made avail
able for building and would increase
enormously in taxable value. In conclusion
Mr.. busch said if the city would remove
its part of the hill and cut through Grand
View street. from the head Of Twelfth TO
the crematOry, the question OF cutting
away the private property would solve
itself and he cited the committee to what
happened when Fourteenth street was cut
through as an example. Owners would do
the grading themselves to got the ground
for building purposes.
This sort of general talk was on for an
hour or SO, during which the Island gentle
men said they would probably want as much
as 900 tons Of earth day, for couple of
wears or So and that there should be no
hurry about pushing some portions OF the
matter as il would be an affair Of years.
After a general interchange Of views,
some Of which were very conflicting at
first, the preliminaries were Strengthened
out in a satisfactory manner, aud on motion
of Mr. Blandfass, "A subcommittee. con-
sisting Of Messrs Happy and Brandfass,
was appointed 10 get from the Island peo-
pie definite proposition as to what they
would be willing to do, provided, after fig
uuring on it, they thought they could
take the earth at a profit to themselves and
on the other hand TO get definite agree
ment from the owners OF the vineyard
property as TO what they would be willing
to do to aid in the removal of the main OBJ
stacle TO Wheeling growth.
1t was the unanimous sentiment Of every
one present that il the work could be UNI
dertaken aud carried on from year to year,
| il would, in comparatively small
space of time, see the present sharp
edge of the hill cut down TO a level Of
from 800 TO 900 feet wide, easily accessi-
BILE at its north end from the pike, and the
south from Twelfth street, as well as by the
extension of EOff, and Charles and High
streets on the west side and by the extern
sion of new streets from the head of Thir-
teenth or Twelfth, on the east side of the
| hill.
As soon as the Island people have COM
municated with the parties building the
cable lines get figures on about what
amount Of earth they will probably want,
and thus figure out the probable total cost,
they will communicate with the sub-com-
mttee
In the meantime the full committee will
meet again to consider the matter of street
extensions embraced in the resolution Gre
ating the committee.
Just as sure as hot weather comes
there will be more or less bowel COM
plant in this vicinity. Every person,
and especially families, ought TO have
. a. 4 1T.