Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-09-05
THE CITY AND THE B. a o.
sharp Criticisms of Several OF the City
OniciaIs and Members OF Council Upon
Their Position In the Main street Bridge
Trouble.

To he Eilor of tts Register:
Sm.-Our people are under many obliga-
tions to your paper for its assistance in eX-
posing the sly way IN which the Committee
on Contracts was trying 10 ruin Sixteenth
street, and at the same time practically 10
destroy the usefulness of the new Main
street bridge.
The report In your issue of the 4th. Of
the meeting of that committee held We'd
ncsday night, justihes every charge made
in your paper of the bad policy Of a stand
ing committee of Council assuming TO pre-
pare business for Council without instruc-
tions TO do so. See how the scheme was
worked. Chairman Elliugham called his
committee 10 meet al the Office Of Col.
White, City Solicitor, and also one of the
attorneys of ting b. X O. company, 10 hold q
secret conference with Mr. Russell. another
B. X 0. attorney Mr. Russell stated that
the city was using the cOmpany's ground
and practically offered 10 give the ground
10 the city if the city would agree 10 ruin
all the property ON Sixteenth, between
Main and Market by allowing a switch TO
be placed there. \ good bargain; obtain u
piece of ground n0t worth 500 at an injury
70 property owners of several thousand.
Mr.. Ellingham stated 10 tho committee
that the City Solicitor had been ordered by
him q 10 draw an ordinance era ting the
use of Six ,ecnth street 10 the B. ~ O.. Com
pany. and that il had been partially pre-
pared for presentation 10 the Railroad
Committee. to be presented by that COM
mittee 10 Council. when the little game was
blocked by Peter Farrelrs obstinacy.
Peter was stubborn enough 10 insist that
his committee would consider no business
not referred 10 it by Council. and for this
he deserves the thanks of this whole com
munty Right here we would like
10 ask Mr. Ellingham question.
Who prepared the plan OF the
proposed switch on Sixteenth street
which had 10 be presented TO Council with
the ordinance. There is plan or the
committee could not be told 50 positively
where the switch was 10 commence, how
much of the street would be occupied by il,
how much the curb would be raised, the
gutter planked over and other details given
TO the committee. The plan was made by
the City Surveyor and his assistant Mr.
White. BY the way, is not the City Sur
veyor a member of the firm, which has
been the purchasing agent Of the B. x .. Co
I'm its recent Marshall county purchases al
Bcnwoodt
If Mr. White, the assistant engineer,
had notice from Mr.. Russell scrcrdl irtc,s
mittoe. why was not Council notified.
There have been several meetings of COun-
ell In that time, and was il not the engi-
neer's duty. rs the city's representative, TO
report 10 Council any trouble met with, in
stead Of being employed by the B. IL O.
Co 10 prepare plans TO gOuge the city and
jnjurc the work he was experimenting.
In the sfrcrdl traits he could have pre-
pared new plans for the north abutment
and Council could have ordered the change
necessary TO avoid using the ground claimed
by the b. X 0. Company.
What evidence has the Committee that
the b. X O. Company does own that
ground. To be sure, Mr.. Russell says so,
but he is employed for that purpose. Has
the Committee had any examination made
of the matter. Would it not be right to
have some one, not an attorney Of the b. *
O. Company make an examination OF the
deed of conveyance 10 the b. * .. Com
pany, and also OF the time the ground has
been occupied by the city, before the Com
mittee holds any more conferences with
Mr. Russell. IL might be that the same
attorney could give Col. White the informa-
ton he asked for about "thc contract per
hitting a removal Of a portion of the
bridge He drew the contract and should
know and as he seems 10 be in doubt about
it some attorney might help him out.
Mr.. Ellingham seems 10 be getting his
second wind, since You made your first
statement about the secret committee ses-
sion In a sort of an apologize way, he
explains that "of course the ordinance pre-
nared by Col White was for the Commit
tee on Railroads. ~ c0Uld gci an ordinance
VI that sort upn although he and the Colo
mel were busy doing so at that very time).
We only wanted TO get things in shape and
save time Why so anxious about saving
time. He had known of the supposed
trouble for several weeks The City Engi-
lccr had been preparing plans Of the pro
posed switch The excavation for the
north abutmcnt had been going on all that
time under their joint superintendance,
and not one word had ever been said 10
Council about the supposed trouble When
the time seemed ripe to spring the plot, the
committee shows great anxiety TO save
time.
Will the same anxiety be shown by the
committee 10 save time when the new route
along the south bank of the creek is ready
10 be sprung on the city. II is 10 be hoped
that Mr. Hamilton, who seems TO be trying
TO protect the citys interests, when he
visits Mr. King with his committee com
posed of himself, Mr. White, the b. x O.
Co.'S attorney, and Mr. White, late sur
yeyor for the b. * o. Co. on Sixteenth
street, will see 10 it that Wheeling is not
asked 10 pay more than h1lf the cost Of tie
new route.
We will have 10 wait and see what course
the committee will take In the meantime
ID is not probable there will be any more
star chamber sessions held in the office Of
b. x O. attorney. The proper place for
Council committees to do business is in the
City Building, in the rooms provided for
that purpose.
No matter whether the secret sessions
are held or not, you. Mr.. Editor, have done
a good citizens part by smoking out this
one THIRD WARD.