Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-01-11
REMOVE THE HILL.
PRESIDENT COCHRAN, OF THE TERMINAL
COMPANY, SUGGESTS A PLAN.
How the Obstacle to the Citys Progress and Growth
Might bs Removed, at No Expense to
Holders Of Property, but TO Their
Pecuniary Gain.


Pscuniary Gain.
Readers of the REGISTER during the past
year will remember the big effort which
was made to interest Council and citizens
in some plan for the removal Of so much of
Wheeling hill as would open up that, at
present, unattractive and comparatively
worthless territory to improvement, and
thereby add immensely to the available
building ground of the city. They Will re-
member how, at the instance of a gentle
man entirely disinterested, committee OF
Council was appointed for the purpose OF
reporting upon some plan by which the
hill, in its present aspect and condition,
could be gotten rid of and how that COM
mittee held one session, discussed the mat
ter in several phases, agreed it was good
thing, and asked Council for 500 for the
purpose of making survey. Council
promptly voted the money and directed
that it should be spent for the purposes OF
of the survey, and-nOthlng more was
done The committee never went to the
trouble TO hold another meeting, and the
matter was lost sight of in the scramble
among Councilman 10 get into shape mat
tiers affectinE them individually, or their
immediate constituents.
The plan thus brought TO the attention
of Council and through its action 10 the at
tention of citizens generally, had the warm
approval and support of many large tax
PAYERS. who saw at glance the great bene-
hts which would accrue TO the city as
whole and the owners of real estate upon
the hill were, as matter OF course, not
ONLY much interested, but were very much
in favor of any movement which had 1or us
object the making available OF so man!
acres of otherwise nearly worthless land.
Members of the Chamber OF Commerce APP
nroved of the scheme and there was talk
at one time of calling that body together 10
express its sympathy with and approval OF
the matter in hand. This meeting, now
ever was never held for the reason that
Council allowed the thing to drop, and
TINS the matter has rested until the pres
emit time.
Yesterday a reporter preached the mat
ter to President Cochran, of the Wheeling
Bridge and Terminal Railroad Company.
he being a gentleman whose puoilc spirit
and general sagacity in matters lnvoiVlng
large interests IS BcllcldiAg NOANSNN "
reply Judge Cochran said
III think the suggestion to remove so
much of the hill as would make the ground
available for building purposes an acmir-
able one. Of it's feasibility, there can De
no doubt. | speak, now, from an engineer
ing point Of view That it would be Dig
lob. goes without saying, but it would DE,
nv no means. a task of the magnitude set
down in the popular mind. / have gwen
the matter considerable thought, as nave
no doubt others have, and | think coulu
suggest plan by which, II carried OUT,
capitalists could be induced TO embark IN
the project of removing the MIL. In Tue
course of nv cogitations over the subject,
continued the Judge, Il have talked with |
RI Rev. Father Sullivan, one OF the largest
owners OF real estate upon the hill, ana u
gentleman who has very much at heart the
removal of the big pile OF earth. FROM
him have obtained consider.
able amount of data, which has been OF
material assistance in formulating a plan,
which. | believe, might be successfully
carried out, with the cooperation OF the
city. That plan, in brief, Is ABOUT aS loi-
lows:
"As understand it, there are about l6O
acres of land embraced in the hill, owned
bv private individuals, and some y or
more acres held by the city, Tor puohc |
purposes. Now. let the city enter into an
agreement by which she will allow her part
of the hill to be cut down, contributing |
something towards the expense This
land. thus cut down, could not be sold Tor
building purposes but could be used Tor a
mark or put TO other public uses. Inc lanq !
held by private individuals amounts, as
have said. to about 100 acres, as | under [
stand il. That amount, cut up into ouilu I
inc lots. would make $50 lots, each 2oXlOO
feet and still allow ground for streets ana !
ALLEYS. These lots, if sold at an average OF
scotland | am told eligible oulld1ng lo's
inside the city average more tnan that-
would bring l,2S6cOO.
Now, my idea is to have the owners OF
this real estate get together ana agree 10
offer to capital certain proportion OF the
lots to be thus made, in return lot winch
capital shall grade OIL the NIL anu ulsPose
of the earth and rock. Suppose the own
ers of the hill would agree 10 give capital
lists two lots out of three, for doing the
work. That, figured on the basis have
named. would give the present lot owners
Sl2S 700. and the capitalists sS51 ,3OO Inc
former sum would give the owners OF the
hill about four dollars for one the ground
is worth ut present, while SS5I 900 10 the
capitalists would reimburse them Tor the
work. Then the city would receive as ne!
part public park almost IN tue centre vi
the municipal limits, of about twenty acres
in extent, free forever, for the people;
as contemplated in the original
graz t. 1t mis- h be that the own r, Of
the ground would be willing TO give three
lots ont of four, or some other proportion
that being matter for mutual agreement
In any event they would reap large pront,
without expense to themselves. and the
city would be Immensely benefited as
whole. by having a large area OF the most
desirable lots opened up for sale. Just
think of what Wheeling would be in few
years. with the present site of the nil
graded off-not leveled-so as TO permit OF
of the city would be the most desirable for
residences. of any situation within the cor,
porate limits. What a view there would
be, up the valley of Wheeling creek; across
is grand project, and | hope it will take
tanCihle shane soon.