Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-30
TOO MUCH RENT.
TIE SCHOOL BOARD DECLINES Mr. HEISEELL'S
PROPOSITION.
The Proposed Addition to the Public Library
Block Discussed at LsHgih-Trsnd Of
the Argument

Block. Those present were President
JepSon and Secretary Hall, and MesSrS.
Acker, Bloch. Davis. Dickey, Ebcring.
Ellingham, Harrel. Hubbard, Irwin.
Jefferson, Miller and Moenkemoeller.
The first question that came up for
consideration was that OF a defective
heating apparatus in the First Ward
School, and after a brief discussion a
motion prevailed that Smead, Wills *
CO., who had the putting in OF the aD-
paratuS. be notified and requested TO
examine into the defects.
The next aud most important matter
aud the one for which the Board was
more especially called was to consider a
proposition from Mr.. w. =. HeiSkell
relative 10 the increased rental TO fol-
low the proposed addition and improve
mentS To be made IN the Public Library
Block. According to the plans which
have been drawn by Architect Franz
helm. the proposed addition To the block
will take ia the space on Fourteenth
street now intervening between the
present block and the property OF Nor
timer Pollock. distance OF some
twenty-eight feet. The plans show
i main entrance in the addition
of large and rather imposing
arch, with large windows on either side,
and one, If not two, floors above. This
entrance is 10 be the main clltrec TO all
the apartments of the block, with the
exception Of the stores on the Main
street side. In view Of these cOntem-
plated improvements, Mr.. Heiskell sub
mitted To the Board the following prop
OStiOn:
IT, me Board Of Educ alton:
SECRETARY HALL, DEAR SIR: | desire to
make the following proposition: will pro
vide the public library with an entrance
directly from Fourteenth street as per Mr.
Franzheim'S plans remove partition be
tween Clerk and Librarians Offices, and
the south room of library, thus enlarg-
ing capacity Of library, and lease you both
Offices and granting room on ground floor
OF new building, together with the rooms at
present occupied by the library, for the
term Of ten years from April LIST. 1891, at
al annual rental of 81 200, with privilege
of renewing for five years at same rental
The entrance in question will also be
used for the higher fiOOr or floors. OF course
the increased rental is not effective until
repairs are completed.
In this connection | would state we con
template other extensive improvements TO
the building which will greatly enhance il.
Yours Respectfully.
W. p. HEISKELL.
Mr.. Irwin arose Immediately after
the reading of the proposition, and
moved that il be referred TO the Com
mittee on Public Library for inveStiga-
ton, and report AT the next meeting.
Mr.. Miller said he saw no necessity
of delaying the disposition of the offer,
as he believed the proposition was Sulli-
cicntly clear for all 10 understand, and
the Board might aS well vote on il now
as any time. Mr.. Irwin retaliated by
saying that lac believed that it was a
question for consideration. and all
members ought To be cOnverSant with
the situation before voting. He knew
there were several members of the
Board who had not even seen the plans.
Mr.. Miller again arose aud explained
his position more particularly, by stat
ing that he believed il Was unwiSe to
make a lease for ten years, as the Board
could not tell what their successors
might desire to do; also, that the in
crease Of $500 4 year was altogether too
high. considering the fact that the
Board was only paying 500 year now.
aud a. the old ten years lease at this
rental does not expire for five years. we
are not 81 unfavOrably situated. For
myself am satisfied with the present
arrangement, and cannot see much to be
gai"ed. 80 far aS extra space is con-
rerued by the proposed improvements.
Mr.. Miller also referred to the fact that
by the new main entrance in the ad-
dition there would be- good
deal of travel 10 aud fro
bv the public in general which annoy
ance the school Board and the patrons
of the Public Library at present wholly
escape. Mr.. Miller could not see much
To be gained unless il be Il janitor'S
room. which was not matter OF dire
necessity.
Mr.. Bloch also spoke in about the
same line. lie could not see any par
ticular advantage 10 be acquired by the
the Board by the new improvements,
and was of the opinion that the in
creased ~. 900 rental was altogether too
high. we don't want to tie our hands
and feet down here for ten years with
An ironclad lease ! am in hopes we will
have a building of our own before long.
Mr.. Bloch was strongly in favor of hay-
ing new building which should
contain high school, public library
and other necessary educational apart
mentS. and sincerely hoped that Wheel
ing would be graced with such an insti-
tuition inside Of five years, not longer.
MIR. Bloch further remarked that the
plans looked inviting on paper, but after
all il is poor location for a library at
the best, being altogether too noisy.
Mr.. Irwin spoke of the increased room
that was just now badly needed in the
Public Library, and believed that the
Board ought To take advantage OF the
improvements which he understood Mr..
HeiSkell was going to make any way.
President JepSon then took the floor
in explanation OF the plans, making a
strong speech in favor Of Mr.. HeiSkells
proposition. in which he elaborated at
some length upon the room that would
be obtained, the present redicslouSly
low rent that i now being paid, and
also the metropolitan appearance OF the
new entrance and front OF the addition.
so far a. the location Of the Library
was concerned. he did not believe it
could be improved upon. and as
for the y, POO year rent. he
IL nothing more than fair and
reasonable price in view of the location
and the rapid manner in which real eS-
tate is enhancing in the heart OF the
city. lie said the Chamber AZ Com
merce was 10 pay $3.50 for only limited
apartments near the front end OF Ger
manic Hall after it was divided mp.
President JepSou said he believed the
dav was far distant when Wheeling
would have High School building.
Mr.. Bloch again put additional faith
i'm the near approach of a High School
building. and said that suppose such
structure cost StO,OOO. there would be a
:, DER cent. rental at =, 200, and he was
firmly OF thu opinion that It would not
be i've years before it was built.
MIR. Hubbard said If the Library Was
crowded now, the little extra room that
would be obtained by the addition would
offset the increased growth Of the
city and patronage for but a short time
before ii would again have to be in
creased. and he was not IN favor Of ac-
cepting the proposition.
Mr.. Miller then moved that the prop
osition of Mr.. HeiSkell be declined
Mr.. Dickey expressed himself in favor
of referring il to the Library Commit
lee Is the proper functionarieS to