Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-26
TURNED DOWN.
TIE PETITION OF fal aPIwIKY' RAILROAD
RYJl0rHD
Al Last Evenings Session Of the Joint Committees
On wharvss, Railroads and Streets,
Alleys and Grades.

The Council Committees on hallroaos,
Streets. Alleys and Grades land WharVes
were called to meet at the City Hail.
last evening. to further consider the
proposition Of the Pittsburg, CincinnaSi
and st. Louis Railroad Company, reiS-
tive to their proposed Improvements o.
the north end of the wharf. The !oint
committees met In the chamber OF Inc
First Branch of Council, there Delng
nresent with the members Wharf Mas
ter Crockard, Judge j. j. jacob Oisy
Solicitor Riley, and some others
Mr.. P. F. Farrell was chosen cnair.
man of the Joint meeting on motion Oh
DIR. Caddle, and business was commenced
by the reading of the original petitlon
of the Railroad Company, the purpolt
of which was desire to know Wnat au-
ditional ground and facilities the city
would be willing. to grant, and Gazing
attention to the fact that the increase
of business and the decay OF the exist
ing platforms, etc., render prompt action
necessary. If relief was not AFFORDED
the road would be compelled to seek
other quarters.
When the reading Of the paper was
concluded, Mr.. O'Kane presented re-
monstrance against any turtner en-
croachment on the wharf, ana Gaining
attention to the fact that the rallroau
and platform was already within tue
government harbor lines, and that tnere
was a probability that the city ana tne
Railroad Company would be proceeueo
against by the government, especially
If any further grant was made by the
city. The petitioners held that the
city only had the right 10 con-
troll the wharf and designate the con-
dition of it's use by steamboatmen, ana
had no right to give away any part OF
it to railroads or others. This petltion
was numerously signed by steamboat
men and business men.
Mr.. O'Kane also presented the 1olloW-
ing letter:
gu. S. ENGINEERS OFFICE,
"CUsToM HOUSE,
CINCINNATI, O., Sept. %, 1891.
''Mr. ". B. Rug0les, C. E., Wheeling, W. va
"S1R.-Yours of the 22d inst is at hand.
II Council grants the railroad company the
right to encroach upon the water way OF
the river in the manner that you indicate,
please notify me at once and l Will apply
TO the United States Court for an lnlunc-
tion and for an order to remove Whatever
thew have built before the order Is issued.
Please let this intention be known 10 Inc
railroad people and the city authorities. :,
81 shall oppose everything of this kind
whilst the matter of harbor lines Is IN
allegiance.
"Your obedient servant,
"W. E. MERRILL,
"Lieut Col. Of Engineers"
Mr.. Jefferson-Has the city any right
over the wharf?
The Chair-It has the right to keep
the wharf in repair and collect wharf,
age.
Mr.. Jefferson-But has no right to
give 1t away to the Railroad Company
The Chair-I never had that idea.
DIR. Caddle-As there seems to be no
prospect of getting any more light on
this matter tonight, and as the railroad
people have right to be heard, l move
that action be deferred. This road has
been good thing for the people OF
Wheeling, and it ought to be laid over
to give everyone chance.
Mr.. O'Kane-I see no good reason for
postponing this matter. l think we
have all the light we can get.
Mr.. Craig-I don't think we ought to
be hasty in granting this. The manu-
facturers are the people who are mostly
interested in railroad privileges, and
they have asked nothing. think we
ought to wait until the Railroad Com
many makes some formal propo-
section, as / understand the sketch or
plan submitted the other day by Presi-
dent Mcclure was but rough drawing,
and that has been taken away to Pitts
burg.
After some further discussion, the
petition of the Railroad Company was
rejected, by vote OF 6 to 4, and the
Committees adjourned.