Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-07
THB TBXED QUESTION
OF HOW TO GIVE THE "PEWIKr A NEW
DEPOT
Up for Consideration Again Last Night-All Par
ties Show a Disposition to Make Concessions
An Adjournment Taken Until Thurs
day Of Next Week.

Wharfmaster, representatives ana coun-
sci of the Pennsylvania railroad, and a
number of interested property owners,
to discuss the matter of the proposed
new station for the Railroad Company
at the foot Of Eleventh street. Those
present were Councilmen Farrell, Irwin,
O'Kane, Happy, Craig, Kenney, Zoeck-
Ter, mckinley, Caldwell, Brock, Camp
bell, Zanitz and O'Maley; County Com
missioners Cruise, Hall, Koch and Vol
linger, Messrs w. p. Hubbard, counsel
for the Railroad Company, j. d. Ewing,
counsel for the river men, Henry X.
List, Joseph Speidel, Chief Engineer
Becker, Of the Railroad Company,
James L. Hawley, F. p Mcneil, Wharf
master Crockard and others.
The meeting was called TO order by
Mr.. OKane, on whose motion Mr.. Far
rell took the chair.
The communication from the Board
of Commissioners, to Council, through
which the meeting was originally called,
was then read.
Mr.. Cruise was then called upon by
the Chair for an outline Of the situation,
and in response made statement SINH
lar in import TO his remarks before the
Second Branch of Council, at the last
meeting, saying he had noticed, at the
annual meeting of the Directors
of the Company that the depot
project was about to be abandoned,
and had interested himself to see
if the matter could not be revived and
differences adjusted. II that could be
done, it was worth an effort, and he be-
spoke wise and conservative action TO
the end that the project might be con-
summated. He did not believe in
jeopardizng or interfering with river
interests, but az the same time he
thought middle course satisfactory to
all could be found.
Mr.. w. p. Hubbard was next called
upon, and gave a concise history OF the
case, going over the past efforts to ar
rive at an agreement. The first plan
submitted contemplated retaining
wall along Water street, as far south as
Twelfth street; this was not Satisfac-
tory to the city, and was rejected. En-
gineer Becker then proposed a plan
terminating the wall at the
alley at the Windsor. This plan
was also unsatisfactory to the city, but In
rejecting it the city failed to intimate
what, il anything, would be satisfac-
tory to it. AT this point Mr.. Hub
bard depressed to give an outline Of the
status of affairs on the part OF the
Railroad Company, and said that while
a majority of the Board were Wheeling
people, the majority Of the stock was
held away from here, and its holders
naturally did not have the local feel
ing OF pride in q handsome structure
for depot purposes, which would be held
by Wheeling people. Having made two
efforts to please the city, and having
failed, the nonresident stockholders
were disposed to let the matter drop,
and did so, and in that situation 1t re-
manned until it was was revived
through the efforts of Mr.. Cruise.
The Company had the money to
build handsome hew structure, and
would do so, although it would not in
crease the earning power OF the road,
if an amicable arrangement could be
made. Mr.. Hubbard said the Company
felt that the objections OF the city,
heretofore made, were somewhat cap
tious, inaSmuch as nothing was pro-
posed in return. Likewise it was com
planned that the proposed retaining
wall would cut off access to portion OF
the wharf. The factwas that at present
access could not be had TO that
part of the wharf, and large
portion of the lower part of the
wharf was not, in fact, used at present.
1t was not a case where the Company
could go elsewhere and build a depot;
there was no other place available, and
the situation simply resolved itself into
the alternative of build or not to build.
Col. Hubbard closed by stating
that no other plans had been
prepared by Engineer Becker, who was,
10 some extent victim OF circum-
stances, having been led to believe that
his second plans were under considera-
ton, ana he fondly hoped that some
solution would be arrived at.
In response to this, Mr.. Cruise said he
looked upon the present meeting as
purely preliminary one. A discussion
Of the matter, followed by visit to the
ground, would lay a good foundation in
the minds of the gentlemen, and would,
perhaps, pave the way, through sug-
gestions or otherwise, TO an amicable
arrangement.
Mr.. Becker's amended, or second
plans, were then submitted to the in
spection of the Committee. The mat
ter was then discussed, informally and
generally for u considerable time.
Finally, DR.. Campbell said he was
very much in favor Of doing something
to ensure the new building. As a pre-
liminary, he thought it would be well
for the Railroad Company to stake out
the ground; then, il the people of
Wheeling wanted the depot, let them
have II; if not, close it up forever. He
thought the plan was a feasible one,
and he would state his reasons when
the time came. He was in favor OF
action.
Mr.. Cruise said he understood En-
gineer HOge was absent. When he re-
turned, let him go over the ground
with Mr.. Becker, and then let the
Committee go upon the ground and
study the situation.
Mr.. Ewing said he represented the
river men, who were greatly interested
in the wharf. He said il seemed to be
understood in some quarters that there
was factiOuS opposition from the river
men. That was not true. The river
men would be glad to see the railroad
get what it would, If the wharf would
not seriously be interfered with. The
river men had seen the lower end of the
wharf taken for freight depot, and
the upper end taken for passenger de-
pot without serious opposition. Now
lf1