Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-16

sons Work IN return lOf the ala 6AI0uuSu.
II is not fair to the general public, nor TO
any able-bOdied and willing man anxious
TO work, TO make him 0 pauper in order
that he may be enabled to sustain life. II
the Board Is 10 extend aid let il do so IN
manuer which will leave behind 1t the
least injury. The best way to relieve want
is to give employment.
Mr.. HoWard-The Board may improve,
build or repair the roads and bridges or
the county. That work must be done In
the usual way, but that presents 10 DIM
culties. The Board must nave its work
done with due regard to the public inter
ests, and not squander money. and out OF
thar idea arises the system Of bids sup
pose the county wants road, which now
goes over hill, TO go under IL. Then the
Board would have the right TO build tun-
mel, and that would be road improve
ment. II the Board were TO engage in
work of that sort, at this time, 1t could
let the contract, but with the provision
that only such labor as the county might
indicate would 0e employed, making that
provision a part Of the contract. The
county could arrange these details without
trouble, Such a work might be necessary
and yet, in the ordinary course Of events,
not 0e done for twenty years, yet Ia the
present emergency the public sentiment
would Justify the expenditure and pay the
cost on the principle that 1t is better TO
pay out the money for something that,
while necessary in a measure, might be
done without, rather than spend the money
in making paupers Of good citizens.
Mr.. McGregor-But how about the bidsl
MIR. Howar0-"I have avoided those de-
tails, but they could easily be arranged.
There would have TO be regard for estab-
lished forms. There must be a petition OF
citizens for the road improvement, viewers
appointed, a survey, ETC., and that would
take some time. 1t couldn't be done next
week, for example, but it could be done.
The general idea OF the law. is to have such
work done in the cheapest and best man
ner. All these details could be easily car
ried out, if the Board wanted to under
take it,
Mr.. McGregor-While I am satisfied the
Board does not want TO shirk anything,
vet it would be days and weeks before the
Board could get work under way, while the
city could do it quicker and easier and
more economically. L have no doubt the
county could undertake tunnel, but IN
the meantime people would starve.
Mr.. Gruse-Mr. McGregor has largely
voiced my sentiments, and | believe the
city and county should work hand in hand,
afford some relief, and the city the same,
and by working together the problem can
be solved One difficulty with the city is
that it is up 10 the limit Of its indebted
ness. That is not the case with the county.
1 do not advocate big county tax, yet II n
good improvement should be made under
these circumstances, / don't think the tax
payers would object.
MIR. McGregOr-If the county is to give
the employment, let the work be done in
the city. Let the county clean up the
streets aud alleys.
Mr.. Irwin think Councilnen recognize
that the Board will do what it can. 1t has
spent $4,000 or So, COO during the past
year, and the city will do its share. l
would like to hear some suggestions from
Councllmen as to what could be done.
There are three members of the Finance
Committee here.
DR.. Bates-As to the proposed tunnel,
talked Of, l don't know Just what gentle
men have in mind, but some time ago
there was one proposed in the northern
portion of the city-at about Ninth or
Tenth streets. That proposition came be-
fore the Board through citizens, and 1t was
referred to a Committee. The matter was
seriously considered at general meeting,
and it was the advice Of the Prosecuting
Attorney at that time that the Board
could not undertake such work itself, but
that it had the right to aid ii by an appro-
priation.
Mr.. Howard-The reason for that was
that the tunnel was entirely within the
limits Of the city. The county can't build
roads and bridges in the city. uttherei is
another tunnel talked Of in the eastern por-
ton of the city, somewhere about the east
ern end of Sixteenth street, Familiarity
known as Steenrod's tunnel, coming out in
Pleasant Valley. That is project which
can be- worked. The city line,
believe, is about on the top Of the
hill, and the work could be car
ried on as a city street to that point, and
as a county road for the remainder of the
distance That is project opening up a
splendid valley in the vicinity Of Mt De
Chautal, and its completion would greatly
the taxable property Of the
through the erection Of houses,
ETC., and would also be of benefit to the
city as a new outlet.
Councilman MaXwell-In reply to the
enquiry made moment ago by Mr.. Irwin,
as 70 city funds, would say, as chairman
of the Finance Committee, that members
of Council know that the city appropria-
tions are made early in the year, the entire
revenues of the city being appro-
priated. This year the receipts have been
light, and there is a deficiency in the Po-
lice Department sloRe Of about So, 900. The
general fund-the fifty cent LEWIS
exhausted, and the ten cent levy
is in the same fix. That leaves the
Water Board, the Gas Board and the
Board of Public Works. The Board of
Public Works derives its contingent fund
from markets, wharves, police, etc. That
fund is about exhausted. and it will run
short of the estimate $1,000 or $1,000. The
Gas Board and the Water Board might at
ford some relief by employing labor in dig
cling trenches, etc. They are not restrained
as the departments are and could do so.
The Board Of Public Works after Janu-
airy lst could also employ men
by appropriating say $4,000 or
500. O0O-perhaps not so much as
$4,000, but Sl5,00O-from the contingent
fund to be expended in one or two months,
but 1 dou's see how any large sum could be
raised at once.
Mr.. cGregor-We don't know just how
many idle men there are, aud it might be
good idea to open an office somewhere to
have them registered, and thus ind out
something definite as to how many idle
men willing TO work there are.
Mr.. Maxwell-That would be a good
thing, and the Chief OF Police has said be
would be glad TO open his Office for that
purpose and aid in the work by every
means in his power.
THE ACTION TAKEN.
Mr. D. Maxwell then offered the fol-
lowing resolution
"Resolrcd, That the Board will do all in
its power to relieve the unemployed in the
CITY of Wheeling and county Of Chic. and
that the Committee is instructed to give
careful consideration TO any scheme sug-
rested for the purpose Of giving such en-
ployment, and report to this Board"
This was unanimously adopted, and
the Board adjourned.
The Committee of six will meet Sun
iav afternoon, at two o'clock, at w. w.
TWINS druR store, at TWentY-fourth