Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-09
A VERY EVEN FIGHT
OVER THE STREET RAILWAY ORDINANCE IN
COMMITTEES
Speeches and Papers for and Against the Double
Track Grant-The Vote on the Ordinance
a Tie, and Il Goes to Council.

| quest OF the oIreet hdi'"@y np"n'
to be allowed to lay down a second track
on North Main street.
There were present, in addition tc
the members of the Commitvee, Presi'
dent Jacob, of the Wheeling Railway
Company, General Manager Jolly, So
licitor White. Assistant Engineer
White, and several citizens.
When the pending ordinance had been
read, Mr.. Dobbins moved TO so amend
the measure as to make the grant 10
the Citizens Railway Company, one
of the most serious objections urged at
the first meeting Of the Committee
having been To giving the Wheeling
Company the right to lay down the pro-
posed line.
President Jacob took the floor upon
this. and said as the Wheeling Company
was now operating the lines, 1t created
| some confusion to make the new grant
to the Citizens Company, which had
leased Its lines. He suggested 1t be
given to the Wheeling Company, SUBJ
Iect TO the limitations contained In the
Citizens ordinance. That would &C.
complish the same purpose OF making
the grant a limited one, and at the
same time would prevent good deal OF
confusion In the affairs OF the Railway
Companies. 81.
Mr.. Dobbins then withdrew his
amendment, and offered an amendment
to SEC. 3. and a new SEC. g. making
the grant limited one Of twenty years
from the passage of the ordnance
The amendments being read, Mr.. Doo-
bins said he offered 1t to do away with
the objections urged by Mr.. Caldwell al
the first session of the Committee. The
question was then put on the adoption
of the amendment, ana II
was adopted, ayes 3, noes 3, the latter
Kenney, Menkemiller and Kreiter. Mr.
Kreiter questioned Mr.. Dobbins' right
to vote, as he was Director OF the Clt,
izens Company, but Mr.. DObbins stated
the Citizens Company had nothing 10 &c
with the matter, and the Chair DECIDED
he had a right to vote. The vote being
q tie, the Chair declared the motion
| lost.
The question then required on the
original ordinance, and President JACOB
called attention to the presence OF sew
eral citizens, and long communications
was read from Capt. G. j. Rawlings'whe
somewhat vigorously criticised the
stand taken by citizens against the pro
posed grant, at the first meeting OF the
Committee. Capt Rawling said the
gentlemen before the Committee were
| from the lower end OF the ward, ano
could not speak for the great majority
of citizens living ABOVE Sixth street, mol
for the mill men and other wage
workers who lived down town and
worked at the upper mill. The
objections to the line come very largely
from blind prejudice, or because the
gentlemen lived close to Tenth street.
and did not care whether there was any
| line in the upper end OF town, or else
because they had Market street prop
ertv which they selfshly thought would
| be benefited by line on that street, al
the expense Of the majority OF the citl
Gems in the ward. A double track, Mr..
Rawling thought, was absolutely neces
sary. and ought not to be refused at the
dictation of few men, who
were irving to dictate TO the
rest of their fellow citizens. de
thought two tracks on a street the Width
of Main street would be Of less annoy
ance than one track with switches,
would be of greater utility, and would
soon commend itself to the very people
who were now opposing IL. He, fol
one. could see nothing Objectionable tc
the proposed grant, II properly guarded
by council, and he held that the great
majority OF the citizens OF the ward
wanted it.
Mr.. Kenney then presented petit
! ton for residents Of Market street, who
objected to the Main street switch
and asked Council to compel the Com
pany lay down its track on Market
street
The Chair said he thought some o.
the same names had been appended K
the petition submitted at the first meet
ing.
Mr.. Kenney said he knew Of thirty
two gentlemen who had signed petit
ton favorable to the double track whC
had changed their minds, and were now
opposed to the grant. He moved tina
the ordinance be rejected. Mr.. Kenney
spoke to his motion, saying the MAR
street people were strongly opposed to
double track, while Market street peo
ple wanted line. The present service
in North Wheeling was great annoy
ance, but he thought the people woulC
rather stand 1t than have doubl,
track.
Mr.. Dbbins said it wasn't much u.s.
to talk about it. The Company hat
asked for nothing on Market street, ant
wouldn't do it. II they couldn't ge
what they wanted. they wouldn't asl
for ANYTHING. To attempt 10 operate
line on Coal street was out OF the Ques
ton. The street was too narrow. Tn,
| North Wheeling line never paid, anC
now would pay less well, as the Mar
tins Ferry travel now went by way o
| the Island. He didn't think the Com
pany could ever do much towards build
ing up the North end OF the city. The,
might put electricity on the existing
line, but il would only be a switch.
Judge Jacob reviewed the obstacle
on the Market street line, and conclud
ed il was thoroughly i'm practicable
The Railroad Company would not under
take TO build any line on Market street
and the whole question was narrowed
! down 10 Main street. he took it tina
property owners on Main street, abov,
! Eicth or Seventh, were interested il
maintaining the value of the property
! There was time when peo
ple were content TO, walk frog
one end Of town to the other. but tiTe