Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-15

~ IA 80 n. R.al.ln:

To az bdRe WIS Re0tsser;
SIR.=As a citizen and taxpayer,
desire to enter protest against the
malevolent and unpatriotic criticism
of certain newspaper towards the pub
lie institutions OF the city OF Wheeling.
Upon many occasions, since the nrst
publication OF this paper, 1t has seen ut
TO blindly antagonize and unfairly crlti-
else various public works and depart
ments Of our city government; It's mas
done its best to ruin the financial stand
ing OF our city; it has dragged In the
mire the names and characters OF pup
lie men, who are giving the city,
in the various departments OF its gov
eminent, their best services, often with
out money and without price, and
where there is recompense at all, OF
a purely nominal sum; il has posed as q
common scOlj, to the disgust OF all good
citizens, and it has been lavish OF advice
which was asinine and unasked. Had
its alleged criticisms been the outcome
Of desire to do public good, they might
have been borne, at least In silence; but
when you couple with its apparently
natural and inherent carping, its over
shadowing ignorance Of the things it pre-
sumes TO talk about, its driveling fault
inding becomes unbearable.
Two years and a half ago when the
public spirited people of this city were
striving to secure from the Legislature
an amendment OF the city's charter, al
lowing it to sell electric light, for the
benefit Of the probable consumers of
E~hF fhronnh nhannnnCG and for
the protection Of the immense and val
liable gas plant, one Of the stockholders
of this paper went to Charleston as the
hired lobbyist Of private corporation,
whose interests were antagOnistlc not
only 10 the city, but to the citizens as
well, and the paper took It's stand
against the city. The city was beaten
in q righteous cause; but the
paper alude 10, which then opposed
the city and the interests Of the peO-
pie, has since continued to do so, and
large share Of its prejudice and venom
has been directed towards the city gas
works, and the city electric light plant.
There have been many exhibitions OF
this righteousness which will not down,
but perhaps the most fragrant example
was given to the public last night.
more lamentable display Of ignorance,
blind prejudice aud disappointment
gone mad was never laid before the
people OF this city. 1t has grossly Of
Tended all good and public
spirited citizens, and has outraged
those who believe in the i'm
provement and advancement of our
community The thick-skulled writer
of the article refer to starts out by
attempting to put in the mouth OF Mr..
Robinson, of the First Branch OF Coun-
Gil, the statement that there was de-
felt of $40, 900 last year in the gas Of
flee. l happened to be In the Council
chamber Tuesday evening, when Mr..
Robinson spoke, and be neither said nor
intimated anything Of the sort, and no
one present understood him to say or
intimate any such thing. No such con-
ditionSaf affairs exists, and the writer
of ths4artcle l refer to we'll knew it
when he penned his screed. The facts
are these:
Last year, and quote from memory
only, the gas works, out Of gross rev.
enue of about S1O6, 600, paid about S23,-
600 on account OF construction Of the
electric light plant, IS, 600 for principal
of loan, 81, 500 for interest on loan, and
Sl4, 900 for operation and maintenance
Of electric light plant, total OF about
S52, 900, This was more than the works
could stand, and deficit Of SIT, 600 re-
suited. The paper refer to said there
was a deficit of $50, O00 1t either didn't
l. 1. - n IN
lied. One or the other Of these cOnclu-
sionS is inevitable. The Trustees re-
ported this deficit TO the Committee on
Lights, and estimated that for
the current year they would re-
Quire enough money to pay this
deficit and an estimated deficit for
1892 Of S13, 900, or total of $4,000 FOR
the two years. The paper says $4,000
year. IL knows better, or it don't
know what It's talking about. The
latter is probably correct. This deficit
for 1892 arises from the fact that the
works paid out 500, 900 on construction
account, which is not an annual charge;
the anticipated further deficit OF S13, 600
for 1898, arises out of the same cause
to-wit, the works being overloaded. If
this burden was lifted, in some such
manner as Mr.. DObbins has proposed,
and it could be carried as loan until the
principal and interest of the $50, 600
loan is paid, the works could get along
all right. What it wants is either
time, or money. The assertion
that there was deficit of $780,
600 last year, and the assumption
that there will be a deficit of the same
amount "next year." arises either from
a malicious intent to iDjure the city and
people of Wheeling, or from ignorance.
In either case, it is to be roundly con-
demned. The city electric light plant
is all right. The city got dollar Of
value for every dollar expended. The
city gas works is all right. 1t is we'll
managed and profitable institution. The
only trouble is, that when $4,000 Of
bonds were issued, and the extra cost Of
the light plant-about 2S,000-was
Saddled upon its treasury, already bur
dened with the running Of the plant
and the payment of interest and princi-
pal of bonds, it was saddled with more
than it could carry, and temporary re-
lief must be afforded.
Give a willing horse square deal"
CITIZEN.
Memorial Exercises.
The two uniformed divisions Of the