Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-10
ELECTRICITY ONLY.
THAT IS WHAT THE NEW ELM GROVE ORDI-
NANCE is LIMITED TO.
The Committee Did Not Conclude Consideration Of
the Ordinance Last Night-Oihsr City
Business Transacted.

lug SOunOAA
and Streets, Alleys and Grades met In
joint session at q quarter OF nine
O'Clock last night for the purpose OF
considering the Elm Grove railroad or
dinance. Acting City Solicitor Allen,
Judge LETTERS, counsel for the Railroad
Company, Engineer Gilmore Brown,
and q number of interested citizens
were present, in addition to the mem
bership of the Committees. Several
| outside members of Council were also
present.
Although the ordinance has been read
| several times, It was read through again,
at the outset of the session, from the
printed copy. Before the second read
ing of the ordinance MI. Robinson pre-
sented a petition from property owners,
| protesting against the use OF steam mo-
tors on the streets named, while saying
they might not object to electricity, and
claiming the ordinance as presented
was too broad. Among the signers were
B. S. Allison, ]. T. Sullivan, Joseph
Speidel, S. L, Jepson, 5. q.
SmlLh, d. A. Douloy, A' ~,
der, Stephen McCulloch, VIM. Dill
lon, John McGannon, R. Z. Swope,
VIM. Ellingham, B. S. Merchant VIC
tor Rosenberg, j. Pollock, Henry Baer,
and others. This was followed by an
other petition opposed to the running OF
any cars, and signed by j. L. Mcclure,
S. Fl. Brockunier, l.. S. D~elaplaine, DR..
]. L. Dickey, and others. A third pc
tltion from business men, who said they
had no objections to an electric line,
was singned by T. G. Burke, Nd. j.
O'Kaue, Wheeler & Metzner, Thos. q.
Brewster, Louis Stifel, E. Booking.
Robertson Bros, n. Baer, L. G. Hal
lock, r. r. Swope. Geo. E. Boyd. w.
L. Calm, G. w. Atkinson, M. V. Dry
den, and others.
When the petitions had been read,
Mr.. Richards said he had no idea OF
the extent Of the opposition, as shown
by the petitions. He felt sure the Com
pany did not want to force upon the
citizens something which was distaste-
full to them. They rather desired to
benefit the people. The only thing to
be done was to calmly and carefully
consider the question at length. The
Railroad Company was composed OF our
home people, who certainly Ia the In
torres of the city at heart.
Mr.. Robinson said it was true the
ordinance was broad, but that could be
remedied by amendment, after due con-
sideration by members Of Council. DE
moved the consideration OF the ordi-
nance by sections, and this prevailing
the work was entered upon.
The first amendment was offered by
Mr.. Robinson, who suggested the
change of the title so as to make the
grant or a "street railway track" The
change was made.
In section one, line 3 was amended by
inserting the word ''street" before the
word railway" This was adopted,
after a debate, in which Mr.. Richards
held the amendment was not definite
enough. The next amendment was by
Mr.. Brock, in line 5, limiting the grant
to thirty years. Mr.. Richards amended
by making the term that when the
original Elm Grove ordinance would
expire, so it would all "go
out together" An examination OF the
original Elm Grove ordinance showed
il read that 'no amendment
should be made for the term
OF fifteen years." after the grant
ing of the same, but there was no def
mite time limit. Mr.. Richards commended
that the language above quoted limited
the time, but Mr.. Robinson pointed out
that the city had reserved the right to
repeal or amend after fifteen
years, but that the ordi-
nance ran on indefinitely, in
the absence Of such repeal. This was
agreed upon, and then Mr.. Richards
persisted in his motion to amend, which
would give the city the right to amend
both ordinances after 1898. Mr.. Rich
ards point was %combatted by Mr..
Brock, who pointed out that the origi-
nal Elm Grove ordinance was not I'M
der consideration at all, and further,
that no Company would put down
anv line for the "trivial
period of five years" In response TO
this, Mr.. Richards defined his position.
He disclaimed any idea Of attacking the
ordinance in an underhand manner
He believed the Company should have
what it wanted, but he desired 1t to be
put in a proper shape, ana In
such shape that If it should
prove 10 be obnoxious TO the
people, the Council could obtain
relief. Mr.. Richards substitute was
lost, and the limit Of thirty years was
inserted.
The next amendment to section one
was by MIR. Robinson, who added, after
line 81:
"And that the cars or other vehicles
placed or run on said railway shall be
propelled or run by electric power
only, to be applied according to any
system now in use in this or other
cities, and which may be adopted
by the Wheeling and Elm Grove Rail-
a Company, with the approval OF the
Council Of the city Of Wheeling; that
the wagon tread OF the rails shall be
three inches in width, and that the
gauge Of said railway shall be the same
as the United States standard"
Mr.. Richards was opposed 10 the last
clause of this amendment, but 1t was
adopted.
Mr.. Grimm objected to making
the tread of the rails three inches,
and asked that Engineer Brown be
heard. Mr.. Brown addressed the Com
mittee, prefacing his remarks with the
statement that very few wagons would
run in a standard gauge track OF four
feet eight and one-half inches, most
vehicles being Of four feet ten inches
and FIVE feet two inches gauge. A nat
! rail would therefore be OF little use, as
but one wheel would run In 1t, and
such a rail would make II impossible to
haul the present Elm Grove cars over
the track, as might occasionally
be desirable. Mr.. Brown read
L.. .hn In III ccrf11n NcfrQ tn show