Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-22
THAT OLD PROBLEM
OF HOW TO IMPROVE THE WHARF BELOW
TWELFTH STREET,
Again Coming to the Frunt-A Meeting Of TIL
Council Committee Last Evening, at Which
The Matter Was Discusssd-0thsr
Committee Meetings.

One OF the things which annually
comes to the front in this city, and
with which nothing is ever done OF
practical nature, is again up for discus
sion.
That matter is the extension and i'm
provement OF the public landing at the
river.
With each recurring spring, about
the time predictions that the fruit crop
will be a failure are ripe, the question
of extending the wharf comes up, the
Committee on Wharves meets, views
are exchanged, and 1t is solemnlY re-
solved that IL would be good thing,
and then-the matter is allowed to drop
until another twelve months have
rolled around.
Last evening the Committee on
Wharves met and there was quite q
long discussion over the problem.
Wharfmaster Crockard and Mr.. George
Stamm, of the Stamm House were
present and took part In the debate.
General Alfred Caldwell and j. D..
Ewing, Esq, went to the City Hall, ex-
pecting that the "Pewlky" proposition
for the acquisition Of slice Of ground at
the foot OF Eleventh street, upon which
to erect new station and lay down ad-
ditional tracks, would be discussed, but
as Council had referred that particular
matter to Railroads and Wharves joint
| ly, the gentlemen named left.
On the wharf extension question Mr..
Crockard, when asked his opinion
about the matter, said there was no
doubt but that the lower half Of the
wharf should be put In the same shape
as the upper end. 1t would make a
large amount Of much-needed room,
and would benefit both the city and
the river men. At present the lower
portion, from Twelfth street south, was
only dump, both for the city and
private parties, and in addition Ii
was used as a place to dump sand,
city boulders, lumber, and all sorts
of miscellaneous stuff, and wagons
were also kept about there. PERMITS
sion to do this sort OF things was
given by the Board OF Public Works.
The speaker had attempted TO stop 1t,
but without avail. In reply to ques-
tions, Mr.. Crockard said the depth Of
water at and Immediately below
Twelfth street was not as great as
farther north, but it could be easily
dredged out so as to be all right
for boats.
Mr.. George Stamm, who, some time
ago, made the city proposition to sod
and beautify the space II the city would
clean it up, said at present it was an eye
sore and a disgrace to the city, and was
daily subject for unfavorable COM
ment by strangers.
Mr. Dobbins threw out the suggestion
that perhaps, IL the "Pewikey" Compa-
ny got what IL wanted, it would be will
ing to grade and pave the lower part OF
the wharf, In consideration Of the grant.
To this Mr.. Crockard replied that the
river interest would never consent to
giving away any more Of the wharf to a
Railroad Company, to which Mr.. Dob
bins responded that nevertheless Coun-
Gil could act, and then the Railroad
Company and the river men could fight
1t out in the Courts.
Mr.. Stamm made another exposition
of his position In the matter, saying
that in addition to the unsightly con-
dition OF that portion Of the wharf,
nuisances were committed there, to
the detriment of his business, and re-
counted the long petition that was
signed by citizens last year, asking for
an Improvement. Alter a general and
long discussion, during which Wharf
IL - L.
of the river, at 45-foot stage, in ex-
PLANTATION OF the stand taken by the
river men against the grant TO the
Railroad Company, the whole matter
was deferred to future time.