Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-04
THAT CONTROVERSY
OVER THE STREET RAILWAY TRACKS DOWN
AT FORTY-THIRO STREET.
Council Committees Visit the Locality, Yesterday,
and Afterwards Attempt TO Have Meeting.
The Track Put Down by Permission
Of the B. P. W.

There was quite commotion among
citizens living in the vicinity OF JACOB
and Forty-third streets, yesterday morn
ing, when they discovered that the sec
ton of railroad track, to which they
were objecting, connecting the main
line running south on Jacob street
with the line running east on Forty
third street, had been laid down, not
withstanding their opposition, and that
the work had been done through per-
mission given by the Board OF Public
Works on Monday, after hearing OF
the representatives of the Company
The Council Committees on Streets,
Alleys and Grades and Railroads had
been called to meet at the locality at two
o'clock ia the afternoon, but on their
arrival upon the scene, where
they were met by Judge Jacob,
counsel for the Company, and
Mr.. Jolly, of the Company, the Commit
teemen found, as the citizens had, that
the work had been done, and that there
was nothing more to be done, at least
not Immediately, except look at the
streets, take some measurements.
and listen to tire objections OF citizens,
at least one hundred of whom had as
sembled Chere. Later the COuncilmen
adjourned to the City Hall, but there,
while there was quorum OF the
Committee on Streets, Alleys ana
Grades, but one member of the Railroad
Committee, Mr.. Farrell, was present,
and after half an hour had been wasted
in vain attempt to locate other Rail-
road Committeeman and get them TO
the building, an adjournment was taken
until Friday evening, at half-past seven
o'clock.
Under the old street railway system,
the down track on Jacob street, the
track up on the same street, and the
track on Forty-third street, running
east, all met at a turn table located
nearly in the centre OF the intersection
OF Forty-third and Jacob streets, and
cars were turned upon this and sent
over one or the other OF the several
lines. When the Company relaid It's
main tracks at that point they carried
the main line, running from Forty
third street south up to the line OF For
ty-third street, and then continued the
uptown track, on Jacob street south,
across FOrty-third street, and ran 1t on
down south about couple OF hundred
feet, where it was connected with
the main line south of Forty
third street. There was objection to
this extension and connection by citi-
zens, who thought that at first the Com
pany was going to run double track
from Forty-third street south, but the
purpose was so on made clear, although
not until after work had been stopped,
and the connection was finally made.
This done, the Company prepared to CON
meet the main line south OF Forty-third
street aud the line running east on
Forty-third street with a curve, at She
southeast corner OF the two streets
named. This met with renewed oppo-
stion and the Board of Public Works
ordered the work stopped and instruct
ed the police to prevent the laying OF
the rails and ties. This was done
Saturday, and the representatives OF
the Company and citizens were sum
moned before the Board Monday. AT
this meeting, after consideration, the
Board said it would make an order,
without intimating what the order
would be, and later the Railroad Com
pany was told that 1t might go ahead.
They accordingly went ahead, with all
the celebrity possible, and laid down the
curve. This brought the situation
down to the visit of the Committee yes
terday.
The objections of the citizens centre
upon the allegation that the street is
so filled with tracks that when cars are
passing or being transferred at Forty
third street it will be impossible Tor
teams to get by, it being alleged that
Jacob street, just below Forty third, is
but twenty eight feet wide, and that
the tracks take up space OF fifteen
feet in the center of the street. The
representatives of the company and
Assistant City Engineer White main
tain,that the street is twenty-niDe feet
wide between curbs, and that the tracks
occupy but eleven feet of space, with
three feet nine inches between
them, and that there is seven
feet of room on each side
of the double track. To this the citi-
zens reioin that the car bodies project
over the rails sufficiently to reduce this
seven feet to six, and that with car
upon the main track and another upon
the connecting track the street will be
practically blocked. The citizens also
censure the B. P. w. for granting the
company permission to lay down the
track until the property owners bad
been fully heard, and question the
legal right of the Board to give the
Company that authority. The Board
considers that it has the authority, as
is shown by the fact that they gave the
permission, and thus we have rather
complicated situation all around.
1t is understood the Railroad Com
pany desires further permission to lay
down curve at the northeast corner OF
Forty-third and Jacob street, connect
ing the downtown track with the Forty
third street track, and TO discontinue
the use Of the turn-table altogether,
but that is question which is yet to be
raised. The Company considers these
various curves and the connection Of
Jacob street. essential to the perfect
operation Of its line and the improve
meat OF the service.