Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-23

To a. Esitor or "a, Rsois,s-.
BENwooD. September 2, 1874

18-'
| To Ia Eiitor or ts Recis,s-.
SR:-In the issue Of the REGISTER OF the
10Th inst there appeared an article signed
by j. NJ Gsrvey. of McMecheu, relating TO
the proposed incorporation Of McMechen.
In this communication the following state
meat is made: parties in Benwood who
could not stand the progress or McMechen
wrote 10 the 3. X d. officials Al Baltimore
informing them what the citizens OF Mc-
| Mechen contemplated doing, and that 1t
would De detrimental TO the comp1ny's in
terest TO have the LOWE incorpo-
rated, but il they have no OBJ
lection, they would annex their
| property 10 Beuwood, giving them special
tax rates. 1t is true that gentlemen OF
Ben wood, owners of property In Nc
Mechen md territory adjacent TO Benwood.
proposed TO be incorporated as q part OF
McMechen. are opposed 70 the project Tor
reasons of increased taxation. aud wrote
the B. 4 o. officials, giving their reasons
for not favoriug the undertaking and mat
If their property was 10 be taken into an
incorporation. they preferred annexation
10 BenwoOd. The Benwood charter limits
taxation for municipal purposes 10 nve
mills, and the city is forever prohiolted
from borrowing money, or going INTO oeot.
When a town or city obtains a charter
| lIOm luO OAACuAN AOAEAs lAAoNA0A 40 NV 49,
tied. The people of Benwood are not leal-
Gus of McMechen, as stated by Mr.. Carney,
! and there is no clan or clique making an
effort 10 brighten Mr.. Carney and others,
or preventing them from exercising their
constitutional rights as American citizens,
as MIR. Garyey seems 10 fear. No misrep-
reservations were made 10 the Is. " u.
officials, as claimed oy Mr.. Garvey. and
whoever told Mr.. Garvey that such were
made was not posted as 10 the tacts,
Mr.. Garvey and others should not
DO prevented from exercising their
constitutional rights as - American
| citizens. and they should not deny such
right 10 others. IL there are those VINO
own property, or who are residents or =
part OF the territory proposed 10 DO incor-
! porated as the town OF McMechen, they
nave the right 10 prefer annexation TO Ben
wood, k~nowingthat taXStiOn for munlcipal
purposes would be low, aud that they
would secure the advantages OF improve
merts that McMechen could not give for
many years, other than by eXorbltant
taxation. The assessed value OF real ana
personal property within the large area
included In the limits OF the proposed
town mot including the b. " o. property,
is sl74,0 600, and estimating the b. X d.
property at $50, 900, the assessed property
1 al OAA ID 9 DAA NNkNF Nk@hEE -
less territory, has real aud personal prop
erty amounting 10 $l,266,000 with unus-
ses.ed property that will increase the total
TO 81. 800, 0U0, exceeding five and ono-fourth
times the property OF McMechen, as well
as the advantages OF many improvements
made. These being the facts, Mr.. Geryey
and others should not complain OF those
who own property south OF the Bsnwood
line, for reasons OF their opposition
to the proposed plan Of i~ncorporat-
ing McMechen and their preference
for annexation 10 Benwood. The law gov
erning towns and cities receiving their
Charter from the Circuit Court disqualify
other than owners OF real estate from serv-
ing as members OF Council; but this pro-
vision, though Intended 10 secure better
government, in many instances amounts 10
but little. II Is said the King never dies;
| but succession follows succession, and
change follows change. II may also be said
that tho tow or city council never dies;
but councllmen die, and even when living
are seldom their own successors. Were
McMechen Incorporated and Mount
Quincy and others elected 10
Council aud given control OK the
municipal government, no one can say
the would levy more than five mills for
municipal purposes, aud with 81, 200 raised
by taxation of real and personal property
and the addition OF other revenues not
large, that they would be ~extravagant In
the way Of paying high salaries TO town
officers; or, other than careful In their
expenditures for rents or for the erection
OF town buildings; cautious in accepting
bids for lighting the streets; %Iudicious In
the expenditure Of own funds for the
improvement of many miles OF streets, and
polite in receiving macy petitions praying
faV. fna ~ unwNnUfG md RWnnnntfnFa nj
money By the town. In time, however, the
council would be composed OF other MEM
bers who might desire a change of policy;
and knowing that municipal taxation,
where not limited, often becomes burden
some and detrimental TO the advancement
and better interests Of a town or city, Mr..
Garvey and others should tolerate opposi-
ton to the proposed plan OF Incorporating
McMechen, and especially when such op-
position is made by those directly intesest-
ed. BENwooDEK.