The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-03-28

WORK. l refer 10 tnls particular lob be-
causo 1t hns taken great deal OF valu.
able time Of tho bonrd for tho last two
years or longer. and thGy arc entitled
to tho thanks Of council and OF tho on.
trio people for tho faithful performance
OF their work. Council ahould oncour.
ugo them In tho construction OF n
settling basin rs soon as possible. ono
that could DO cIcanscd once Il week, or
as often as deemed necessary.
TO CLEAN THE BASIN.
II council could DO on hand at tho
annual cleaning OF the old ba2In, I feel
sure thOy would sec tho importance OF
such M improvement. Tho present
basin is certainly onc.iourth takon up
with filth, and our poor water is largely
duo to contamination from this cause,
aud should be corrected rs soon as
possible.
| wish to call the attention OF council
TO tho fact that am called upon often
by parties who make complaints OF tho
danger from tire. from bad construction
OF wills and chlmneys, also old walls
that cndanger life and property. have
conferred with the chief OF tho fire do.
partmen., and We find no law that will
allow us to correct these troubles with
ont possibly getting tho city into bill
OF damages. | would respectfully ask
that the committee on ordinances pro.
pare an ordinance BY which some officer
could ut onco abate danger from this
cause.
PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
Gentlemen, | wish to call your attcn.
ton TO matter OF which you are all
familiar. It Is that the city Of Wheel.
ing, city containing 10000 people,
city that is strictly Il manufacturing
community, three-iourths OF whose pGo-
pie earn their living by hard work, they
md their children seldom SEQ ANYTHING
but the paved streets and brick walls OF
the houses, and who scarcely ever got
to tho country, or ii they do 1t is at an
expense which they can Ill afford. IT'S
true they can 20 OIL the cars to the
parks, which are maintained by private
enterprises, and which are delightful
places, and hundreds 20. but there are
hundreds that are deprived OF the pleas.
ure on account OF the cost.
l have been surprised to sec tho parks
and public squares in places much
smaller and much less able than Wheel
ing. Will We 90 along depending on
private enterprises. and not making
any effort in that direction? This
should not be; it is the
DUTY OF THE CITY
TO at once take some action, and see If
some outlet cannot be secured, where
all can 20 and spend their leisure time,
where children can be taken for an air
ing, which they so much need and with
out cost. | can suggest a place that
within my recollection was beautiful
natural park, which could in few
years DO restored 10 its once natural
beauty. by terracing and tree planting.
| refer to our own Wheeling hill, whore
the city is already owner oil quite a lot
OF ground, and could get more on either
slope at small cost. would recommend
that committee to be known as park
commissioners be formed, either OF citi-
zens or from Council, 10 enquire into
the matter, and report from time TO
time, such information rs they can. and
such recommendation rs in their iudg.
ment will pu. the city in possession of a
park.
TIE INDUSTRIAL SITUATION.
Gentlemen, l hope you will excuse
me ii I refer to our present industrial
situation. do so with the hope that
something may be said that will result
IN lettering our present conditions.
Fist, l will say, our city has for fifty
years been noted ior her industries in
glass and iron, and later pottery was
started, and they have been in years
past successful; SO especially have our
workmen been successful in having good
wages and steady employment.
This city in her early day was peCu-
liarly situated 10 make her industries
successful. Before we were a CITY, our
enterprisinG people saw bright future
for her, and Tor many years she was the
rival OF Pittsburgh. in glass and iron
products, and to-day she ought to be.
Then we were on the great highway be-
tween the east and west, and for half
the year we were the head OF navigation
on the Ohio river, but now these things
do not count. Conditions have changed,
and we must adapt ourselves 10 the
changed conditions.
WHAT WE HAVE.
We have our water works, our electric
lights, our street car lines, our railroads
and many advantages we did not have
nifty years ago, but now our neighbors
all around us have these things, and
are our rivals in all industrial! lines.
This was not the case few years back.
So that the advantages we had in our
early days have vanished, and We have
to-day every village as competitor for
any industry that is looking Tor n loca.
ton. We have relied too much on our
past prestige; We have been too indie
pendent and allowed many thing. TO
slip from our grasp that we should
have gotten and some we should have
retained. We canno; fold our arms and
say to the world: ave car yet along
without you." We nave got to 70 in to
have our share OF the business that tho
country does, and
HOW ARE WE TO GET IT?
Nature has done her part. We have
our ever flowing river ut our feet; our
hills are filled with coal, and We lack
nothing but encouragement to be gwen
to enterprising and industrious workers.
Now, how can We best do this? is the
question that should receive your care