Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-12
A BIG MEETING
OF ISLAND CITIZENS BELD LAST NIGHT TO
CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF TOLLS.
More People Appeared at the Hall Than Could Gain
.AdmissioD-A Long Discussion-Comg,tsss
Appointed TO Aet-Public Sentiment
Strong for Free Bridget

1
question OF bridge toll. was very large
! ly attended.
More people had appeared at the
hall at a quarter Of eight o'clock
than could gain admission TO
the room, large as 1t is, and
great many were obliged TO go away
without hearing a word OF what was
said inside the hall. Estimates Uf the
number responding to the call varied
from four to five hundred, about three
hundred OF them packing themselves
ike the historic sardines in the apart
ment set apart for the meeting.
! Mr. y. A. Noble ,called the meeting
to order and nominated DR.. L. c. Myers
for chairman. The election was un-
animous. by some oversight no sec
! rotary was chosen.
On taking the chair DR.. Myers made
concise address, stating the object for
which the meeting had assembled. He
read, as portion OF his remarks, the
card rate OF tolls printed by the Bridge
| Companies, and said:
AT first glance this may look like a
| small matter, but in reality IL is a most
| important one. Take the example OF
man crossing the bridges three times
day, as most of us do, and his bill will
| foot up $50 a month, or about S23 a
year, an Increase OF about 800 per cent.
over his old rate OF ST per year, while
| n he has three or four sons over twelve
years OF age, the increase runs up to
something like 1900 per cent. That
means destruction to the poor man who
owns home on the Island. II means
that be can't pay, and that he must give
up his home here and move away. In
the case OF vehicles the Increase is
equally marked. The rate is based on
five cents for n horse and driver,
each way. Taking man like
myself, who makes an average
OF two trips a day, II means twenty cents
day, or S13 a year for one horse
and II another person rides with you,
that's an addition. That is the state OF
affairs, and you have been called to-
gether 10 take what action is proper. 1t
would be my advice To all present, while
| having due regard for the
situation, TO eact in as reasonable a
manner as possible, and no. to act
upon first impressions. There are
several ways OF dealing with the ques-
ton. My own idea would be To appoint
Committee to confer with the officers
OF the Bridge Companies, and see IL
| some concessions cannot be secured
the Committee to report TO another
meeting of citizens. II the Companies
refuse TO make concessions, then we can
take such other action as the circum-
stances may warrant. 1 would like to
| hear from others present"
! This was the signal for the opening OF
a discussion which was participated in
! by Councilmen Maxwell and Caddle,
| John l.. Shriver, +. NJ. Strong, A. O.
Maxwell, c. NJ. Coen, T.. NJ. Stattler,
| Councilman Hamilton, County Commits
soner McGregor, ~ A. Noble, j. B.
| S0mmerville and number Of others.
/ This discussion took rather a wide
range, as was natural under the circum-
| stances, but the remarks were gradually
| cente.ed down IDon two or three pro
| positions, all OF which were subsequent
: ly adopted. one of the best speeches
! OF the evening was made by Hon. j. B.
! Sommervilie, who mounted chair in
answer TO loud calls, and after hum
/ orous ailusion to it's being the narrow
/ est platform he had ever stood upon,
/ and TO the further fact that his plat
i torm for tonight consists OF but a
/ single pldnk,' ne SAID
1T would. in my Judgment, be best
/ to deal first with the Bridge Companies,
/ and then with Council. If the citizens
/ OF the Seventh ward set themselves d D.
/ tiantly on their rights Oh this question,
/ they can obtain relief. The Bridge
/ Companies cannot successfully defy US.
/ Let us give them an opportunity TO de-
/ cline 10 afford relief, and our position
/ viii be all the better; and il both Coun-
/ Gil and she Bridge Companies refuse to
/ act, then there will be another way.
/ The people should stand by their guns.
/ and they will certainly accomplish
/ something valuable. Tbisis an i'm port
| ant question, affecting all the people
| and all the property on the ward and
! we ought to let IL be known from the
i start that we are all standing together,
and that We will not be imposed upon
/ with iinpuuity. II the Bridge
/ Companies refuse to give rs hearing.
. then We will be in better condition to 90
/ TO Council, aud there obtain relief We
/ must have b.. There are too many citi-
I zens who will not be citizens OF the
/ Seventh ward much longer if relief is
not afforded. This f. the only place |
/ know of where citizens are Obliged TO
/ pay g. pass from one portion OF the CITY
/ 10 another. There may be others, but !
+ don't know OF them. PIttsburg has
| been cited, but at PIttsburg they pay TO
! 60 from the city OF rittsburg TO the
/ neighUorilg city OF Allegheny, and not
+ 20 part OF their own city. and
/ % is the same whom citizens
/ Oh Allegheny go over 10 Pittsbur9.
The bridges 30 the South Side, / am
I tod, arc free, and the South Side IS a
/ part OF IItts0urg. But whether there
+ are such cases or not, the thing is wrong
lu principal and 10 is wrong which
/ ought 90 be- set right We ought TO deal
| with 10 firmly, frankly and fairly. and
| let 10 Doe known that we have a Just
cause OF complaint, and propose to have
justice"
Mr. Sommervilie's remarks we're
| puuctuated with applause.
During tYe discussion 10 was develop
cd 40 en early stage that there was an
overwhelming sentiment Zoo favor OF a
/ free bridge a. matter OF right. and 10
was pointed out By several that Island
property wa. taxed % build free bridges
over the creek while the Island people
had % pay g heavy toll Boo addition Co
all other taxes. and 10 was claimed
with warmth that the Island had never
bad just and fair return Tor
| i. r....r.l.r. "A