The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-30
WHETHER IT'S BETTER
10 Have a Ferry or Go Back to the
Bridges, is the Question
NOW EGITNTNG THE ISLANDERS,
Tho First Well Attended Meeting of
Stockholders Was Held Last Evoa'
/ ing-ThO Preferred Stock Scheme
Goes Through, aud a Inst, DOs.
psrato Effort for che Ferry VIII DO
Made-DctaIls of tho Meeting,

meeting OF the stockholders OF the
Wheeling Island Ferry & Packet Com
pany took place, II was the best at.
tended and most enthusiastic meeting
held sIueo the recent crlsis in tho com.
panY's Affairs became known. It was
given out that unlesa there was a ma
iority Of stock represented at the meet.
ing the directors would give up the
fight against the bridges for good. So
when Secretary Watkins called tho roll
OF stock It was found over half was
represented, making the meeting com.
petent to take any action deemed desir.
Able-to burn their boat, il they chose,
Mr., ]. i. %Sommsrville occupied the
chair and Secretary Watkins was at the
desk. 10 bring matters before the
stockholders in such a shape that they
would DO compelled TO act Mr. q. l.
Schenorlein moved that the directors be
empowered to sell the charleston"
The motion was seconded by Mr. Myron
Hubbard.
Mr.. y. NJ. Coen made a lOnSthy talk.
He had not expected such q motion
would have been sprung at that time.
Continuing, he said that every Island
man must know that the bridge com-
panies would have been beaten decia.
lively had the Islanders stuck together.
This had not been done and the VIC
tory was ~anybody's but the Islands. BY
giving up the ferry an opportunity
would be lost, and Seventh ward resi-
dents would be at the mercy OF two
mereiless corporations. Ho called at.
tention TO the TACT that'the charter OF
the bridge companies gives them tho
privilege OF charging, If they desire, six
and %ono.fourIh cents per trip. Where
would you be II they charged that rate?
was the query OF the speaker. The
trouble with the ferry stockholders has
been that too many OF them have pat
ronized the bridges when they could
have been uaIng the ferry. lie was in
favor Of securing the united support OF
the Island to the ferry and also forcing
merchants who have patronage on the
Island to use the ferry for their delivery
wagons. BY concerted and vigorous &C.
ton the Islaudcan yet bring the bridges
TO IermI.
The ferry has not in the past secured
enough transient trade, aud Que reason
il that the company has not advertised
enough. Much traffic from the Ohio
side would come by the ferry il it were
generally known that Il ferry Is in oper.
alton. The bridge companies cannot
stand 1t to lose the Island patronage or
apart oil it Before the fight began the
bridges declared s per cent dividends,
and since the fight the new bridge has
paid one per cent dividends. He did
not know whore they borrowed money
to pay this dividend; no knew that It
was not earnings He held that the
fight must not be given up, aud pro.
posed an Issue Of preferred stock 10
shares Of SIS and $50. II the thirty note
OndorserS can take care OF 5000, why
cannot the balance Of the Island raise
S2,0OO2 II eau be done, and unless 1t
is done the Island people will be in q
fix, suEe enough.
The gentleinan's remarks were re-
eeived with visible appreciation, and his
reference to a remark by q bridge stock.
holder that tho bridges would Eoon
make tbs Island people sweat by max.
ing them pay the highest rate that a
legally be charged, six and one.tUurth
cents per trip, put more backbone into
those present than anything else said.
Mr.. n. q. Hamilton, one Of the direc-
tors, said something must be done At
oucs; tho leland must throw down its
arms and surrender or raige tho money
to insure the continuance OF tho ferry.
He was not in favor Of tho proposed
boycott, believing rather in moral SUD
sion,
Mr. schensrlein said he mado the
motion only to secure an expression Of
opinion, and Hs thGt had been accom-.
pliuhsd no withdrew 1t.
Mr.. II. q. Peicrman then moved that
the directors DO empowered TO issue
preferred stock to ;he extent OF 5000.
Mr.. Sommervllle, for the directors,
mado q foW remarks. bio congratulated
the stockholders on tho fact that for
the frat timo they had been able TO
have q representative meeting. lie
gave O dissertation Of tho situation at
present, which is familiar 10 everybody.
He referred TO the tact that tho persons
who had subscribed part oil tue $1,000
had refused to pay, giving as an excuse
that they wore afraid tho note endoracrs
aud directors would sell the boat rs
soon as tho money a. collected. In
other woods, the mon who had stood by
tie ferry for a year were regarded az
dishonest. Up TO that timO no had
worked faithfully rnd earnestly for tho
ioFry, but when he heard OF
this remarkable conClusion drawn
by como people bo had felt
greatly discouraged. Ono Of two
things must DO done. The $1,000 must
be raised or Mr.. Schonsrlein's motion
should prevail. II an united front Is
presented Ito claimed II would DO no
diEAcult task to bring tho brid2sI
TO terma. Ito spoke Of the
statement made that tho bridges
would maks n favorable proposition OH
the first OF tho coming January, aud
said hO did not bolinye there would bs
material concession. lilo believed
that tho bridges w0ro relying on the In.
difference OF tho Island people to solve
the toll question. That tho Island 10
indifferent la truo. Tho directors can.
not solve tho quDltion; tho stock.
holders muBl do it. as to the conduct
" tub ltIIJ biISu NaP'"'' NihlaIoSA
has taken hold, no said that in that
time there has boon ma running bOhiud
financially. Tho ferry paid its way,
and all that IL npcos3ary IN 10 rAiaO tho
money 10 pay the back indebtedness
aud mako tho necessary repairs OH tho
boat and floats.
Captain Mccoy, Mr. O. H. Gee and
others spoke earnestly Of tho import.
hncO Of continuing tito lOtry,
Tho motion 10 ISSUE tho preiortOd
stock carried, mud the secretary was In.