The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-02

sensation yesterday. The question be-
tween the city of Martins Ferry and
the Bridgeport Electric Light and Pow
or Company with reference to the old
poles and wires of the former came TO n
crisis and Martins Ferry, us usual, was
the winner, and has the best Of the sit
uation thus far The Bridgeport poles
and wires were cut down and replaced
by Martins Ferry people. The Bridge,
port people made Il great Kick, threat
enIng arrest. suits for damages, etc,
but the work was continued and Mar
tins Ferry people generally sympa-
thlzed with the home men,
The Martins Ferry streets have been
unlightGd ever since the plant burned
down and the citizens long since be-
came Disguised with the darkness. The
city council let the contract for first
class electric light plant and every
man, woman and child In town Is anX-
ious to see II completed. and the indica-
lions are that II viii be done about the
middle OF the month.
All OF the poles were up on Saturday
except seven, and much OF the wire
strung. These were nearly all corner
poles and could not be put up on nc
count OF the Bridgeport poles, Down
came all OF these poles yesterday, not
withstundlng II was Sunday and up
went the Martins Ferry poles, all lar
ger and better than the old ones.
The Martins Ferry council discover
ed that Bridgeport had allowed the
charter of It's predecessor, the MHrpn's
Ferry Construction Company, To eN-
pire and for this reason ordered II to
get out OF the city In order to make
room FOR the Martins Ferry plant. This
the bridgeport company refused 70 do
and offered to sell out to Martins Fer
ry. a price could not be agreed upon
and the Martins Ferry council gave
the bridgeport people until Saturday to
remove It's poles and lines In Martins
Ferry. II did not obey the order, al
lowed It's poles TO stand and secured an
order from Judge briggs 10 restrain
the city of Martins Ferry from cutting
or pulling down It's poles and wires and
from interfering In any way whatever
with It's property.
This order was served on the mayor,
clerk and all OF the city councilmrn eS-
cept Carpenter and Hilton, between II
O'Clock Saturday night and / O'Clock
yesterday morning The papers stated
that the restraining order would
be heard before Judge briggs on
Thursday, December Q.
No attention was paid 10 this action
and work was resumed yesterday NOR
ming about daylight The linemen
were the first at work, They COM
menCed on the wires. The first cut
tN ka =f,f "a IA
Jefferson streets, every one being
cut OF at the pole This shut off the
current from Bridgeport. which had
been kept turned on full day and night
lately to prevent the Martins Ferry
people from taking the wires down
These wires cut, the linemen con-
tinued to run up and down poles, cut.
ting all the wires at each pole until
none was left on Fourth street clear TO
Hanover. Some OF the wires On Third,
Hanover and Filth were also cut and
pieces OF wire could he seen scattered
all ulong these streets. The boxes were
also removed from the poles.
The work OF removing the poles was
begun shortly before the first bells rang
for Sunday school. and by moor seven
poles were down. The first pole was
cut down with an nx nt the point where
the cutting of tho wires was commenced
and continued until the two on the COR
ncrs OF Hanover aud Fourth were
down. The butts OF these, down In the
ground four or 1--WE feet. were then pull
ed out aud new poles placed In these
holes.
The seven were up by night, and the
contractors were happy. The only
Martins Ferry people who were dis
. toll
had been shut on aud persons who OLE
jcctcd to the work being done on sun
day.
About II o'clock the bridgeport pco.
pie learned what was going on aud tel
ephonul 10 the Martins Ferry people
10 stop the work OF arrest the men
Omcor Fisher replied that he had no
right TO stop them and J. c, Hcinlgln.
the CDmpnny's attorney, Constable
Tuck Thompson, who Is ulro deputy
sheriff and representatives. Of the com
pnny were soon on the ground. They
told J. c. Adams, the manager of the
men engaged, that they must ccahe
work and II they I'D not they would tC
arrested in the afternoon. The entire
force continued at the work und SAID
they would continue until grrestedA
Several city officials were called TO
the scene ana they assured the force OF
men that there was no danger OF nrIDHt
and the work waa pushed that much
more vigorously. OHlcer Thompson AMI
several Martins Ferry police were on
the ground until evening aud not
warrant was seen or an arrest made.
Attorney Ilcinlcn said he would have
every one of the men put IN jail IN the
afternoon. but he did not do 50, Other
similar threats were made. Mr.. Helm
lCln stated that the men would be held
responsible for all that was done Hnd
would have to answer for malicious de-
Btructlon Of property
The work attracted large crowds Of
men and boys and nearly all expressed
themselves I'm favor Of tile action taken,
aud not few Of them went 80 far MS 10
ASSERT TINT they would get ropes nnd
help 10 tear down poles should thu
bridgeport people attempt 10 replace
the Mnrtlr's Ferry poles with theirs.
Many mon expressed Themselves very
plainly IN the matter ycstrrdny. The
entire population IN backing the coun-
ell In ltB effort to hurry along the plant
aud again lEht the city
The bridgeport company mndc mn Of
fort 10 hire ten extra lluCgmon III
Wheeling ycAtCrduy expecting 10 80
right to work At putting UP the poles
and wires again only one could hc
secured ana the attempt was given up
for the duy.
one pole wnu hauled TO tho corner Of
Fourth aud Jefferson streets by the
bridgeport people md II wnH trimmed
ready for tnklng the place N the one
removed by the Martins Ferry force
und wien the Martins Ferry crowd
lournpi this they hurried ~ the spot
with to1H followed by n largo number
of mon nn1 loyp, ind q Martins Ferry