Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-06-30
WHEELING CREEK.
The Old Problem of What to do with
it Again on Deck.
The Stream Becoming More Offen-
sive with Each Recurring Sum-
mer-Any Remedy Sure TO COST
Big Lot Of Money, Yet the Issue
Must be Met Some Day.

Big Lot Of Money, Yet the Issue
Must be Met Some Day.
The old question of what to do with
that foul nest of disease germs and
bouquet of unpleasant and unhealthy
odors, Wheeling creek, has once more
come to the front, and the thousands of
people who are exposed to its contam-
mating influences and fetid atmos-
phere are clamoring for the prompt ap-
plication of some effectual remedy.
The early advent of the drought this
summer and the absence Of a spring or
June freshet to clear away the first in
stallment of oderiferous debris and foul
deposits has made the valley Of the
stream between Fulton and the river
more Objectionable than ever before,
and with the hot and usually dry
months of July, August and septem-
Der ahead of us, the outlook is far from
being a pleasant one. 4
The stream has been practically de-
void of current for at least forty-five
days, and not only the accumulation Of
sewerage and filth, but the very earth
of the bed and banks is.reeking with i'm
purities, threatening the most serious
results in the way Of suckness TO the
people of the Fourth and portions Of
the Second, Third and Fifth wards.
Councilmen and city officials have
received many complaints from citi-
zens, and a number Of remedies have
been proposed but so far the solutions
of the problem offered have either
been ridiculously inadequate or so
costly as to be enNrely out of the
question For instance, it has been
proposed that an attempt be made 10
flush out the creek between Fulton and
the river by opening fire plugs in Full
ton, and in the eastern portion Of the
city where the water would run into
the creek. This would be something
like trying TO eXtinglIish conilagra-
ton with a syringe, and would simply
empty the reservoirs TO no purpose.
Another idea is to construct a dam at
some point above Fulton, and release
the water in the dry season in one
volume. There 3reSa number of OBJ
jections to thisy A wig dam Of suf-
hcient size 10 be OF a.lIT'i2 'Se VOL
cost at least $4,000, ann the city would
very probably have to acquire some
land, and stand liable for any possible
damage which migIt result from the
presence of the dam in time of food.
The water in such a dam would have
to be accumulated in the spring, when
the creek is up, and once let out. the
supply could likely not be replenished
until fall so that one flushing Of the
valley would be all that could be cer-
tainly relied upon in one season with
one dam. Two or three dams, con-
structed at sufficient Intervals apart,
would increase the cost to a large fig
ure, and would also increase the LA
bility Of damage, ouday for care and
repairs. operation, etc
Another proposition talked Of, is for
the city to build sewer along the creek
bed, say from the Peninsula bridge to
the river, and require all sewage to run
into the sewer, instead of the creek.
This would be very costly-at least $780,
600 being required for the main sewer
alOne-and as it would be very nearly
level for much Of its length, it Is Ques-
tionable whether it would be practical
able.
There remains two other solutions
one, the old idea of turning the creek
through under Mt. Wood into Jonathan
rayine, and the other. the absolute pro-
hibition Of running any sewage what
ever or throwing any filth into the bed
Of the creek, inside the city limits. The
first is too costly to be seriously thought
of, and the second plan could be but
imperfectly carried out at best. and
then only at considerable public and
private cost. To run the creek
through the hill near the Terminal rail-
way tunnel would require a new tunnel
at low water level Of the new creek az
the east end, and emerging into an opert
cut carried down 20 the low water level
in the river in the ravine. Such tun-
nell would be about 900 feet long, by
not less than so feet Whle and 80 feet
high, giving a cross section Of 1000
square feet. This would cost about $3.50
per lineal foot, or S250,006l Masonry,
open cut excavation, bridge at North
Main street, etc, would eisly add an
other S250.0OO, and an eight or ten foot
main sewer down the present valley OF
the creek to the river, to catch surface
and other drainage, filing, and many
other incidental expenses would mean a
total Of at least S750,0OO or $500, 900, 70
say nothing Of litigation with and dam
ages to property owners, etc. The work.
is practical, Of course, but the cost is
prohibitOry.
The best way out of It appears 10 be-
to carry out existing laws, regarding
the contamination of running streams.
or, if they are inadequate, to secure the
passage of new measures, and at the
same time to educate the people. whose
chief ambition at present appears to
TO be TO make a sewer or sink hole out
of the creeA to see the error Of their
ways, and to Mus bring about a gradual
but permanent Improvement.
That something will have to be done
is pretty Certain, az we may have soma
sort Of serious epflemic as a gentle re-
minder.