Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-24
THE ELM GROVE ORDINANCE
The Subject Of an Exhaustive Exam
ination, Yesterday,
BY the Council Committees on Rail
soads and Streets, Alleys and
Grades - Every Foot of the
Ground Within the City Carefully
Gone Over-A Business Meeting
at Wheeling Park Adjourned
Until May Sd.

The Council Committees on Railroads
and Streets, Alleys and Grades assem-
bled yesterday afternoon shortly after
two o'clock, and were in session, actual
or constructive, until five o'clock.
The matter up for examination was
the petition and ordinance of the Wheel
ing and Elm Grove Railway Company,
which seeks to extend its line within the
city limits, for exclusive operation by
electricity, as step toward the ultimate
purpose Of the operation of the entire
read by electricity and the better ac-
commodation of the travelling public be-
tween the river front of this city and
the town of Triadelphia and beyond.
In case the franchise asked for is grant
ed by the city, with whatever changes
may be mutually agreed upon as for the
best interests Of the entire community,
the Company will agree to commence
work within ninety days, and will COM
plete the task in as short a time as pos
sible. In case the paving of Twelfth
street with brick, for instance, should
be commenced at an early date by the
Board of Public Works. the Railway
Company will lay down its line upon
that street coincident with the paving,
so that there will be no subsequent dis
turbance of the paving upon their ac-
count. and, as q matter of course will
pave between the rails and one foot
each side thereof. which will tighten
the burden upon the city to that extent
and allow the money of the city to go
that much farther. This is a good
place to say, also. that on Water street
the Company proposes to pave between
its rails and one foot on each side Of the
track. with fire brick. which will dis
place just that amount Of the alleged
cobble pavement and result in making
the street better after the laying down
of the track than it is now. a like i'm
provement will also be made on McCOl-
loch street. This much by way Of an
ticipation.
The members of the Committees. ac-
companied by City Engineer White and
Committee Clerk Thomas O'Brien, Jr.,
on behalf of the city, and Engineer Gill
more Browne and Mr.. Paul o. Reyman
on behalf Of the Railway Company, as
sembled at the City Hall shortly after
two o'clock. and walked to the old Balti-
more and Ohio railroad station, on South
street, where the proposed line is to have
its terminus. There Engineer Browne
explained the course Of the proposed
line as running north along South street,
through the centre thereof, to the inter-
section of Fourteenth street. At the
corner of Fourteenth street the line
curves TO the west into the centre Of
Fourteenth street, and runs west along
that street to the corner OF Water street,
where it curves to the north
and parallels the track of the
IP.. w. & Ky. R. R. Co.
north along Water street, the centre OF
the proposed track being thirteen feet
and some inches east Of the centre OF the
existing railroad track, and being, there
fore on the west side of Water street to
the corner of Twelfth. Water street is
not level, between Twelfth and Four
teenth, but inclines at varying degrees
toward the river, with rise along III
front of the Stamm House. One or two
members of the Committee thought at
first that to run a railway track along
the west side of the street would be IN
the nature of a permanent injury to the
street. but Engineer Browne conclusive
w showed showed that the contrary
would be the case. For ten or twelve
feet east of the existing railroad track,
the street is so rough and at such an m
cline that, as a matter OF fact teams
never use it. preferring to keep reason
ably close to the east curb line OF the
street. Engineer Browne said that II
the proposed right was granted the
track would be laid down so that the
east rail would conform to the existing
grade of the street, and that the west
rail would be upon the same Level ana
the space between the rails and a foot
on each side of them, paved with hre
brick. This would result in practical
extension of the width of the street for
teaming purposes, and whatever adjust
ment of grade was necessary would be
made between the railway track and the