Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-25

Council This Evening for Re-
ference to the Committee on Or
dinances and City SolicitOr-The
Elm Grove Given a Line on Fiji
teenth Street, and the Suburban
Provision for a Line in Alley @
Struck Out and an Alternative
Market Street Provision Substi-
tuted-An Outline of the Dis
cussion-A Summary Of the Pro-
posed Lines.
The Council Committees on Rail
roads, and Streets, Alleys and Grades
re-assembled in the chamber of the
First Branch of Council last evening, to
resume consideration of the railroad
franchises. OF the fourteen members
Of the TWO Committees all were present
at eight o'clock but DR.. Megrail, and he
came IN later. All the companies were
represented by counsel, as usual. His
Honor the Mayor, President Chew and
Solicitor Nesbitt were on hand. City
Engineer White was also present. with
his plat showing all me proposed lines,
prepared according 10 a resolutions pass
at the last sesSiOS Of the Committees.
The maps had been prepared on a
scale of 40 feet to the inch. which
made everything large enough to be
distinctly seen at some distance. All
the proposed lines were laid down in
different colored inks, and the various
routes, and their relations to each other
could be seen at a glance. Before the ses-
sion was called to order the maps were
spread out on the floor of the Council
chamber and all present surrounded
and discussed them for quite a time
The Committees were called to order
at S:15, and the chair ruled that the
session was a continuation of the for
mer executive" sessions, in order to
get the matter before the house. Then
Mr.. Hahne moved that the session be
open. After a second. the matter was
discussed Mr. Otto opposing the mo-
ton, while Mr.. Hahne and Mr.. HOrk-
heimer, his second, defended the ad-
mission OF all interested parties. Mr.
Mcclure had no objection to hearing
from interested parties. but he would
favor a closed session later Mr. Ebe-
ling said he had moved twice for open
sessions, and had been voted down.
He now proposed to keep the session
closed. The Committee declared for a
closed session by a vote of two ayes
to twelve noes. and the gentlemea re-
tired with good grace. President Chew
was made sergeant-at-arms and planted
a chair aginst the doOr-on the inside
amid laughter As the outsiders re-
tired, Mr.. Caldwell presented a petition
from property owners on the square
bounded by Market, Chapline. Tenth
and Eleventh streets protesting against
any street railway line in alley c, as
proposed by the Suburban Company.
The first business taken up was the
opinion of the Solicitor on Capt. OttO's
proposition to impose a tax of $500
per mile on any road obtaining a
franchise. The Solicitor said it was
not a question of tax or license, but
a question of contract by the favored
Company. and the Company could agree
to pay a lump sum, or so much per
year. or fix any other basis Of agree
ment 1t was a purchase of a fran
chise and not a tax.
Can't. Otto then moved that the roads
be charged $500 per mile per annum
for each and every mile of new track
laid down under pending ordinances.
In Speaking to this, he said it was
now a question Of charging one or
some other per cent. Of the gross re-
GENTS. or $50 or some other sum per
mile per year He said the time had
come 10 do something. He thought
there was a fear on the part of certain
neople of tramping on some people S
toes To this Mr.. Horkhelmer sald
he was not afraid of tramplng on any
ones toes. and he would like Mr.. QUO
to.yote with him to make it CONDITION
Of any franchise given the wheeling
COMPANY that they be made 10 pay
s50O ner mile on the old road as well
as the new. There was no second 10
this hut several members had Woru
or two TO say.
The matter was then dropped, and
the petition presented by Mr.. Caldwell
and above referred to-, was read. II
alleges that the granting Of a franchise
through the alley would be virtual
confscation of the thOroughfare, that
very great damages would result, ana
that no bond which could be given by
The COMPANY would be adequate pro-
lection. The petition was very sehei
ally signed. 1t was ordered Hleu.
After a seance with the map, capt.
Otto offered the following:
"Resolved. That the -- railway
or railways. who will be granted fran
cbise shall pay into the city each ana
every year, as bonus for saIu ran
cbise $500 a year for the first ten
wears. $500 per year for the next nVe
years and $1,000 per year after twenty
wears for each and every mile OF track
constructed within the city limits.
Adopted. = 49, rd
This will become part Oh any anu
all ordinances adopted by Councll.
Mr. Knoke then moved that the
wheeling and Elm Grove be author
lied to lay a track on Fifteenth street
from Chapline to McColloch. capt
Otto seconded it.
The chair thought this would be out
If order. and suggested that former ac-
tion regarding this Company be recon-
sidered.
Mr.. Hazlett said the Wheeling and
Elm Grove had not originally asked for
ANYTHING on this street. and therefore