The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-06-04
FRIDAY, June 4. 1891.
4 WORD TO THE TOWN CoUN-
Gil.

The TELEGRAM voices the senti-
ments of all thinking citizens
when it takes the ground that
questions relating to permanent
city improvements should be
given most careful attention by
those who are representatives of
the people. Many persons who
are deeply interested in the flu
ture Of Clarksburg, sincerely be-
lieve that the town council is
about to make serious mistake,
vet we do not think the members
Of that body, when their atten
ton is called to the true state OF
affairs, will fasten upon the town
an ordinance that cannot but be
regarded as blunder.
The action of the council at its
last meeting, directing the prepa-
ration of an ordinance establish
ing grades for the Short Line
Railroad where it crosses Fourth
street, and for said street and the
bridge across Elk. by which the
public is to have access to the
new depot erected by the BALTIC,
d Ohio X II. Co., seriously effects
the interests of the town and
county for years yet to come. 1t
may be that few people have
sufficiently informed themselves
to gain clear understanding of
what has been done. We believe
that the people generally are
friendly to the Short Line. Those
who dedicated the new streets,
as also the citizens who have
obtained charter for the build
ing of the Elk bridge, have been
friends of the Short Line, and
although heavy tax payers, favor
ed the subscriptions asked for by
Its promoters. The people have
been exceedingly generous to this
company, and it should certainly
not seek to locate Its road where
it will restric. the growth and
prosperity of the town, and at the
same time unnecessarily damage
valuable property. The grades
directed will virtually destroy,
for building purposes, not only
all the lots fronting on the new
streets, but all the land situated
between Cain and Sixth streets
on an extension westwardly of
these new streets-a matter in
which both the public and the
owners of the land are concerned.
Unless the public interests de-
mand it, private property should
not be taken or damaged by di-
rection of public officials and tits
clearly wrong TO place upon the
people the burdens of extra tax
alton that will be needed to pay
for damages caused by such act
ton. 1t seems that the council
have founded their action on the
mistaken idea that the Short
Line Railroad had secured the
right to locate its road bed at the
point it desires to cross Fourth
street, by filing its map and pro-
file in the Clerks office. Should
this be true, it can locate its road
bed where it pleases and no act
ion of council or of any other
public officials can prevent it.
But, fortunately, it is not so, and
the convenience of the public and
the necessities of the city should
and must prevail
1t is puerile and nonsensical to
hold that the Short Line can not
be SO located that it will neither
retard public Improvements nor
unnecessarily damage private
property. We believe 1T can be
done with better grade and at
less cost to the railroad company
than the proposed route.
The engineer selected by the
council acted on the theory that
he was simply required to estab'
lish a grade for the railroad, the