The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-27
rasnd. a otrlirht Or gently eurvtng

ElandB q straight Of gently curvtnB
chGnnei with gentle ctirfenth.
The survey Of Wheeling hafbor was
made under the direction Of Lieutenant
Colonel William 2. Merrill. corps 81 en-
gineerB, u. S. Army. The board q en-
gineer8 having charge OF the work was
composed Of Amos SdclSney, lieutenant
colonel Of engineers, u. 8. A.; .. ".
Lockwood, major Of engineers, D. 8. A.;
II. z. Waterman, 6rst heutenant OF enc
gfneeTE, U. 8. A. After completing the
surveys and mapg public hearing Was
given in the chambers q this council
which was quite generally attended by
the river mem mill owners, railway men
and . few private citizens. After fur
ther Deliberations this distinguished
board Of engineer made It's report TO
the secretary Of war, Daniel A. lamont
June Is, 1924, and which report was duly
signed by him June 81, 1894, thus egtab-
IishlnF the ofliciai harbor Hines Of the
port OF Wheeling, West Virginia Since
this time many applications have been
made TO the secretary Of war TO change
the harboF lines In the interest Of va
rious corporations The Pennsylvania
Railroad Company petitioned the secre-4
tary OF war to extend the harbor lines
W lEld AEelkuk uGpNb3 bA = wi e~EAA
street, twenty eight and six-tenths feet,
which request was referred TO Major
Bixby. Of Cincinnati, who has charge Of
this port, and who reported to the Sec
rotary that the request be not granted,
giving strong reasons therefor, and at
the same time suggesting to the secre-
tary that such an important change
should not be made without q public
hearing at Wheeling, duly advertised
Following thfS advice, the secretary
Of war appointed the distinguished
board Of United States Army engineers
who held their meeting here. as stated,
last Friday. When the chairman, Ma
for Powell, asked what the city Of
Wheeling had to say, / replied, In sub
stance, that the city council Of Wheel
ing and the board OF commissioners Of
Ohio county were the only bodies who
could speak with authority; that the
matter had not been called to their att
tention; that was sure that the sub
ject was one Of great Importance to the
city Of Wheeling as municipal corpor-
alton, and also 30 various private inter-
eStS OF its citizens; that amy encroach-
mentg upon the river, however small,
must necessarily reSnlb IN q corresponds
ing increased stage Of water increas-
inf damage to property at food stages:
that this affected an the low ground
in this city from the north end Of
wheeling Island to Forty-eighth street,
The board OF engineers very c0urte-
ousiy arranged to leave the matter open
until the subject could be called to your
attention, and until you had time to
act, assuring me that any communica-
ton or Recommendation from your
hands bearinG In any manner upon this
subject would receive very careful con-
dderation,
would suggest that / have q COM
plete set Of maps showing the harbor
lines and an examination OF the maps
show that there Is quite O large area
both north and south Of the mouth Of
Wheeling creek, between the BahimoS'
& Ohio railroad tracks and the pTesen,
l1arbor lines that is available for rail-
way purposes. From an engineering
standpoint, II Is practicable TO locate
the freight station Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company south Of Fourteenth
street. and thus preserve our wharf and
provide for an extension southwark.
which viii be badly needed when we
have slack water navigation in the
Ohio river, which am assured Will be
at no very distant day. ] take 1t that
It Is the duty Of this council and every
officer Of this city to take such intelil-
gent action on this question as Will best
protect and foster all the varied aGd
CONFLICTING interests OF this community.
suggest to your honorable body that
you appoint Speciae committee, COM
posed OF the mayor, the president OF the
second branch Of council, the city sole
- =
from each ward, four from each branch,
to thoroughIy Investigate and report
upon the petition Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company at the earliest time
practicable. u.,aIsc
Very respectfully yours.
- A. L. WHITE,
CITY EnR3neer