The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-24
THE HARBoR LINES.

In the first branch, after the reading
of the minutes, the harbor lines cnrtro-
versy came up in the shape of a new
resolution by Mr.. Baird as follows:
Whereas. Tho Pittsburgh, Wheeling &
Kentucky Railway Company, under proper
ordinances Of the city OF Wheeling, has
for many years maintained and operated
q freight house, driveway and team track
upon ground lying between Water street
and the Ohio river. and
Whereas, The freight house and team
tracks are carried upon piles so arranged
as not to restrict the wlter Of the Ohio
river at high stage, and
Whereas, II Is necessary for the Pitts
burgh, Wheeling & Kentucky Railway
Company to renew the sub-structure OF
the team track and driveway west OF the
location has been objected to by repre-
sentntives OF the war department OF the
United States. on account Of the location
Of the new harbor lines being to the east
ward OF the team track, and
Whereas, The freight house, driveway
and team track are we'll located for the
business OF tho city Of Wheeling. and to
cause them to be removed would he a
serious detrtment to tho business inter-
ests OF the city therefore, be u -,....
officers recently appointed by the honora-
BILE secretary OF war to enquire into the
matter. be advised that 1t Is the opinion
Of the city council of Wheeling that It is
to the best interests OF the city that the
team track and driveway be permitted to
remain where they have been since tho
passage OF the original ordinance, Septem-
Der 80, 1872, and IN 1856; providing that
IN renewing said structure the work be
done in such u manner as moi, to restrict
the present water way or make fill OF
any kind.
Captain Dawson entered an objection.
He did not see how there could be a
grant of space beyond the harbor lines.
II there should be proposition for
structural iron SUPPORTS beyond the
lines he would be in favor Of such cop-
cession.
Mr.. Baird said the railway company
had been notified to do no repairing or
reconstructlng beyond the 1arbor lines.
OF course It Is true It IS matter be-
tween the railway company and the ma
ttonaI government. but he wanted these
resolutions made the views of council
to be passed upon by the national gov
eminent.
Arr. mcLure wanted action on the orr
ginal report OF the special committee
considered first.
The mayor said It might be well to
finish consideration of the committees
report, which comes under the head of
unAnished business from the last meet
Ing Of the first branch. The mayor so
ruled, and the resolutions protesting
against encreachments upon the harbor
lines were read by Clerk o'DrIen as fol-
lows:
To the Honorable Mayor and Council OF
the City Of Wheeling:
GentIemen:-You special committee on
harbor lines submits the following report
Your committee visited the site OF the pro
posed change asked for the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, and after making q
thorough examination OF the premises
and after a hearing granted to the rep,
Fssehtatives OF the railroad company and
other interested parties, unanimously
agreed TO submit tho following resolu.
ton for your adoption:
whereas, Tho Pennsylvania Railway
Company hRB pctitioned tho secretary Of
war to extend tho hnrbor lines at thelI
freight depot on Fourteenth street twenty
eight and SIX tenths (2S 6-l0) feet westward
channel about twelve hundred square feet
causing q reduction In total cross section
of river at this point Of about per cent,
and
must necessarily increase the stage OF wa
ter IN tho Ohio river, particularly during
Hood periods, causing Increased inuudauor
OF many acres OF valuable city property
In every ward OF tho city OF Wheeling
most OF which already suffers severely al
periods, becoming more frequent as noun
tains are dcnudrd OF forests and tho chan
mel Of the river In being continually on
croached upon, and
Whereas, The narrowing Of the chnnnc
Of the river and consequent increased
stage Of water will In turn cause increased
velocity Of the current and
Whereas, The encrOnchnOnts which
have already been made on the left bank
or the river have no changed the currents
"A 10 cause a continual washing out nj
hood stnRes on tho right bank, which ever
now threatens the destruction Of the south
end OF Wheeling Island. and any further
encFoRnhpent such as the one proposed
could only cause further destruction, hnt
Whereas, Tho value Of tho Ohio river al
A medium Of transportation Il bent
Threatened by continually Increasing en-
rPo1chmCnts at this, tho nhTrOwCSt pOin
Al iris port, which OncrOnchmcntF have
nircndy changed tho channel and current
TnaEing ii one Of the most dliIlcult points
10 nNVlIsate between Cincinnati and PITTS
biiFVh: and any further Gncronchmenti
can only result In Increasing thu dnnEcl
and cost Of transportation on the ONT
river between all points north ana hOutl
or this port. and
VybOreag, The northern end OF tho froigh
depet Of tho Pennsylvania Railway Com