Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-03


The Second Branch was first called
to order, and while awaiting the result
in the First, the report of the commit
tee was presented and read. The full
text will be found below general
discussion followed the reading, in
which there was every indication that
the report would be unanimously
adopted once the opportunity was pre-
sented In the First Branch nothing
could be done, and after talking over
the matter at issue informally, there
was an adjournment. In the Second,
instructions were given to forward a
copy of the report, as well as other
collateral facts, to the government en-
zineers, and this will be done to-day.
The report of the committee is as fol-
lows:
ITO the Honorable Mayor and Council
Of the City Of Wheeling:
"Gentlemen:-YOur special commit
tee on harbor lines submits the follow
ing report: Your committee visited the
site of the proposed change asked for
by the Pennsylvania Railroad Compa-
ny and after making a thorough exam
nation of the premises and after a
hearing granted to the representatives
of the railroad company and other IN
terested parties unanimously agreed to
submit the following resolution for
your adoption:
Whereas, The Pennsylvania Rail-
way Company has petitioned the Sec
rotary of War to extend the harbor
lines at their freight depot on Four
teenth street twenty-eight and
six-tenths (2S 6.10) feet west
ward, thus decreasing the cross
section of the channel about
twelve hundred square feet, causing a
reduction in total cross section of river
at this point of about two per cent;
and,
Whereas, This contracted cross sec
ton must necessarily increase the
stage OF water in the Ohio river, parti-
cularly during flood periods, causing
increased inundatiCn Of many acres of
valuable city property In every ward
in the City of Wheeling most of which
already sufferers severely at periods
becoming more frequent as mountains
are denuded of forests and the channel
of the river is being continually en-
croached upon; and,
Whereas, The narrowing of the
channel of the river and consequent in
creased stage Of water will in turn
cause increased velocity of the current;
and,
Whereas, The encroachments which
have already been made on the left
bank of the river have so changed the
currents as to cause continual wash
ing out at flood stages ON the right
bank, which even now threatens the
destruction of the south end of Wheel
ing Island; and any further encroach-
ment such as the one proposed could
only cause greater destruction; and,
Whereas, The value of the Ohio
river as a medium Of transportation is
being threatened by continually in
creasing entertainments at this, the
narrowest point at this port, which en-
croachments have already changed the
channel and current, making it one Of
the most difficult points to navigate be-
tween Cincinnati and Pittsburg; and
any further encroachment can only re-
suit in increasing the danger and cost
of transportation on the Ohio river be-
tween all points north and south Of
this port; and,
Whereas, The northern end of the
freight depot Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
way Company occupies portion of the
southern end Of the public wharf of
the City of Wheeling merely by license
of the city and the passenger depot of
said company occupies the northern
end of said wharf and as it will prob
ably become expedient in the near fu-
ture to increase wharf facilities by i'm
proving the wharf southwark, which in
creased facilities will become a neces-
sity to accommodate the greatly in
creased traffic at this port caused by
slack navigation on the Ohio river, and
since the city will probably be under
the necessity Of reassuming possession
of the portion of the wharf occupied
by the northern end of the Pennsylva-
MIA Railway Company's freight station;
any further encroachment & this point
looking to the permanency OF the
freight station is not desirable; and,
whereas, The location Of the habor
lines as established at Fourteenth
street are plainly a concession to the
T6uuSy INGuld halfway AOH pdHy,. anu
other interests of this community
would have been better served had tie
present harbor line been located fur
Their east; and,
Whereas, There is sufficient room
Immediately south of Fourteenth street
and north Of Wheeling creek within
the present harbor lines for the freight
station of the Pennsylvania Railway
Company, and consequently there is no
necessity of extending the present har-
Dor lines; and
, Whereas, The e1croachment pro-
posed would probably be a precedent
for further entertainments and changes
of the government harbor lines; and,
Whereas, The present harbor lines
have been established by most COM
petent board Of engineers of the United
States army after making complete sur
veys and maps and granting a public
hearing at Wheeling. at which all inter-
ests were duly represented; aid,
Whereas, Although this body has
always been friendly to railr~adsA and