Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-02

LA kAE lEftINOOIN.
Yesterday the Board of Commissioners
and the special joint committee of Council
to investigate the question of whether or
not the Pan Handle Railway Company
should be granted its desires in the terri
tory south of the west end of Fourteenth
street and north of the line of Wheeling
creek, along the east bank of the river,
held joint and separate meetings.
The Commissioners and Councilmen, the
former headed by President McGregor
and County Engineer HaZlett, and the
latter by Mayor Butts, Engineer White
and Solicitor Nesbitt, went to the loca-
ton of the Pennsylvania freight station
shortly after three o'clock, and there sep
arately and Jointly viewed the ground as
staked off by the city and county engin-
GERS, and listened to explanations and dis
cussion by Engineers White and Hazlett
and Chief Engineer Johnson, of the rail-
road company. The railway was repre-
scented by Engineer Johnson, Superinteno-
ent Peck, Superintendent Maintenance OF
Way Gushing, and Local Agent Braden.
Stakes and marks showing the govern
ment harbor lines, and the extension pro-
PoSCU ny tic COIlpdHy, the ldl-
ter being the original city grant had
been placed, and the lines were marked
with small flags from a point opposite
the extension of the west line of Twelfth
street, to a distance several hundred feet
south of the creek Elaborate explana-
tons and arguments were INDUCED in,
during portion of which time a quorum
of the Commissioners devoured a water
melon. A number of the Commissioners
were outspoken in favor of the railway,
while Councilmen were as pronounced
against giving the company any rights
outside the harbor line, of a permanent
nature, and were also strongly inclined
to insist upon the company removing its
freight station further south so as to
clear the south line of Fourteenth street
extended to the river. The original grant
to the company was produced, and show
ed that the grant made by the city was
subject to further orders of Council, of
the necessity of which Council should be
the sole judge, and that it was entirely
within the power of Council to require
the company to vacate.
After a thorough examination of the
ground, and a somewhat spirited argu-
ment between Engineers White and john
son, the open air session was dissolved
and all the parties repaired to the public
building, where the Board of Commits
sioners went into session in their own
rooms, and the representatives of the
city in a committee room.
The Board took up the matter immedi-
ately, and was addressed by Engineer
Johnson, he, among other things, stat
ing that to construct a retaining wall, as
was proposed by Mr. Berry at the joint
session held some days ago, would cost
between $4,000 and 100000. Mr.. Johnson
was followed by Mr.. Braden, who repeat
ed his statement at the joint session, last
week, that the railroads transacted
eighty-tive per cent. of the transporta-
ton business of the city, and of that
eighty-five per cent. the Pennsylvania did
about forty per cent.
Commissioner Tyson moved to postpone
action until Council had indicated its
purpose. This was opposed by Mr.. Spell
DEL who did not see why the Board should
wait upon the city He thought the
Board could act for itself in the matter.
The Board was largely interested in the
railway, and why it should do anything
to joepardize that interest, when the ac-
llOH SOUGHT 10 I've taken COulu IuIl ITO
one he could not understand He did not
see why the county should be influenced
by the city in any manner. Mr. Speidel
said he knew that some of the people who
were opposing the railway did not pay
dollar of city or county taxes.
Superintendent Peck, OF the railway
company, was surprised that the county
should seek a delay. In his opinion the
question of the opening of Fourteenth
street to the river had nothing to do with
the harbor line question, but was a sep
arate proposition altogether, and stood
upon it's own merits.
Mr.. Tysons motion was adopted, never
theless, and the Board will do nothing
for the present.
When the Councilmen and city officials
assembled. a motion was carried appoint
ing subcommittee. consisting of the
Engineer and Solicitor, to draft resolu
lions. This committee reported in about
half an hour, to the general effect that it
wished more detailed information as to the
objections to be recited on the part of the
city. AS a means of acquiring this infor-
nation. all the gentlement present were
invited to state their ideas, and notes
were made of the propositions advanced
and these were condensed into eight or
nine points of objection. The sub-com-
mittee was then continued until this even
ing, when it will present a detailed re-
port to the full committee, which is call
ed for seven o'clock, and Council will
meet at eight O'Clock, to hear the report
of the special committee thus submitted,
and take action thereon.
The sentiment on the part of the repre-
sentatives of the city is not only very
strong against permitting the railway
company to go beyond the harbor lines.
as laid down by the government engin-
GERS, from the foot of Fourteenth street
south to the creek, but is also strongly
the company to remove its depot south
so that the north end will abut on the
south line of Fourteenth street prolonged
to the river. 1t is claimed by the city
representatives that there is abundant
room between the south end of the depot
as at present located and the north bank
of the creek, for such removal. that there
is a good deal of valuable land there, in
side the harbor line, which can be filled
in and made available, and that it is
simply a question of money to the rail-
way, and presents no engineering objec-
tons whatever. On the other hand, the
railway people maintain that the pro-
posed removal of the depot would cripple