Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-29

A Joint Session Of the Councilmen and
Commissioners,

AjOlnt OeSSl0n o. Inc U0unClllu0n dn0
Commissioners,
HELD LAST EVENING. AT THE
COURT HOUSE-A GENERAL PRE-
LIMINlARY DISCUSSION OF THE
PROBLEM INvOLvED-THE F'EA-
/. SIBqLITY OF REMOVING THE
FREIGHT DEPOT OF THE PENN
SYLvANIA R o A D FURTHER
sOUTH-THE VIEWS OF THE GEN
TLEMBN WHO ADDRESSED THE
MEETING AN ADJOURNMENT
UNTIL MONDAY AFTERNOON.
WHEN THE GROUND WILL BE
VIEWED.
Last evening there was largely at
tended session of the special commit
tee of Council and the Board of Com
missioners, at the rooms Of the
Board, in the Court House, to consider
in a preliminary manner the problem
presented by the request of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company to fill in
their property line 2S.6 feet west of
the government harbor line at the
freight station, at the foot of Four
teenth street.
Those present were: On behalf Of
the city-Mayor ]. R. Butts, City So
licitCr Frank w. Nesbitt, City En-
gineer A. l.. White, President Chew, Of
the Second Branch of Council, and
Councilmen Dawson, Berry, Hoe, Me-
grail, Fair and Strobe. On the part of
the county-President McGregor, of
the Board, County Engineer Hazlett
and Commissioners Speidel, Kindelber-
ger, Hare, Tyson, Burkett and Faris.
On the part of the Pennsylvania Com
pany-Chief Engineer Johnson and
Local Agent Braden. On the part Of
the State Fair Association-Geor
Hook. In addition there were num-
Der of interested citizens. An organi-
zation was effected by making Mr.. Nc
Gregor chairman and City Clerk Wat
kins secretary. The secretary read in
full the communication from City En-
gineer White to Council, published in
the Register of Wednesday morning
last, and then the Chair said:
Il would like to ask whether it is
the iCea Of the Council Committee
to take final action tonight. or
whether they would have to report
back to Council?
Mayor Butts-The Committee would
have to report back.
The Clerk-The Committee was not
given power to act.
Mr.. Chew-No action we could take
would be final or binding. We can
simply recommend, and then Council
would authorize the Clerk to send a
communication to the Secretary of
War.
Inc Chair--1f the report must go to
council 1t Will mean delay, and
understand that prompt action is de-
sired. A majority of our Board is
here, and SO far as we are concerned
we can act.
Mr.. Daviscn-I think, Mr.. Chairman
That as we have here the Mayor and
the President of the Second Branch
there is no doubt that any action we
"oulo take would stand as approved
Mr. Speidel-I suppose this session
was called together to obtain informa-
tlon. This is the first time | have seen
ehe maps Ohey were spread out upon
large table,, and suppose it is so
With other gentlemen present. I have
no particular information upon the
matter. and for one l don't propose to
vote until | can do so intelligentlv. T
think, If the members of Council and
CT the Commissioners have not seen
the actual conditions at the denot
they would be benefited bv going
down there-they could form a better
idea by seeing the ground than by in
spectlng maps, and I am not in favor
or rushing things through. The mat
ter is not SO urgent that it must no
passed upon tonight. As under
stand 1t, the Pennsylvania Comnanv
"lshes TO I'LL In some ground thew now
Cccupy-ground given them by the city
years ago, before the harbor lines were
establlshed. They don't want tn %
ZS.6 feet beyond what they have now
put simply desire to improve the terri,
tory they have always had, and don't
neileve that we should take that from
them without a complete investiga-
ton: Our people own one-fifth of the
STOCK in this branch of the Pennsvl-
van1a road, and anything which bene-
nts that road largely benefits us.
Tor one. would be in favor of VOTING .
big sum for another railroad. to Con-
neilsvllle. l don't want railroads shut
out want them to come in.
Mr. Chew-I suggest that the off.
and county engineers state what IL
thelr opinion, would be for the best in
terests of the community in the mat
ter | don't think Mr.. Speidel is cor
rect IN assuming that Council desires
to drive railroads out 1t is the dntv
of this Committee to investigate thiz
matter, and see what the situation il
Mr.. Davison-I would suggest that
the officials of the Pennsylvania road
present be heard, along with the engi-
neers. They are asking certain things
and it is for the representatives of the
city and county to say whether thew
should or should not be granted, Let
the railroad officials tell us exactly
what they want, and then let the engi-
neers reply.
Mr. White ,