Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-09
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE
Of His Honor the Mayor to the City
Council.
The Document Read at Last Even
ing's Session-The Salient Points
of Our City Government Touched
Upon Briefly, But Forcibly-The
Full Text of the Document.

| Following is the full text OF the an
| nual message of His Honor Mayor
Butts, read in both Branches of Coun-
Gil, last evening. The document speaks
| for itself:
| WHEELING, W. Va. March 5, 1898.
| ITO the First and Second Branches OF
| Council of the City Of Wheeling:
"Gentlemen:-In accordance with an or
| dinance of the city, l herewith send you
/ my annual address, and which ii carried
| out would be very advantageous TO the
| city 1t is not necessary for me to call
| your attention to the City Boards, which
! make their reports regularly, and which
| are accessible at all times to the Coun-
| Gilman.
HEALTH.
'In this department the city has indeed
| been fortunate. The health of our people
| has been very good and the health officer
| has been very faithful in discharging his
| duties, and using his best efforts TO make
| our city rank well up from a sanitary
| standpoint. In this connection | think
| you should encourage him in all manner
| possible, for if the city is sanitary, we
| will hardly be liable to any of the numer-
| Gus plaques that periodically visit local
| tiles.
CREMATORY.
This subject has been the cause of
much agitation recently. | am 4 firm be-
| lever that this branch of our government
! should bring us revenue, instead of
! large expense. The proposition be-
| fore you to take care of the garbage and
| night soil. etc, in sanitary manner,
seems to be fair one from the city's
I n he
| cured away from the populated portion Of
| our city | think it would be well to
adopt it Should the proposed Utilization
| Plant fail. I would urgently ask that
You investigate this question thorough
! ~. and if possible, find some immediate
remedy for the constant drain on our
revenues.
POLICE.
I'm this important branch of our gov
eminent, the city should be thankful for
the efficient services rendered by the
present Chief and his force. 1t strikes me
forcibly however, that we are in need
of more officers. In the Third ward, one
of the most representative wards in the
city, it is practically without protection
in the residence portion, and | recommend
that the force be increased to some eX-
tent, not only for the Third ward, but
other portions of the city in need of
greater protection.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
sThis department / am convinced. is
i1 the best condition il has been for
years. The improvements of the last
year have been Of great good ] suggest
that two new chemical engines be added
TO the department, one for the Island and
the other for around on McCulloch street.
desire to call your attention to the alb
solute necessity Of the location of
chemical engine on McCulloch street
The nearest possible aid to them in case
Of fire is the Atlantic Engine nearly a
mile distant, and should a fire of any con-
sequence break out. much property would
be lost before aid could arrive. The need
of an engine ON the Island is too appar-
ent for any comment.
CEMETERY.
IT desire to call your earnest attention
to the fact that the cemetery is no longer
able to accommodate any one desiring to
purchase burial lots, and think the Com
mittee on Cemeteries should at once in
vestigate adjoining property with view
of immediate purchase. l am reliably in
formed that adjoining property can be
purchased at a reasonable price, and /
would recommend that in this case inn
mediate action be taken. or else in the
| course of few months we win find our
selves in a peculiar predicament.
WATER WORKS.
Il recommend the favorable construc-
ton of the proposition of the Water
Board and Committee on Water Works,
as presented to your honorable bodies
to-day. The addition Of a new pump win
give us ample water protection, which we
are now not secure in. The odds and
ends of old machinery lying about the
water works, | think should be disposed
of, and would recommend that the Water
Board be authorized to make some dispo-
sition of it.
WHARF
81 renew my recommendations of a
year ago. Some improvements should be
made in the manner of going TO and from
the wharf and | think Council would be
justified in looking into the question.
The only Improvements made at this
point are the result of expenditures of
public spirited citizens. for which | think
the city should extend them a vote of
thanks.
GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS
II would recommend that the unpaved
portion of Sixteenth street lying between
Chapline and Main streets, be paved The
need of this is too apparent to need any
comment. especially where the new water
pipes were recently laid.
REAL ESTATE.
II recommend that the building be re-
painted and the roof overhauled entire
ly. 1t has been years since this was
done, and a general cleaning up in this
department. would add much to the APP
pearance of our public building.
CITY PRISON.
Il recall my remarks of last year with
reference to this wreck d monument of
shame and disgrace to the city. l am
convinced that with a new workhouse.
properly managed. the expense Of this in
stitution could be wiped Off In its pres
ent condition it is constant source or
trouble to the officers in charge. A pris-
oner wishing freedom need only push a
little against the sides of the prison, and
if he is not detected. he is free. l say
again, is there no possible remedy for
this farce?
LOOKUP.
II request that several new cells be
placed in the lookup for the use of fe- |
male prisoners. The disgrace Of drunk
en- men and women in the same room.
think would be suggestion enough to
cause YOU to take some action at once in
this matter.
These are gentlemen as I view them