Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-22

0IhEE1S-lI WOULD GIVE A
SHORT CUT BETWEEN CITY
AND COUNTRY, AND WOULD
COST A COMPARATIVELY SMALL
SUM, AS THE WORK HOUSE
GANG MIGHT BE UTILIZED.
The following communication refers
to project which has been discussed
in this community for at least thirty
years, yet bas never been acted upon
the cutting of roadway tunnel
through Wheeling hill:
WHEELING, W. Va, October 81.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-In this time of prosperity and
age of improvement, let me call atten-
ton to long needed public work, the
completion of which would confer
blessings upon our city and county.
l refer to the tunneling of Wheeling
hill, at or near Ninth street, so that
travel to and from the east can have
more convenient exit and entrance
from or to the heart of the city.
Such a tunnel would relieve from
|
over Wheeling hill and the equally dis
agreeable and much longer pull away
around via McColloch street.
Nothing that the city Paps and coun-
ty Uncles, of the Board of Commits
sioners, could enter into for the public
benefit would secure for them as much
gratitude and praise from their hum
BILE constituents as the adoption OF this
suggestion.
Wake up, you rulers of the public
works, and show you are worthy OF the
places you fill. Get move on you and
earn the enconimums of thousands yet
unborn and the forgivness of those
now living for your sin in emitting
heretofore to do this work.
CONSTITUENT.
Many considerations call for this i'm
provement, which would be, beyond
doubt, one of the most important ever
undertaken by the community. Time
was when the route from the city east,
over the Fulton hill via the National
road, answered every requirement. I'M
proved communication was demanded,
however, and the Peninsula road was
thought to fill all necessities for or
binary traffic, while the old Elm Grove
mule cars gave still another though
not nearer or speedier route. Then
came the Elm Grove motors, then the
paving of McColloch street, and later
still the substitution of electricity for
steam on the Elm Grove line and the
reduction in fares All these things
contributed to the growth of the dis
trict Immediately east of the city, and
with a rapidly growing population has
come a renewed demand for more direct
routes. This demand will grow with
the rapidly increased population newt
able out the valley, and sooner or later
action must be taken, for the time is
coming when thousands will reside be-
tween Fulton and Elm Grove where
hundreds now live. That region, as the
Register has before remarked, is to be
to Wheeling what the East End is to
Pittsburg-the residence district, and
this condition will be accelerated just
in proportion as communication is made
short and rapid. The present route
around the creek valley through East
Wheeling is too long. The problem,
however, is an easy one, and tunnel
at Ninth street would fill the bill. With
such a tunnel with its east opening at
Baker street, double tracked for cleo
trio cars and lighted by electricity, all
points east of the city would be brought
a mile nearer, as regards travel, than
at present, and the eastern suburban
district would receive an impetus as
great as any in its history. A tunnel
twenty by twenty feet in the clear and
perhaps twelve hundred feet in length,
need cost but little, comparatively
speaking, and its construction could be
extended over say five years. Under
proper and energetic management the
work house gang could do much of the
work, if not all of it, without interfer-
ing with legitimate labor in any man
ner, ard the public benefits would be
very great.
About thirty years ago the city au-
thorities determined upon an open cut
at Seventh street, where the hill is low
er than at any other point, and very
considerable progress was made, the old
coal mines which were struck early in
the excavation, greatly facilitating the
labor. After about six months Of eff
fort. however, the work was abandoned,
and the existence of the new reser-
voir precludes any revival of work at
that point. There Is no obstacle to
work at Ninth street, however, and that
is the most available point Tenth
street would be the ideal place for a
tunnel, but the crazy action of the
Board of Education in blocking that
street with the Lincoln school build
ing. in defiance of all reason and COM
mon sense. has eliminated that location
from the problem, while Eleventh street
is not available largely by reason Of
increased cost.
1t is to be hoped that Council and
the Board of Commissioners will at
least take some preliminary steps IN
this matter, order survey, an esti-
mate of cost, extended over says FIVE
wears. and that there will be some pub
lie discussion of the matter. It's high
time Wheeling was doing something
with the big dirt pile which blocks its
way TO the east. II we can't go over
il, let's get under.
For good doughnuts, use Schenk's
Pure White Rose Maple Leaf Lard,
strictly first class.
The st George the new waking Hat.
SoNNEBORN'~ i los Main st.