Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-18
NORTH WHEELING CITIZENS
Indignant at the Idea Of Putting the
Workhouse at the Foot Of Eighth st.

! W0rkn0uSe At the FOOL OF ElgnIl 81.
RESIDENTS OF MAIN STREET. BE-
TWEEN NINTH AND SEVENTH.
ARE UNANIMOUS IN OPPOSING
TIL SCHEME, AND DAMAGE
SUITS AGAINST THE CITY ARE
THREATENED IF IT IS CARRIED
OUT-SOME PERTINENT INTER-
VIEWS-IS A WORKHOUSE
REALLY NEEDED AT ALL?
| The statement in local paper OF
yesterday that, "The use Of the water
works building for a workhouse would
have no Objectionable features to the
residents of that part of the city, is
probably the champion falsehood OF
the spring season, and caused more
| Indignation among residents of North
Main street, in about fifteen minutes,
than can be allayed in fifteen weeks.
The article in which this deliberate
mending the idea of locating the city
workhouse at the foot of Eighth street,
in one of the buildings belonging to
| the city and formerly used in connec-
| ton with the old water works pumping
station, and at present as stable
and tool house for the water depart
ment.
| If the city workhouse system is to
be continued, a new building is un-
! doubtedly necessary, and the subject
| is one which has been discussed an
nually for at least fifteen years to
little direct purpose. Whether the
city should maintain a workhouse at
all or not is, however, a mooted ques-
ton. The prisoners could undoubtedly
be lodged in Jail at a less annual
charge than the present system costs,
and there is ample accommodations in
the county institutions for them, as
has been repeatedly demonstrated, and
, this branch of the subject is discussed
in a communication which is annexed
to this article.
The real issue at present, however,
is the proposition to install the vags,
buns, ETC., at the foot of Eighth street,
and this is most decidedly opposed by
North Main street residents, particu
larly along the two squares lying be-
tween Seventh and Ninth streets.
Representatives of the Register made
careful enquiries yesterday as to pub
lie sentiment in that district, and with
out exception there was decided oppo-
sition to the plan. Such citizens as
/ Mr.. Leo Riester, Mr.. E. Buchanan, Mr..
| C. Hess, Mr.. George E. Stifel, Mr..
| George H. Eckhart, General Alfred
/ Caldwell, Mr.. Henry K. List, Mr.. John
living in that neighborhood are OPP
posed to the idea without reserve; and
! they and others will fight it from start
to finish. Any representation that the
citizens of North Main street are sat
isfied with the idea is wholly at vari-
ance with the facts.
Mr.. George E. Stifel voiced the opin-
| ion of his neighbors last evening when
| he said
| "The idea of locating the workhouse
| in the old water works building will
| be resented and fought by the people
| of my neighborHood. l have talked
| with them, and know their opinion up
on the subject. The people of North
| Main street are heavy taxpayers, and
| the street is one of the leading resi-
| dence streets of the city. We will not
| be pleased with lodging house for city
| prisoners at, our back doors, or with
| the constant transfer Of men and wO-
| men to and from the City Hall along
our street. If there must be a city
| prison, it should be located in some
| out-of-the-way place, where it will not
! be a nuisance to any citizen, rich or
! poor. No one should be annoyed by
! the proximity of such an institution, I
| care not who they may be. The pres
! ent location is doubtless obnoxious to
| some clIlZeUS. IL there Is W DS IL new
| location, let one be found remote from
residences of all sorts. Such a place
| can doubtless be found, if the effort is
made. To say we are satisfied with
| the proposed arrangement is false. 1t
would depreciate property, force re-
movals from Jhe street and perhaps
| from the city to the country, and would
| be bad from every point of view. If
money would prevent this plan, 1 be-
! lieve I could collect three or four thous-
and dollars along Main street to kill
! it. Put me down as opposing the idea,
and others I have talked with oppose
| it as WE'LL
General Alfred Caldwell, when seen
by Register reporter last night said:
Il regard the project as an absurdity
rather than an accommodation.
In the first place, if the
| fitness of the location is con-
sidered, worse one for general
| nurnOcpc c0,11d NOT he chosen Tho