Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-08
A Gall FOR ACTION
In The Case Of the National Tube I'm
proVement al Benwood.
THE EXAGGERATED PRICES FOR
REAL ESTATE BY PRIVATE
OWNERS PROMISES TO BLOCK
THE PLANS OF THE COMPANY.
CALL FOR A MEETING AT MO-
FART HALL FRIDAY EVENING.

The situation regarding the exorbi-
tant price asked by three or four own
ers of real estate in the vicinity of
Boggs' run. desired by the National
Tube Company for the contemplated
immense extensions of its Benwood
plant, formerly known as the Riverside,
is assuming more important proper
lions, and it is very evident that there
will have to be Intervention by the
business organization of this city and
the Councils of Wheeling and Benwood
if the plans contemplated by the big
company are to be carried out. AS the
Register understands the situation, the
Tube Company does not seriously OBJ
ject to paying something like twice
what the property desired would ordi-
narily be worth. but anything more
fancy" than that causes a natural
hesitancy which in all probability will
result in the thwarting of plans which
as originally drawn mean, as the Regis
ter stated yesterday morning, the EN-
ployment of more than one thousand
additional hands and the creation at
Benwood Of one of the largest steel and
iron industries in the country.
The increased price asked by the own
ers of real estate for their property
may, in some minds. appear very
trifiing thing to company like the
National Tube, but the gentlemen at
the head of that enterprise, although
they may have millions to spend, prefer
to do it legitimately, and in accordance
with business methods and in compli-
ance with business rules. They are no
more inclined TO pay three or four
prices for anything than the ordinary
retail or wholesale merchant, and in
addition, they are under no compulsion
to locate their increased manufacturing
plants at Benwood. There are many
eligibly situated towns which would
be glad to not only have the additional
facilities, but to pay roundly for them,
and this is the danger point which
threatens Wheeling and its suburban
towns. The old Riverside plant at
present employs so many men, and it is
good thing for Wheeling. If 1t could
be so enlarged as to employ twice as
many it would be very much better, and
would directly or indirectly benefit
every business man in the city That
being so, the question now is, will our
business men and our public bodies
allow the demands of three or four
individuals to stand between this en-
tire community and good thing? 1t
has about come to that point In the
language of a representative business
man last night, it would be good bus
mess for Wheeling to take up pop
ular subscription, pay the price asked
for the private property, and donate it
to the National Tube Company. And
Benwood would be doubtless willing to
assist in any such movement, if it
comes to that.
This matter is a serious one, and af-
fects the entire public Something
ought to be done about it, and done
right away. Ii the Chamber of Com
merce does not see it's way clear to
act, citizens should take the matter UP,
and Mayor Sweeney might, with entire
propriety, and in the interest of the
people, call special session of Council
and appoint a committee to confer with
a committee of the Benwood Council
or business men down there. The issue
should be met without loss OF time.
Mr.. M. j. O'Neill. in whose hands
the solicitation of subscriptions for the
proposed new Hobbs Glass Company.
on the South Side, was placed a day or
two ago, has interviewed about twenty
five representative South Side citizens,
and as a result meeting has been
called for Mozart Hall, on Friday even
ing of this week, at which it is hoped
to have large attendance and good
subscription to the enterprise.