Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-02

1t can be definitely stated that there
! will be no public street illumination the
coming week, during the reception and
| entertainment to visiting merchants.
1t is rather humiliating announce
ment to make, but it must be made.
The fault for the failure cannot be
| definitely located, even after close in
vestigation. Everybody concerned lays
the blame ON somebody else, or don't
know" what the trouble is, but failure
/ is scored, all the same, after it appeared
that everything was all right.
The plans were not definitely given up
until quarter to six o'clock yesterday
| afternoon, and then only after a fruit
less endeayor to substitute electric
lights for gas. One trouble APP
pears to be that there is nothing in
this city to work with. Supplies have
to be obtained from other points in
every case of emergency, machinery
is inadequate, or there is that ever
present bug-bear, extra work. AS a
result, nothing can be accomplished
without thirty to sixty days notice.
At the recent session of Council, it
will be remembered. a resolution was
adopted by both Branches, authorizing
the Gas Board to do the contemplated
work of erecting arches, to be lighted
by electricity. 1t was then ascertained
that gas illumination would be prefer
able, and the Committee on Lights was
called together This Committee ac
cepted the amendment, outlined plan
for street arches, and passed resolu-
ton pledging itself to see that the Gas
Board was reimbursed for the outlay,
estimated at about six hundred dollars.
This appeared to clear the way, and
Superintendent Thompson and Mayor
Sweeney were authorized to procure
bids and proceed with the work.
Thursday night the Gas Board met. 1t
then appeared that no copy of either
the Council resolution or the resolution
of the Light Committee had been trans
mitted to the Board. and all that body
had to rely upon was newspaper re-
port, which, however accurate, was not
official The question was raised in the
Board as to the guarantee for the ex-
pense, but nothing official was forth
coming. No action was taken, as a re-
sul+, by the Board, according to a state
ment made by Mr.. Buckman, yester-
day. and this was a black eye.
Meanwhile Mayor Sweeney and Mr..
Schwertfeger, of the Merchants Day
Committee, had stirred around, and had
placed contracts for the ten arches de-
sired. Mr.. Little agreed to complete
two, Mr.. Kyle two, Mr.. Schnelle three,
and Nh Ziegler, of Thirty-third street,
the remaining three. Mr.. Little tele-
graphed for the necessary tips, about
one thousand in number, and they ar
rived by express yesterday. Then halt
was called, and yesterday morning
work was called off, after two arches
had been partially completed.
The Merchants Day Committee talked
the matter over yesterday afternoon,
and agreed that they would not let the
matter drop, even under the discour-
aging circumstances, and resolved to
appeal to the Wheeling Electrical Com
pany, in the hope that electric lights
could be substituted for gas. A confer
ence was held with Mr.. Wise. of this
Company, during the afternoon, and
second meeting set for Mr.. Gardens
office, at half-past five o'clock in the
afternoon There the matter was talked
over, and the result was that the whole
thing was definitely abandoned.
Whose fault it is cannot be stated def
initely, but that somebody has blunder-
ed is very apparent. The trouble is
certainly not with the Merchants Day
Committee, which has worked diligent-
ly to put this thing through, but to no
avail.
When Mayor Sweeney was seen last
evening he was immensely disguised,
and among other things he said; Il feel
like calling the members of Council
together and rendering my resignation.
No matter how hard one tries to DO
something in this town. there is al
ways some stumbling block in the way,
and nothing can be done. l had hoped
this little matter would go through, but
here is a failure. after the announce
ment has gone out to the people ex-
pected to come here. Yesterday the
affair appeared to be in good shape,
and work was commenced. Now it is
all over, and somebody will have bill
to pay"
Messrs. Schwertfeger and Meyer were
also very much disguised, last even
ing.