Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-19

Works
TWO PROPOSITIONS BEING CON-
SIDERED IF THE CONTRACT
WITH MARTINS FERRY rs NOT
RENEWED WHEELING MAY
BE ASKED FOR A WATER SER
VICE.

VICE
It is not often that water Is source
OF contention among people much less
between cities acting in their official
capacity, but this identical article bids
fair to breed first class discussion be-
tween the towns of Bridgeport and
Martins Ferry, across the river, in the
near future. For the past eight years
the last named city has been admins
tering a copious draught OF Adams ale
to ITS neighbor. but judging by the spirit
of the recipients the custom will not
long continue unless there is a radical
change in the price for which this SER
vice is performed. There is good deal
of quiet talk being exchanged between
prominent citizens of Bridgeport, and
one of these assured the Register that
the matter will certainly be taken up
by Council when the more urgent bust
ness in connection with the present city
improvements is once disposed of.
The story begins with the signing of
the contract between Martins Ferry
and Bridgeport on November 21st, 1891,
according to which the first named city
was to furnish water to the latter for
the ten years succeeding. There is no
specific charge that this has not been
done in keeping with the spirit of the
agreement, but the rates, it is alleged,
are sleeper than the Bridgeporters wish
to pay. The fact that the contract will
expire in 1901 is responsible for bring
ing the question prominently to the
front at this particular time, as it is
claimed the time to elapse is not more
than ample in which to provide a new
source of supply if such is considered
desirable. While Bridgeporters get
their water supply at the same rate as
the citizens of Martins Ferry, they are
compelled to furnish their own pipe sys-
TEN and keep it in repair, wherein they
claim lies an injustice. The Bridge
port patrons have until recently been
forced to incur the additional expense
of travel to Fay their rents at the Mar
tins Ferry Office, which has also been
a source of friction and complaint. An
other grievance is held by the people Ct
Bridgeport, who claim they are unduly
restricted in the matter of flushing
&c IN n
complete system Of drainage this is
urged as additional argument for
change from the present condition
There are three propositions being
considered by Bridgeport citizens, one
being that Martins Ferry modify the
existing contract, and the alternatives
are to build works of their own or get
their water supply from Wheeling, if.
upon investigation such a scheme is
found to be practicable.
On the other hand, the sentiment at
Martins Ferry is that their neighbor
has enjoyed the privilege of water sup
ply fully as cheaply as their own citiz-
ems. A statement by an official of the
water board in that city expresses this
feeling amply. Said he: Bridgeport
is getting water at the same rates as
our people and, besides, do not have
to pay the interest on the $4,000 of
bonds which have been issued for the
construction and support of the sys-
tenn. They also have fire protection
and sewage flushing Free They have
eighteen flush tanks to Martins Ferry's
none, and have used an immense guam
tity of water in the exercise of this
stipulation of the contract The only
privileges they haven't got is free
water for the school houses and city
building. They only have to pay in
terest on $4,000 or $4,000 bonds for
the pipe system, which by no means
would be their portion were they joint
owners of the plant sharing the bur-
den of taxation in proportion to their
population. If, however, Bridgeport
would prefer an introduction to the
meter system, ! feel certain our water
board would be willing to accord it,"
Apropos to the statement of the
Bridgeport people that application may
be made to Wheeling to furnish water,
Secretary Schellhase, of the City
Water Board, was interviewed and
said: Without investigating the SUBJ
ject, l am unable to state whether or
not it is within the province of law
that Wheeling should furnish water
to town in another State. So far as
the capacity to do so is concerned, there
will be no doubt upon that score so soon
as the addition to the pumping station
is completed. Wheeling would not
have storage capacity sufficient, but
this would not matter much. as the
pipes could be supplied by pumping
direct. / do not care. however, to
speak for the Water Board, which
would have to fully consider the mat
ter and weigh the advantages likely to
accrue. The city is at present pump
ing water to towns outside the corpor-
alton and one in another county, but