Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-08

PRISONERS, WHICH is WORTHY
OF ATTENTION.
In the course of a conversation rela-
tive to public Improvements, in group
of well known citizens few days ago,
Gen. Alfred Caldwell gave expression to
very pronounced views concerning the
necessity for a new market house in
the Second Ward, and also unqualihedly
endorsed the opinion of Mayor Sweeney
concerning the advisability of replacing
the present workhouse with substan-
tial modern structure, which would be
: credit to the community.
"The present market house building
is disgrace to the city, he said, and
should be replaced by new structure
which I am convinced would not cost
more than 100000. The present build
ing is an eyesore. 1t is ramshackle
structure, affording very little protection
from the elements, yet yielding very
substantial revenue annually to the
city. The animal and vegetable matter
which finds it's way to the pavement,
decays, and gives birth to disease
germs, which no amount of flooding by
street hose will eradicate. 1t should
have a hard cement floor, which would
also be a preventative of the ravages
of the rats which infest the building.
eff the market house were the prop
cray of an individual or a firm, it would
long ere this have been condemned as a
nuisance and l think some health Off
Ger would have instituted proceedings
against it's owners. But it is the prop
erty of the municipality, and it brings
in a very considerable revenue. The
people, and the stall renters, have
right to demand a better building.
"The market building should be re-
placed by modern two-story structure,
modelled after similar institutions else
where. 1t should be enclosed. and
adapted to continuous markets. In the
upper end of the building, I would sug-
gest public hall, extending out over
the sidewalk. This hall could be used
for conventions and other public assem-
blages, for church affairs, and for gath
erings generally of such a character as
the city is unable to accommodate at
present. When you look into the mat
ter, there is no end of uses to which
a large roomy hall could be put. The
alley might be arched, and the second
floor made a continuous room. The
lower part could be used for market
purposes, for vendors of stationery, of
light merchandise, ETC."
Gen. Caldwell has given considerable
thought to the workhouse and its needs,
and in that connection revealed a
scheme which he confessed is one of his
hobbies, and which is worthy careful
consideration.
THE workhouse," he said, sis a mon
ument to the negligence and indiffer-
ence of city officials. The Black Hole
of Calcutta was a summer resort in
comparison with it. 1t is infested with
vermin, and it is absolutely impossible
to bring about betterment in this re-
spect. They say a popular bedstead
breeds bed bugs. The workhouse GER
tainly breeds mice, centipedes, and
cock-roaches. If no other considera-
ton will move the Council of the city
to replace it with a modern building,
it should be done as a humane move.
The city can certainly afford to be
humane in it's punishment of petty Of
tenders.
II don't know whether the present
site is the best for the new workhouse,
but there should be new building by
all means. The City Council might
take under its careful consideration, the
question of the employment of the
prisoners upon the work of improving
and identifying the city commons,
which embraces more than thirty acres
of Wheeling hill, including both the
old and new reservoirs.
''Thn hillside looks yery unattra ctiya