Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-14
TIE ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF HIS HONOR THE MAYOR READ
TO THE CITY COUNCIL LAST
EVENING.
MANY TOPICS ARE COVERED.
AND THE DOCUMENT WILL AT
TRACT DESERVED ATTENTION.

His Honor Favor u Tunnel Through
the Hill, Steps for an Increase of
the City's Area, Additional Police,
the Refundfng Ordinance, and Re-
fers to the Work of Departments
With Approval.
Following is the full text Of the
annual message of His Honor, Mayor
A. T. Sweeney, read in Council last
evening:
T the Honorable First and Second
Branches of Council.
"G-entlemen:-In transmitting my annual
re~commendations to y2plr honorable body,
on account of your being as well aware as
/ of the needs of your city, and secondly
because Of your inability to provide the
gestions which call for expenditures in ex-
cess of the usual and customary appropria-
lions made to the several departments.
~Refunding Ordinance.
THE plan to effect a revision of the city
finances by a ~refunding of its bonded in
debtednesS, suggested in my last message,
has been the subject of careful and con-
scientious consideration by your commit
tee, and the result of its labors as pre-
scented to you embodies a plan which will
not only save to the city a very consider
able amount of money annually in interest
charges, but by a proper and equitable
distribution OF the payments, relieve the
city of the necessary of further bond is
sues, at the same time affording means
for carrying on improvements and repairs,
not available under old customs except by
increased taxation, or an additional bond
issue.
Create Wheeling.
THE steady and continued exodus of
our citizens to homes in the country con-
of the outlying districts, would seem to
warrant a movement on your part to in
crease or extend the corporate lines Of
your city, believing that any steps you
might take in this matter would be met
with warm r~eciprocation and be productive
of ar Incentive to increased building and a
consequent tendency to invite additional
rial extension Of the real and personal val
uation-
Industrial.
1.-THE lethargic attitude of our citizens
toward the loss of their material interests
corporations, nonresident, Of her manufac-
turing industries, and their seeming indif-
ference toward the inevitable results, would
action. The combinations Of Capital and
requirement. of local plants have already
resulted in transferring to other cities the
most cdpdDle men formerly III active man
agement of these plants, and removes to
some extent at least any feelings of local
pride or interest. Upon the principle that
the success of any community, depends
largely upon the prosperity and happiness
of its citizens, and in like manner that a
community to be prosperous must of nee
esstty provide, insofar as may be, constant
employment for its inhabitants; L am i'm
PEELED to the belief that, with our most
important industries removed from local
control and consequent danger of idleness.
n ~ n nH,noef Affnrt cknr1lA h. r0n6n tn n~fnnd
and diversity our industries, thus warding
off the danger threatened from centraliza-
ton and combination.
THE proposition to connect the city
proper and the outlying districts by means
of a tunnel through one of the hills is one
which appeals to me as being of vital in
terest, and calculated to make possible the
extension of the corporate limits hereto
fore advocated, while Offering to our citi-
zens a much shorter means of travel.
While 1t may not be feasible for the city at
ing, 1t has seemed to me she might, in
connection with the Board of Commits
%sioners, not only " the project In shape,
but carry it to a final and successful ter
mination.
Granting of Licenses.
'In the matter of grants by our honor
able body OF licenses, more especially those
for keeping ordinaries and coffee houses, 1
do not believe there has been the diScrlm-
nation and intelligent consideration ac-
corded which the Importance of the sub
ject as well as the ordinances, under which
the grants are made, demand. The persons
holding licenses from the city are in the
main of the best character and highest
probity, and the issuance of licenses to
persons who do not comply with the pro-
visions of the ordinances as not only a re-
Election upon the saloon keepers of the
better class, but in conflict with the in
tent and purpose of the ordinance. l there
fore recommend that both the Committee
and Council scrutiniZe more closely the
applicants for licenses.
Ordinances.
I'm my former message reference was
made to the necessity Tor a codifying and
compiling of the city ordinances, reciting
that the present book was printed In 1891,
that many new ordinances were not con-
tanned in it, that others contained in 1t had
been amended or repealed, and that your
executive officers found 1t a difficult task
to interpret and carry out the. provisions
as laid down. Owing TO the lack of funds,
the recommendation could not be carried
out last year, but it Is a matter of the
greatest necessity and one that l nope you
may compass this year.
I'm this connection, l beg to submit that
many of the ordinances Of the city have
outlved their usefulness, and having been
so often tried and found wanting, would
seem to be subjects for retirement. As
business customs change, SO must bushes
methods accommodate themselves, and
considering that the present city ordi-
nances a w for the most part been in
force for from twenty to thirty years, they
must of necessity be rejuvenated and made
TO conform to the present customs and
conditions. Too little attention has been
paid to the changing conditions and ordi-
nances which had heretofore answered
every purpose and were deemed to De in
every way adequate and considered as en-
tirely applicable: but, by the supreme test,
that of a trial before a jury, they have not
stood the test, and still are permitted to
remain upon the statute books impotent
and incapable of being enforced.
II desire to impress upon you the i'm
portance of a thorough revision of your
city ordinances and suggest that a compe-
tent commiSs.o on be entrusted with the
work, with full authority to formulate and
submit such ordinances as may TO them
seem 10 be applicable, as well as TO make
necessary provision for compiling, codify-
ing and putting in book form the ordi-
nance as reconstructed.
Gas Works.
1.-THE operation of your gas works plant
continues to show steady and gratifying
results With the successful termination
of the project to place the city in a posi-
ton to embark in the furnishing of mean
descent light, will come a material and
substantial increase n the receipts and en-
able this branch of the city's industries to
Weld a handsome revenue.
1.-The increasing demand for street arc
lights makes II imperative that some addi-
tional equipment be provided. and | rec
ommend that you take action looking 10
an appropriation sufficient TO install the
necessary additional equipment.
Police Department.
soThe large area covered by the city and
the small complement of police provided,
has for several years given cause for ap-