The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-14

l recommend that you take action look
ing to an appropriation sufficient to I'M
stall the necessary additional equip
ment.
Police Department.
The large area covered by the city
and the small complement OF police
provided, has for several years given
cause for apprehension. and visiting
officials have expressed surprise that
with our small force and absence Of
| modern equipment, we were able to
control and ward of the commission OF
crime. In considering the provisions
which would best tend to elevate and
| improve the workings Of the depart
ment, conclude the present crude
! method Of reporting by means OF the
local telephone exchange to be wanting
4 In essential particulars, and have had
some conversation with representa-
tive OF the GRmewell system in general
use in the larger cities. 1 believe 1t is
within the ability Of this city to install
a plant OF this nature at low cost and
in manner that would make the pay
ment easy and possible. This system
would make 1t possible for q citizen to
at once communicate with police head
quarters In much the same manner as
they can now send in a fire alarm and
insure prompt attention. besides auto
matlcalIy recording the time and ioca-
ton Of each officer reporting.
The present lookup being all in one
| room, makes necessary the lncarceta-
ton Of male and female prisoners in
common, and as 1t Is sometimes neces-
sary to confine for n short time persons
who are not depraved, urge the pro-
vision of cells for this purpose in the
1 H., ~ thu InplF.V1n
keepers office. Great difficulty Is exc
perienced at times In caring for tn1ur-
ed persons, without means. While the
hospitals have been very generous, the
delays before securing admission have
IN some Instances been disastrous, and
It has occurred to me that the matter
might be remedIed, II the city would
endow bed ut one or both Of the hos
pitfalls. The cost would not be excess
sive, and the results both from hui
| manitnrIan standpoint and in further
ing the efficiency Of the department,
would be most gratifying.
Workhouse.
The suggestion for locating a work
house in the old water works boiler
house having met with opposition, and
no fund being available last year, We
are in no manner relieved from tho
conditions recIted in my last message,
and each year adds to the miserable
state OF the present apology for city
| prison.
leus from which the city could build a
suitable prison and at the same time
come within her means, the site OF the
old water reservoir has been gone over
| and some negotiations had with the
water board looking to the use Of that
slfe as well as the employment OF the
atone IN building the new structure.
The location is probably as good one
as could be secured, the cemented bot
TOM and sewer connections being ad-
TnIrably adapted for the purpose, and
from n rough estimate made by the
clty engineer, he believes there Is u
sufficient amount of stone In the old
wells to build the proposed prison, This
would seem to offer the city a plan tor
comprising what / consider her most
messing need, by the expenditure OF
comparatively small amount OF money,
and the result would give much more
substantial and lasting building than
could possibly be provided, II the ma
terial and location were not already
provided.
/ hope 1t will be your pleasure to APP
proprInte sufficient money, and to au-
thorlze the erection Of the new prison 30
that 1t may be completed and occupied
before another winter.
Water Board.
While the province of this paper is to
suggest the needs of the city, deem 1t
not out OF order to comment upon the
good work being accomplished by this
branch of the city government. The
now pumping plant 80 far as completed,
is model Of efficiency, and when 1t
has reached It's full development will be
in posItion to furnish water supply
vastly superior to any city OF our size
I'm the country and much better than
that Of many larger cities.
The present minimum daily water
consumption of the city Is ton million
gallons; the maximum, twelve millions.
our present completed pumping cnpac-
ity at normal speed Is two pumps OF
seven and one-hnlf million gallons ca
pacity each, or n total Of fifteen million
gallons. II any accident should happen
TO either OF these pumps, It would ne
cessltRtG the speeding up of the re-
mnlning one to degree that would
certainly endanger II, To remove this
danger, the board is now installing
new pump with n daily capacity of
twelve million gallons.
The plans OF the board contemplate
further improvements which will OF me-
cessity he impossible of accomplish
ment for some time to come. but when
fully carried out VIII give our city n
pure and adequate water supply
Street Paving,
In looking over the condition OF our
paved streets, have been impressed