The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-26
WORTHY OBJECTS SUFFER

WORTHY OBJECTS SUFFER
The rivers and harbors Dill has
long been subjected to the odlum OF
Its porcine character. 1t was the CIV
ing Of appropriations for molstenlne
dry creek beds that worked to the in
jury Of justifiable enterprises, the
worthy objects contained in the meas.
ure, such as the canalization OF the
Ohio river. But, according to reports
from Washington; the public buildings
Pill far outclasses the river measure
for pork" characteristics. SO far as
sit has already been prepared it pro-
rides for the appropriation OF $685.
100000 for new postoffices. nine
tenths Of which, according to Treasury
and Postoffice Department officials,
are wholly unnecessary-especially
when there is a prospective deficit at
the close of the next fiscal year varl-
ously estimated from S200,0UQ,000 to
$300,00O.Q00.
Appropriations are proposed for
more than 400 sites of buildings. more
than half OF which are alleged TO rep
resent a. pure and simple case OF
pork. - 1t is declared by officials Of
the two departments concerned that
over 800 Of the buildings could not be
erected with any profit for the Gov
ernmeut from the use TO which they
would be put.
According 10 these authorities. i'll
the cases cited s9.500.000 would be
expended on buildings and cites
which would involve an annual charge
for maintenance of SL4OU,0 900, TO take
the place Of rented quarters, amply
sufficient for present and prospective
needs. for which the present renting
charge is, $252 900. or about one-fltth
of what it would cost simply TO "maln-
tain" the proposed Government struc-
lures. Some conspicuous examples
are cited. In the case Of a town OF
537 Inhabitants in Kentucky. where
the rent of the Post Office is $3.50 d
year and where the total receipts
from the service amount TO $5.OVO, II
Is proposed to put up Il $4,000 build
ing to decorate the village, which II
would cost $500 a year to take care
of. In North Carolina. in sixteen
towns sites or buildings are PROVIDED
for OF which thirteen are declared 70
be unnecessary AID 10 involve un"ar-
ranted expense 10 the Governments
In nearly all these cases, scattered
through sparsely peopled districts, eS'
pecially in the South. it is mere
question OF getting 4 fine building at
Government expense. which Is not
needed for its legitimate service.
1t we're much better If this pro-
posed criminal waste OF the puoi'c
funds could be diverted to swelling
the rather skinny provision Tor con-
Melting the improvement OF the On!o
river. a work that is demanded by the
growing necessities OF the great ONO
valley. and whose benefits would al
feet the larger portion OF the country
Speaking OF the increased tonnage
on the Monongahela river. which mas
doubled within the past ID years. ana
the larger use that is being made OF
river TRANSFORMATIONS generally by the
industrial corporations the Pittsburgh
Dispatch has these significan: COM
mentS TO make:
Pittsburgh harOor is 70 be used L:
never b.tur. by ;hc industrial corpora
tions along tho TWO rivers. forced oS
ran ,.uu.. l;.i, =. tnk'' up thu. long neg
lectcd auu often deSnIScd opportunity
for wa;"r Transportation as means u
relic: ~ movement OF iuci anu tFalSLt'
of products. ''iFef luz "sSu!
:,n,.,. ut the uin"-f foot stage III the OhiC
and this water traffic Will expand dow
StreaIn Long before the projected ca
nal from the river 20 Lake Erie coul,
uu completed t.crr promises 10 DE SuCl
a revival and cNluuSlou OF water ton
cess Of the canal will hc Il certainty
II is M longer IL theory but :
condition that il pressing for attention
Hand in hand with tho development ol
the need and nrurs for uS:nE the river:
will come n demand for improvement
that cannot lc denied. The dream OF
Yesterday will become the necessity u
tomorrow.
What applies TO Pittsburgh : oi
equal application TO the situation in
the Wheeling district and the future
development Of the entire Ohio val
ley. 1t is matter OF national lmpor'
as we'll as of local interest. and Con
gress should be impressed with the
imperative necessity of the more rap
Id completion of the work under way
and the substitution OF continuous ap
preparations for the hand 10 mouth
policy which now exists.