The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-17

After considerable di.,USSl"h As !"
What action should bc IH~vn !" '"h'P''
he irarr!ru companies ~ pave h''"t"h
their rails. city council. !"'i "a" S''"'-
t.nn IN ;hr hands ~ the c"NnCl. con"
mittec after they mad" their report -
a conference with tie FACTION oil'r!aI"
for them to present the facts 7" 'AE
chamber Of Commerce with view u!
having that body making some S''E
rrs,i,ns as to how the paving could De
done from financial point OF ''e"'
and that the traction companies re-
fund from time 10 ,ipe money I" nose
financing he paving program.
The committee. which met with 'he
railway officials. in their report SAID
that /; was either Ia coInne! INC Fn'-
ton companies 20 pave between me
tracks. and this. the claim Is mane ny
officials Of the traction companies
would put them IN nankrurtcE' or 10
allow the companies 10 continue WIN
repairs on a larser sea! than NeFelV-
fore and also have an auuit m"uH 81
The traction companies books.
The report uI the committee was Ns
follows:
Wheeling, ". Va,
Aug. IL. ls2l
The Hon Mayor ami
Members OF Council
Gcutlemcn:
Your committee appointed ON Aug
.uSt SLn iS2l. consisting OF three mem
bers Of coun>lI the cliN manage, 80
suucitur, amt city eng .necr. 10 CONFER
with the managers OF the Wheeling
Traction company. manager OF w nee
ing Public Service company ana man :
aEer OF the City HALLWAY company 'me'
with the above named of!cla'S or inc
companies named above IN the oulCe VI
the city manager Oh Monday afternoon
August 18TH
Representing the city were cIiy Man
agcr X. -. CraEo. CITY Engineer H. -
Conrad. Albert l. kress and A. y. '"n-
ningham OF the city council. kepreSrn
ing the trolley companies were Mr.; :
u. Whlttcmore and Nj. C. Strarn Public
Service company and !ty halfway. MI,
j. G. Wills and Mr.. Yates representing
Wheeling Traction COMPANY
After the purpose OF the meeting had
been fully stated and ~" matter as
cussed At length covering Us GU ' erens
phases in respcn se 10 a oirect 1hou.tS
the traction COMPANY representatives
stated that II was an liter impossiHilE
for u.r traction cor rLn!eS 10 PFoceeu
with the paving pr"''tm as last as II
citv desired The traction companies
had used all their cash balances, had
absolutely no funds with which 10 pay
for this work OF paving and that o~lnI
to the industrial depression. ana ID
local bus competition. were unao 10
borrow money with which TO do the
work. or meet the payments on same
when they came due. Further that iheS
recognized the moral. and also the t"gaI
obligation TO do this work. ana 40 ~
IN the most expeditions manner posi-
bic. but that the hna2cnl conc'tion
made It Impossible Tor mem u e3 I,lS.
farther. however much they wou.d Ike
q do
MIR. Whittemore. speaking for the
City Railway. promises that IL tne
council Wall agree TO give thcin time I"
do the work tnat they Will fulfill every
reonIrement OF the ct, 'uSt as fast as
funds are available. ~. hey VII re-
pair The bad places. a. o. p IN" TRACKS
in 4 fairly good condi;.'iI ny temporary
repairs until such time AZ the Work can
be- done according to the city speci''ea'
tons ~ -,
Wood street between +3rd and A'u
streets and will I'll along Oe tra'hs
with Stag or cinders, making the street
pasSable for traffic until Srch t'mS ~
tho City Railway compah> S"'a onri,ns
mine as to whether they Hh' - continue
as a ,ranspor tation COMPANY or surren
dor their charter and discontinue pus-
mess az such transportation company.
The Wheeling Traction company rep
resentative Mr.. J. G. wills also gave
the same promise Tor tneir conpS"s 10
70 temporary repairs by keeping inc
same number Of men on that woTK' 'hsE
nov; have twelve men working on South
Jacob street. 49,
Mr., Whittemore. speaking for the
trolley companies. suggested ihat mas
much a. there seems TO be 4 general III
Cliration on the part OF the puoii" I"
dishelIeve tho statements OF the trolley
companies as TO their present ilnancia'
condition and consequent inaoihty u"
carry on this paving program. that Inv
proposition advanced some time ago 10
have an expert accountant t1 70 over
their books. and submit report or tneiT
findings to the general Comn''tes' rep
reseuf1nE the city council. and the var!
Qua Civic societies. which Comnittoo Is
nrcsumed to st!ll DO in existence, ono
half OF the expense OF this audit 70 nc
borne by tho city. and onc~haf b. Inc
trolley companies
Your committee would TeSpectiuiN
recommend that II funds are avaihoic
for such purpose. that the request or
tho traction representatives no com
nued with, and tho audit made. and the
facts given to tho public.
This your committee f""!S womb ne
n wise policy. tho public. TN" council anu
tho city admin stratiOn are all d"man ma
Inr prompt action on this question. but
your committee docs not fcol that
program Of coercion that would plar"
these companies who serve so important
4 public service ~ that OF tr2nsporth-
ton. and who arc 80 necessary Tor we
comfort. convenience and material pro-
grcss Of Il community. into bankruptcE
or into a reccircrship. neither Of which
would help a single iota In getting tho
track ravinE program completed. ana
tho streets Of the city IN proper condi-
ton for safe, comfortable and c"nvcn-
ient traffic.
The traction representatives CAV"
YOUR committee positive assurance. that
their companies would approve any ar
rangement whereby IN" city could I'm
ance this paving program. tho ely 10
take over the work and charge 10 each
company tho amount Of the cost Thereof:
tho city, 10 secure The amount by loan
on the property of tho traction com
pAricS.
Your committee would also recon
mend that il plan SUCH as the Ahov"
Is within tho law. or is permitted 10y
tho city charter. that such m arrange
nicnt hc entered into with tn" said trar-
;inn companies. and N" WORK he carried
forward by IN" city engineer and his
force.
-. .'..n
II g. CIEETEGHNM.
\ l.. kRESS.
II. =. tEAf;D.