Year: 1873




The people Of Wheeling believe, no
doubt, that they are pretty well advanced
in the arts and appliances of civilization
We don't mean TO dispute the proposition
And vet in one particular they will agree
hs, they arc behind the Iimes-certainly
5ebiDd other cities Of equal magnitude
and preiensions. We refer to the absence
y'apy provision tor sprinkling tho streets
in summer. We are aware that good
many persons have street hose win
which each can sprinkle little patch Of
street In front OF his premises; but lar the
larger number do not have hose, and aI
best they afford but slight mitigation oil
the plague OF dust. At present even this
nArtisl relief is cut OIL. The water works
larnlsh such an insufficient supply that
the use of hose is fOrbiddeni and it Is ceT'
tain that it will be several weeks before
this embargo can be taken of.


The matter is one of some Importance.
A day like yesterday ought to satisfy the
most Indifferent of that. Nearly all day
The city was enveloped in clouds Of dust
msdc up of pulverized stone and street
illh Of every description. Persons in the
streets suffered nearly oil the distress Of
The traveller overtaken by. sand storm
on Sahara. The grit and dirt filled eyes,
uostrils, ears, mouth, hair, and clothing
It swept into business houses, shops, Of
ices and dwellings, doing serions injury
to goods on counters and shelves, to books,
papers, carpets, furniture, &c. 1t made
loss, vexation, discomfort and work eve
rywherc. The injury done by the dust in
asingle day like yesterday would proba-
bly pay for sprinkling the city for the
whole summer. While the wickcdness,
the profanity, the falling from grace, re-
,uting from the trials Of such day,
though they may evade pecuniary esti'
mate, are nevertheless, 10 be taken into
consideration.


The question is whether there Is not a
remedy for such an intOlersble evil; and
4 so whether our citizens are not equal
IL the work Of applying H. Just such
days rs yesterday will occur very tre'
qlcntly in the next four or five months, as
We know from disagrecaOle experience,
and to look forward to long succession
oi them is anything but a cheerful pros
ptrl.


1t has been suggested that since private
enterprise has thus far proved unequal 10
ibis task, Council take it in hand; that
the horses and ostlcrs OF the Fire Depart
ment might be profltubly occupied in this
work; and that Council provide sprink-
.ers and set them 10 work. II would Ger
ninly be better for both horses and men
to be employed than to be idle, and tho
cost Of tho sprinklers would not be great;
and so il looks to us as ira start might be
made in this way. We take the liberty
oi bringing the suggestion, (which Is not
our own to the attention Of Council. We
do not advise meeting Of that tbody very
strongly Tor VIC are not sure but VIC would
nther put up with the dust than with
COunciD but II q meeting must DO held,
might be well TO take this idea Of util-
linS the Fire Department under.advise'
ment. The best thing to do, however,
would be for the people to organize the
,prinkling business on the basis OF private
enterprise. A small sum from each resi-
lCnt on any street within given distance
would pay somebody to run q cart over
lhst territory, and with enough OF these
al the principal streets might be kept In
good condition for on expense that would
not he felt by those benefited. OF course
the water would have TO bo drawn from
hydranls; and here We arc encountered
,glin with the scarcity which forbids the
Use Of hose. But what we have said may
mrvc to set our people to thinking about


the sore need of this reform; and when
ever there is a will to use the water we
believe A Ysy will be found to get 1t,