Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-06-24
ron THE TIMES
JONI kSorE, ! y
J. GooDrNG, ''"'''''

| y
ron THE TIMES.
| Mr.. Whdrton--Isee by two of the Cincin-
natl papers a disposition on the part of those
editors to animadvert very severely upon the
state of Virginia, on account of the legislation
of last winter, in reference to the prayer of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. asking the
right of way TO Petersburg through any part
OF what is known as North Western Virginia.
do admit that the people of Ohio have just
cause TO congratulate themselvcsupon the wise
policy which has at all times characterized the
Legislature of that state upon internal improve
ments, by which her citizens have realized
convenient market for their products, and at
the same time are bound together by those liga-
lures OF trade and travel, by which alone those
petty sectional jealousis can be ayerted, by
which we find new and judicious legislation
so oitenarrestcd. Hence, as a virginianl can
say, from no people would l receive lesson
oran admonition more patiently than from the
people OF Ohio; but in reference to the course
OF the editors in Cincinnati towards us of
Wheeling, and the action of the legislature of
Virginia last winter, cannot but remark great
Ignorance as To our position in the present
controversy, forced upon us by the joint action
OF President Mcl.ane of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Co., and the people of Parkers-
burg, together with few wild land holders
to the tune OF many thousands of acres, worth
just about an average of Sets. pera acre. These
parties on the one side and Wheeling and sew
eral counties in the Northwest identified
with us in interest, constitute the other party.
Middle, Southern and Eastern Virginia are UNI
pires i'll the case, disintcrested and, as be-
lieve, only actuated by desire to do justice
and promote the interest OF Alias these gen
tlemen of Cincinnati have thought proper t,
censure, have the less diffidence in askin.
them to follow me through the history of tlI
controversy, and think will be able to show
that their views were not only erroneous, bu
their remarks in reference to Eastern Virgini,
were, so lar as thisquestion is concerned, harsl
and unjust.
In the year 1927, the Baltimore and Ohic
Railroad Co. asked permission to construct
road through Northwestern Virginia to am,
point on the Ohio river, north of Parkersburg
1t was promptly granted. Subsequently
route through Pennsylvania and North West
ern Virginia TO Wheeling was adopted by tn
Company. In 1888 President McIane intima
ted TO the authorities of Wheeling that it woul,
be good and wise policy for the city to as
authority from the Legislature to subscrib
3 900 900 to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroa,
Co. The application was made and the auth
ority granted on the 9th of March of that wear
At the same session the Baltimore and Obi
Railroad Go. proposed to enter the territor
of Virginia at Ilarper's Ferry, and continue OF
the southern shore of the Potomac river to nea
Cumberland, and thence by the route contem
plated to Wheeling, provided Virginia woul
subscribe two-flths of the estimated cost O
the road within the territory of Virginia, AN,
provided also Wheeling should subscrb
81 100000. A law was accordingly passc,
containing all these provisions suggested b,
President McLane himself. Up to this tim,
this Company had received what it asked, al
most without investigation.
The next stepof the President was to secure
the subscription OF our city. Asmight well hay,
been imagined, this sum startled our honest
authorities. After various propositions pre-
and con. President McLane suggested the pro.
Visions OF an ordinance, authorizing subscrip.
ton OF the one millions with such conditions
as our citizens conscientiously believed the,
could comply with, and under the authorit,
of the act of the 9th March, 1888, the subscrip
ton was made and oar city has complied with
the terms of the subscription, and will con
iinue TO do so. President McLane has (ol
years held our proxy, and in many of the an.
nnal reports of the Company, our subscription
has been treated q il is, a subsisting one.
Only since 1913 has the Company looked south
oi us for terminus on the Ohio river. They
give as reasons fordcsiring a more southern
tcrninus--lst. That Pennsylvania has refused
the right Of way through her territory-2d.
That there isno Practicable route to Wheeling
wholly through The territory of Virginia,
Surely the Cincinnati editors cannot charge
Eastern Virginia with a want of liberality ON
account Of anyPolicy Pennsylvania may think
proper toadoP-and as to the last or second
reason for ADOPTING more southern terminus
Tor their work it would be we'll to inquire
bow the President Of the Railroad Co. learned
there was mo- practicable route to Wheeling
through Virginia wholly. lie announced hi,
before The Virginia legislature the winter Of
" and 4 !, and informally stated il practica.
bic route could I've found TO Wheeling he
would adoptit. The summer Of ~ the snth.
critics OF Wheeling Employed. KNIGHT. PSI
! former Chief engineer Of The Co. to make a