Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-07-31
WHEELING AS A ERMINUS FOR 4
RAIL ROAD. WITH REFERENCES TO
FHE WESTERN TRADE

WHEELING AS a TERMINUS FOR A
RAIL- ROAD. WITH REFERENCES TO
rHE WESTERN TRADE.
Our only ob;ectiu psnuing these articles. is
60 throw together. though ii b. in rough and
unpublished form. the information we have at
hand, upon the peculiar advantages of Wheel.
ing asa terminus upon the Ohio. fora Rail
kosd connecting the Eastern cities with the
West. and to call the attention OF thinking
men ia those cities to a point that opens to
fncm so much that they desire We pen them
II haste but the reader may rely upon their
accuracy IN facts, aud the general correctness,
OF their conclusions.
we believe we have shown that Wheeling
as n terminus, offers the Eastern tiles preator
advantages IN route aud as great ia regard to
the river ;rads, as Peterborough, or any point
ociow' aud that between Wheeling aud Pitts.
burghrihere exists such obstacles as to make
the selection OF that point very undesirable
The bars TO navigation during the ordinary
low water between Wheeling aud Pittsburgh
are almost insurmouatable. aud SO numerous
al 10 render the navigation tedious, uncertain
ana dangerous, both to boats and freight. The
time required, as we have before stated, TO ac
comPiish the rouni trip two DAYS. adding an
average OF NOR, than a day to all upward mas
scngers and freight. Previous TO the existenc,
ot rail roads and the facilities now presented
TO tho travelling public, this day would have
been considered OF little importance; but when
the Journey from Cincinnati to Phila,I,lnb;s
comes to be made in three DAYS. as il will.
when a through road shall have been construct.
Ell, the addition OF one day viii be fo,,nl
most important matter. The prospects. also
ol detention on the bars aud shoals above
wheeling, will have its due weight in the es-
innate OF travellers, AMI will ten TO drive
many upon rival routes, should Piltsbur IN b,
the terminus. We must admit that virginia
VIII, stno very distant day, have her imnrove.
'neni from Richmond to the Ohio, aud when
inc river travel from Guyandottc to Pittsburgh |
shsil bo considered, the chances are entirely |
IN iaVor OF the southern route, so far as lime
sconcerned, though there may BE- little advan.
isee IN freight, while road from Wheeliup
would have 50 decided advantages in txpense
as 10 overbalancc the slight difference ia time.
we arc not unnindiul that the reader, not
rejecting on the difference in location of !.
Wheeling aud Pittsburgh may b. led todoubt n
'he decided advantage which the former has a
Ia navigation, when he reflects that Pittsburgh o
contains population of near 80 900 aud many
prosperous manufacturing and mercantile es- :
while Wheeling contains but a. r
bout 10000. The difference is not created by {
any natural advantages that Pittsburgh pos
sesses, but by the fact that il is located in a
argH' enterprising aud free State, under whose
fostering care she has grown and prospercd. Z
whiic wheeling has had the disadvantage of 6
norther prejudice, and no al from an inlc. S
snt and procastinating State govemm mt.
The European bondholder understands the
source OF Pittsburgh prosperity beyond the adj
'antages It possesses naturally. H,r canals
that are centred there, erected by the State.
have given her growth, but give her no adsan-
ta2es Tor securing trade from more valuable :
artificial channels. Give Wheeling. with her
location. the same fostering that Pittsburgh
has had, ana she would rise far above Pitts.
burgh.
The trade of the interior OF Ohio ana Indi
ana 10 not less important to any city or to any
ran road company than is the trade of the riy-
sT. 80 lar as produce is concerned. which is
oil great weight in proportion to its value. we
must still, whatever artificial clnnnels arc
made, expect the bulk of that which IS on wa.
ter courses, TO seek distant market b. those
instead Of artificial channels Manufactured
articles will seek speed in proportion TO their
value compared with their weight, and We
may therefore expect thatdry goods ofall kinds
would be transported oyera rail road from
Baltimore or Philadelphia, TO all points of the
valley above the mouth OF the Ohio: but the
trade OF the interior, not connected with wa.
Ter courses, would form vcry larse proper.
ton ofthe trade OF the west. AMI to that should
be. and are, the eyes OF the eastern merchants
and capitalists mainly turned. They look 10
OHIO alone ior a large share 81 their trade. The
wealth OF The State is immense. and we sub.
nit table from the census of $40. of the
population snd leading products Of those coun.
Ties which would, all other things being equal.
sork market at Wheeling. and were there f,
sail road to Baltimore or Philodclphia, through A
Wheeling, would be better served Than tloireh /,
u were constructed to any other point.
couNs. rOrCLIrIoS. Bu. wHe.r. ~, ront, ],
Belmont, 3090l 1862 .72o.eg2 !