The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-29

The fact has already been stated that the city of
Wheeling had caused writ to be issued against
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, requiring that
corporation to show why in junction should not
be granted at the instance of the city of Wheeling,
restraining the Railroad Company from expanding
any more of its funds in behalf of the North W est
ern Virginia road and in fact from working that
line. We have made inquiry into the merits of the
case and are thereby enabled to present read
ers with an Ineligible view of the matter it now
stands. 1t is well-known fact that the cities of
Baltimore and Wheeling have long been at issue
concerning the Ohio river terminus of the road
As far back as 1888, the Company made an attempt
to procure the consent Of the State of Virginia to
terminate the road at Parkersburg, the highest
point at which it supposed there could be found
sufficient water at all of the year for the
navigation of steamboats, of size large enough to
make the trade pay. The people of Wheeling, ever
alive to their own best interests, sent yearly
deputations of influential citizens to Richmond to
demonstrate with the Legislature against sacrificing
what was then thriving town for the sake of a
more direct communication with the Ohio and thus
the Company foiled year after year. After
hard fight, in which much manouvering was dis
played on all sides, it was eventually agreed upon
that if the city of Wheeling would subscribe one
million OF dollars to the stock of the Company, the
State of Virginia would subscribe for another mil
lion, and Wheeling was assured that she should
be made the Western terminus. The period for
which the State pledged having expired, the
authorities declined renewal of the subscriptions
yet Wheeling fulfilled her part of the contract and
the road taken into that city, after first strik-
ing the Ohio river at Moundsvie, some twelve
miles lower down. So much for the main stem to
Wheeling-now for the branch to Parkersburg bet
ter known the North Western Virginia road. The
enterprsing people of Parkersburg-si on a
bluff point of the river opposite the island which
the unfortunate Blannerhasset once had his .'paa
tal residence" and which still bears his name
having had their hopes excited never for a moment
gave up their idea for connection with Baltimore.
After vain endeavors for years. they finally obtain
ed from the Legislature of Virginia charter for
the North Western road, starting from Parkersburg
and intersectng the main stem at what is the
thriving village of Grafton. The State of Virgin
ia never subscribed one dollar towards the build
ing of this road and it would have been fin
ished had not Baltimore, with that iberality for
which she is proverbial, forward and lent her
pecuniary aid to the work. Since its completion,
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company have
been working the line, and it is to put stop
to this that the injunction is asked by Wheeling
There is, we are informed, probability that the
prayer may be granted so far as the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company is concerned, but it is more
than likely that in matter involving essentially
the interests of the city of Baltimore, the means
will not be wanting to perpetuate her interest in
the new route, connected it is known to be with
the great thoroughfare to st. Louis, the far West
and perhaps, at no distant day, to the Pacific.