Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-08-08
The subject of the subscription to the stock
of the HempAeld Railroad Company by the

county Of Ohio, now excites much attention,
from circumstances of recent occurrence, which
are, in Virginia, of an exceedingly novel char
acter. Although solicited SO to, do, We have
heretofore refruined from any discussion of this
subject in our columns, for the simple reason
that we did not understand it. Having cndea-
: vored to ascertain the facts, without reference
to any particular question, whether of policy
or right ne shall proceed to lay them before
our readers, as briefly and succinctly possible,
SO that those most interested, the body Of the
people, may be enabled to form an advised opin-
ion upon the existing Questions which have
arisen. We have always had the highest res
pect for an enlightened public opinion, and us
journalists will ever strive to secure this most
essential requisite for the successful working of
our republican system of government. For, in
the present case, the action of the County Court
can only be effective for good, if sustained by
an intelligent public opinion; without it, the
result only be injurious to the individual
members of the Court, and the public interests
committed to their charge.
By the 9th section of an act of the General AS
sembly of Virginia, passed on the 14th March,
1851, entitled can act to incorporate the Wells
burgh and Bethany Railroad Company, and for
other purposes the Hempfeld Railroad Com
pany previously incorporated by an act of the
General Assembly of Pennsylvania, were uu-.
thorized ito extend and construct their railroad
from point on the Western boundary Of Done
gal township, in Washington county, in the said
State Of Pennsylvania, through the territory Of
Virginia, to the city of Wheeling, &C." This
''act to incorporate the North Western Virginia
Railroad Company" which had been passed on
the 14th February, 1851. From the year 1913,
the passage Of the latter act had been sought
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company;
ct first by direct charter to themselves, aud
afterwards by charter to an ostensibly indie
pendent company, and opposed by the city of
Wheeling. \ bitter controversy between that
comnanv and this CITY, was continued until the
final treaty of peace and alliance between the
bclIigerents, but which proved to ho but an ar
mistice Of an exceedingly precarious character,
was signed at Baltimore on the 9th July of that
year. We may find occasion at some future time,
to cram ourselves upon the history of that con.
tract, and the half million subscription Of the
City of Wheeling to the stock Of the &. l. 0.
r. r. Co. and lay the same before our readers,
but at present, we devote ourselves exclusively
to the Hempfeld Company and the Ohio coun-
ty subscription to the stock of that Company
Although the Baltimore and Ohio r. R. Co.
seemingly retired from the field at Richmond,
and commenced the work Of constructing their
road fiom Cumberland to Wheeling, under the
act of Assembly of the 9th March, 1877, and
r,;k al,
mentioned of the 9th July, ls47. yet the fight
was continued by their allies, and doubtless
under the pre-exsting arrangements, with
greater or less vigor, until the winter of 1901.
At this date the Baltimore road had made fair
progress the line to Wheeling, the disputed
portion of that line had been settled as claimed
10y Wheeling, under the net passed at the pre-
ceeding session; and it became apparent that
the long sought act authorizing the road to
ParkerSburg would be passed. Under these
circumstances the representatives of the inter-
ests of Wheeling, procured the passage of the
Henpfe!d charter as counterpoise-justIy
deeming it an equivalent for the loss OF the cx-
elusive connection with Baltimore.
Much abused MS has been this enterprise, by
our enemies, who fear its ultimate success, and
our own people, who have suffered pecuniarily
in its temporary failure, we are the more salts
fed from each successive examination and con-
sderation of the subject, that nothing is want
ing TO justify the wisdom of its proprietors and
the subscriptions of the stock, but the compile
rion Of the road from Wheeling to Greeusburg,
on the Central Pennsylvania Railroad, in West,
moreland County, Pa. When we say that it is
the essential link in the shortest possible line
between the City of New York, or PHILADELPHIA
and St. Louis, with single exception, to which
we shnll advert at the proper ,ime,) we say
enough to justify this opinion. OF the man.
agemeat of the affairs of the HempfieId Com
pany, we now say nothing; although before we
have done with this subject, we may deem, it
necessary, as we may make discoveries in the
course of our investigations, (Which we intend
to prosecute diligently to write somewhat upon
that subject. Pennsylvania having ncorpor.
oted the HempfeId r. r. Co. to construct a
railroad from the town of Greensboro in
Westmoreland County, to such point in the
western boundary Of Donegal township in