The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-12-19
The Hempfeld acknowledgements
of an Eastern Connection.
Editors of the Register

Editors of the Register
Having seen several communications
in your paper lately concerning the COM
pletion of the Hempfeld railroad, and
having the interest and prosperity of our
city and also the development of the adj
iacent mineral resources of our country
at heart, beg place in your columns
for few brief remarks. 1t must be evil
dent to every business man of this age
that it is of the most vital Importance to
the growth and business of city to have
good railroad connections. Take, for ex-
ample, the competition and struggle that
has existed for many years among our
eastern cities, each trying to surpass the
other in the magnitude of their grasp
after good geographical lines and advan-
tageous railroad connections, and not
least, though last, has been the efforts of
our western sister city. With what anx-
iety, perseverance and watchfulness has
Pittsburg attended to her railroad con-
nections for the last fifteen years Has
she not secured every western cOnnee-
ton that would benefit her trade, en-
nance the value of her property, add to
her population, and secure to herself for
ever the trade and travel of the great
West How has it been with us? What
efforts have the citizens of Wheeling
made tosecure to themselves the benefits
that arise from good railroad connec-
tions? We do not wish to reflect upon
the management of our City Fathers iu
the DAYS Of yore, for it speaks for itself.
True, appropriations were made and
used in completing railroads and devel-
oping the resources of sister State hun
dreds of miles from US. Those unfortu-
nate investments for time threatened
to prove ruinous to Wheeling and her in
terests, but gave us no connections
Blind as this policy was, how much more
stupid will their recent action appear
when she takes glance at the map and
finds herself straddled by railroads on
every side where she should have but
one. Through the generosity of Wheel
ing and her friends, we have through
line from East to West via the Panhandle
route, and two through lines short dis
lance south of us in West Virginia. But,
in keeping with her past record, she leg
islated herself out of direct line either
East or West 1t is not our intention to
find fault with any one man or set of
men; but that there has been gross in
Justice done to Wheeling through blind
financial operations and worse legisla-
ton cannot be denied But let bygones
be bygones Who have we to complain
off We, ourselves, attempted selt-de-
struction with our eyes open and the
penalty looking us full in the face.
With these facts before us, is it not
our duty ,one and all, to use every reason
able means to remedy those evils that en-
tangle usl We need direct eastern and
western connection and if the proper ex,
ertions were made we would have it, 1t
is obvious to the most preiudiced aud
ignorant, that Wheeling is blessed with
good geographical position-with all
the resources and mineral wealth calcu.
lated to make her one of the first manu-
featuring cities in the United States
What then do We need to make us a
formidable rival in trads2 Not science,
enterprise or industry; for in these we
will compete favorably with any city of
the same population in the country
Give rs an eastern connection with some
first class road which would force the
eastern trade and travel into our city.
and forever sever our connection with
those roads that have acted in bad faith
with us. Creditors, stockholders and
friends of the Hemptield railroad look