The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-01-04
A word OF I'rotest--The West Virginia
central RaIIWny.

"a
and whose criticisms nrc always well
come, takes the IETRLIIGENoER to task
somewhat sharply FOR its filings at the
West Virginia Central Railway" The
ISEELLIGRNcER Is unconscious OF hay
ing indulgedin anything Of the SORT or
harboring any feeling or opinion that
could indnce II to do SO. The only
thing that now occurs to US which could
possibly admit OF such a construction
was the reference to railroads in the dis
cussion of the Capital question In these
columns, a few weeks since; and the
sportiye allusion to the West Virginia
Central, in connection with what
appeared to us some rather fanci-
full calculations by one OF our cotemPo-
raries in the interior.
1t is possible that our good friend Is a
little over sensitive on the subject Of the
West Virginia Central Railway, be-
cause the line OF one OF the proposed
routes runs in proximity 70 valuable
property owned by himself Even If
this should be true, We find no fault
with the fact; but ask only moderate
proportion OF the charity we are will
ing to grant. Lest any one, however,
should have misapprehended anything
we have said, or should misapprehend
anything We may say In future. on this
subject, we desire to say explicitly that
no one goes beyond us in an earnest
desire to see this great work speedily
accomplished. II must he confessed
that the prospects for this are not now
hattering. At the October elections
several counties through which the pro-
jected route of this road passes, voted
that they would not subscribe TO its
capital stock. We do not know aecu-
raiely what progress the Company is
making; but the fact that the Presidents
Mr.. Aver, has given notice that apPli-
cation will be made to the Legislature
this winter for the privilege Of console
dating with other railroads, may he
taken as an indication that the West
Virginia Central, as nm independent
enterprise, is not yet, at least, to be re-
garded as success.
II this road is to be built soon, 1t is
apparent that 1t must be done mainly
with foreign capital. The State cannot
lend Its credit TO such enterprises, under
existing provisions of the Constitution.
Tho people most directly interested voted
against the counties lending their cred
it to it. Unwilling to be taxed in
the future they are, OF course, unwil-
ling to be taxed no|, either by n coun-
ty or state taxation, to aid in the work.
The Legislature might vote money for
the purpose, but If they should the
money must be raised and paid at once.
We are not prepared to say that we
might not pay taxes for less remunera-
tive objects; but as we'll as we can
make out the popular feeling, the
people of the State are not now willing
to be taxed by the State to aid in con-
structing this or any other improve
menL II these things be true there are
but two ways to raise the means rcquir-
ed by private subscription among our
citizens, OF by enlisting foreign capital.
We take it, from the notice OF the Presi-
dent already referred TO, that the COM
-pany has not yet accomplished much
(compared with what will have to be
dOnel in the way OF private subscrtp-
ton in the State, and Is not hopeful OF
enlisting sufficient foreign capital,
without combining other railroad
interests. our Legislature may be
willing, and no doubt will be, to give
this company or any new one formed
for the same purpose, every encourage
ment that mere legislation can give.
But after this is done the main question
still recurs, how TO raise the actual
money.
With US, It is not question whether
such work as the proposed West Vir-
ginia Central Railway ought TO be built,
or would be public benefit. That the
running OF such line of transit
through the length and centre Of the
State would bring in population. labor
and capital, infuse new life and enter
prise into a large region OF our own
population, and by leading to n system
OF branches and feeders, develop the
resources OF large scope of territory
adjacent 10 that through which ii imme-
dihtely passes, as well as that directly
along the line, cannot he mRtter for
controversy. 1t may be a question,
a
however, whether foreign capi-
talists are willing to engage in the
work; whether 1t offers sufficient
Inducements, seeing that so little assist
ance Is to be obtained among the people
through whom the road Is to pass. Our
main hope for the present consists in
the fact that the line proposed viii,
when connected with the Pennsylvania
Central, afford the shortest route from
philadelphia and New York to the
lower Ohio and Southwest: and that,
in this view OF the case, those cities
may be willing to build II solely for the
sake of tho through trade. Whatever
their object might be, the same benefits
would Inure to us, II the charter be
properly guarded. Whether this hope
is well founded or not may be worth
considering.
Any intimations that the INTsLLx-
SRECRR is devoted TO the interests OF
any particular corporation, or enter
tains u special hostility to any other,
are totally unfounded and unjust. We
arc for the freest compositions and for
the most liberal encouragement of all
enterprises that promise n public benefit,
here in this city, in the interior, or in
the remotest sections of the State, ask
ing only that o..F people viii be prs.c-
teal and reasonable while they are
hopeful, and that in their public under
takinss they will deal with the real
difficulties first, and not reproach those
who point them out as unfriendly to