The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-02
The IieinpfieId Railroad.

The Washington Rsvie,c, OF this
week, discusses the importance Of the
Hempfeld road as connecting link for
the Baltimore and Ohio, in this wise:
1--WE would not undertake to instruct
the managers of the Baltimore Com
pany, but they must remember that de-
laws in railroad matters, as in other
things, are dangerous. What appeared
to be a little slowness on the part OF
that company lost for it all connections
west of Pittsburgh At one time it had
within its grasp the Pittsburgh d
Cleveland, as well as the ALLIE
gheny Valley road; but too much
deliberation lost them; and that
company in like manner more recent
" failed TO have a connection with the
great ore region about Bedford by fail
ING to take hold until the Pennsylvania
road had possessed itself of the advan-
tases. 1t would not be strange if, dur
ing the approaching session of the Legs
lature, the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany would attempt to use its potent
power with that body to further cripple
and cut of the Baltimore road in its at
tempted connections with the northwest
This might be done by legislation that
would enable the former company to
build the Hempfeld, and, by short
link west of the Ohio river, make it an
important feeder to the Pennsylvania
road and Philadelphia, instead of
the Baltimore road and the great COM
mercial city at its eastern terminus
Such course would completely estop
the efforts of Baltimore for north and
west outlet, as without any connec-
tons west Of Pittsburg the Connels-
vile railroad would be comparatively
bottled For as the matter now
stands, every railroad west and
north of Pittsburgh is in full sympathy
with if not under the absolute control
of the PENNSYLVANIA road, and therefore
all their trade is thrown in that direc-
ton, and goes to Philadelphia instead
Of to Baltimore.
In order to secure a connection for
the Connellsville road to Chicago and
the northwest, the Baltimore interest
has been exploring west Of Pittsburgh
for the past three years, and it is under
stood has settled on, as the most feast
ble route, one crossing the Allegheny at
Pittsburgh, running down the north
side of the Ohio to point opposite the
mouth OF CHARTERS creek, recrossing to
the south side, and from thence to
Smiths Ferry. This ronte would
necessitate three river bridges, in ad-
dition to the vast expense attend
ing the right of way through the cities
of Pittsburgh and Allegheny and their
suburbs, where every foot of ground
wonld cost enormously. The many ad-
vantages of the Hempfeld route over
the other is at once apparent, The
Baltimore Company have almost COM
pleted bridge over the Ohio below
Wheeling, from which they have d.
rect western connection, that could
easily be made almost an airline to
Chicago and other important points
which will command the Pacific and
western commerce. By the Hemp
field road only a few miles Of track
and one bridge are thus necessary to
make a connected railroad route more
than seventy miles shorter from the
west to Washington City, and more
than two hundred miles shorter to tide
water at Baltimore. We need not dis
cuss at length the vast importance Of
the line, not only to the people along it, |
but to the Baltimore railroad's CONNER
cial Interests. And it is certainly alike |
unnecessary to urge the. mutual efforts |
of all parties to secure the success of so
desirable an enterprise"