The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-12

Company 10 be Organized on n
Working Basis.
To the Editors Of the Intelligcnccr.
In answer to the many views and nj,
vice OF the successful manufacturer that
has dictated the article that appears IN
your columns this morning, in reference
10 the building OF railroads into our C'ty'
It does seem 10 me that his IDEAS are III,
tirely dillerent from the business men anu
the manufacturers generally OF our CITY
And of all other places | have known,
have always been taught 10 believe
that Nh rnlis. such as turnpikes, clay
roads, plankroAds, railroads and even
dummy street railways that center into
and rom cities, towns and villages have
always been considered an advantage to lis
commercial and manufacturing interests,
But il would seem from the grntlemans
advice that there is time when these
things can I've over done, and the time has
now arrived with us, and we should be
happy to know that We now have that
information. So it would seem advisable
To shut down and fence in, without our
capitalists will turn in and put their
money in manufacturing establishments,
and induce railroads to come 10 us and
carry away the products.
Now, this may all seem very well to
the gentleman; but can say to him that
such things will not be done. 1t never
has been done at other places, and am
tree TO say in my opinion that It will
never be done here. The policy hereto
fore has been to oiEe. iull facilities for
transit by all means that are possible. By
doing this you will most Assuredly bring
your place into more notice, and induce
manufacturers and people 10 settle among
you. The policy Of the gentleman, II l
understand him, Is to try and hold our
population where 1t Is, and venture no
further.
The gentleman says land | really think
he has no right TO speak, only for himselfO
that they have all the faculties that are
needed now for their manufactures, and
they can now ship TO any part OF the
country at moderate rates. that there Is no
need Of more roads, &c. Now, | must in.
form the gentleman that these are not the
views of our merchants, for he knows and
our people know that their treatment has
been bad in the shipment OF their mCr.
Chandise, sc. II what the gentleman
states Is the fact, | hope our citizens here
after will make no more complaints about
these roads.
Again, this gentleman seems TO think
that whenever our city talks Of subscrib'
ing stock to a railway company, that II is
but donation that she will be forever
taxed in paying the interest and providing
for the principal. Now this seems strange.
Is II possible that our city cannot sub.
scribe to the stock of n railroad without
expecting to lose it all? We must be
very poor business community that we
cannot now, after the experience we have
had. 90 into thisgamc again and win back
probably the most VIC had lost. We have
ventured nothing for the last eighteen
years, and | doubt whether there is city
In the United States Of the same pOpula.
ton that has been so still. If there Is, |
have no doubt they are about as dead as
our own in the general prosperity Of her
people.
The gentleman speaks Of being loaded
down with taxation. | hardly know
what he means by this. suppose as |
have before stated, that he would look
upon u subscription by our city to the
road now about obtaining q charter, which
will he called the Wheeling Il TnsCara.
was Valley Railway, road which has
been talked Of for the last forty ycars-as
nothing but "dOnatiOn," in the language
of the gentlemen on n former occasion in
the getting up Ofthc Street Railway stock,
| for one with many others, with more
knowledge than can credit the gentle.
man for having, knowing and believing
II this railroad Is constructed, that with
the business along its own line when con.
sOlidated with the Lake Shore and Tus.
caravans Railroad, having united inter.
est with the three leading staples along
The line alone such as coal, iron and luin.
Der, that before one year goes around
the road, i'm my opinion, and the opinion
Of practical railroad men, will pay
handsome dividend; and II thought for
one moment that this road, after II Is com.
plctcd and put in good running order,
would not pay a sufficient dividend on the
nstallments, | would not for one moment
advocate n subscription by the city or any
of our citizens No man of any bust.
ness capacity can look over this line OF
road, with all its connections and cross.
ings Of the various lines OfrOad reaching
the Lakes In so short q distance, traVefs.
ing through n continuous line OF coal
fields and iron, and fora moment suppose,
II conducted with ordinary skill, that ii
would pay the stockholders.
For these reasons can assurcdly soy
that the people Of our city will not be
taxed to pay the interest on this subscrlp.
ton.
Again, Id Che making Of the subscrip.
ton 10 this road, II is to he, Of course,
well guarded; that is, the eastern terminus
Of this road shall bc in the c0poratC linz
It's Of the city; that Is, as near the western
end Of the Suspension bridge MS may Ne
and that all the engine shOIS
on this end of the road shall be In the cor.
pOrate limits.
Now feel sure in saying that Of the
Of the 100000 by our city
h; least 100000 would be expended, you
may say, in her corporate limits. In.
GLIDING the bridge on the back river,
depot, machine shops and grounds, and
you might safely expect the expenditure
oil the other 100000 within the first ten
or fifteen miles; that the whole amount
would be returned 10 our citizens In va.
rious ways, such as furnishing provisions,
timber, iron, and many other articles
needed in The construction Of this road.
Before closing this article, in way of an
answer, l will give what information
am possessed Of in regard to the present
prospect OF the building of this road. l
will just soy that the next evening after
the interview the citizens had with the
President Of the Lake Shore & Tuscara-
was road, the committee in connection
with one or more other gentlemen, met
the President of said road and had an in.