The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-09-26

plainly and satisfactorily eDgrosseu III
the form of q contract between the two
companies. :.
But little comment or explanation is
needed for the clear understanding OF
these terms. How far they accord with
the propositions heretofore discussed
between the two companies, we do not
know, but we are satisfied that any
differences which may be found will
not tend to make them less acceptable,
either to your Board or the people Of
the county. Whilst we desired so to
make them as to secure the speedy
construction of the road and its success
full working after construction, as an
integral part of the great through
line between Philadelphia and st.
Louis, of which it will be a branch,
we also desired to guard against such a
mortgage debt, as might lead to the
sale OF the road, for its payment; thus
sacrificing the stock OF the company
and repeating the disastrous history OF
the Hem pfield, and Marietta and Gin
cinnati Railroad Companies, by which
the people of this county lost nearly,
or ouite one million Of dollars.
There may be much difficulty and
great expense, in securing such a loca-
ton and extent Of ground, within the
city of Wheeling, as the Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad Com
pany will approve for the present south
ern terminus of the road; but we be,
lieve that careful examination, and
proper development Of the Citizens
Passenger railroad Of Wheeling, will
Justify such a selection, both as a loca-
ton and extent, as the pecuniary ability
OF the Pittsburgh. Wheeling and Ken
lucky Railroad Company, will enable
them to command, and the former com.
pany will approve. Being the starting
point for both travel and trade, the i'm
provement and development Of the
Street railroad, and the introduction Of
tonnage cars and the lately improved
dummy locomotive, to be used at night
for goods transportation, will place such
a depot upon footing ofequality in both
cost and convenience, with those Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company.
We regret that we were unable to OBJ
tain, even an approximate estimate, of
the cost OF the road, exclusive Of the
superstructule, depot and station build
ings &c, so as to enable the Board to
arrive at the probable amount which
will be required from the county Of
Ohio, to enable the company to com.
plv with the terms before stated. We
are informed they have now about
$3.50, 900, Of subscribed stock, including
the subscription of the county OF Brooke
of 100000. Mr.. Scott informed US,
that Mr.. Becker, the engineer Of his
company, could give us an approximate
estimate OF the cost per mile, from a
careful recognizance made by him; but
owing TO the absence Of that gentleman,
we were unable to obtain it. From all
the information we could obtain, we
are satisfied that TO obtain the
right Of way, the grounds for
depots and stations, the construction
Of the road bed, including bridges and
Gu lverts, cannot be safely estimated at
less than $4,000 per mile. Assuming
the distance between the termini to be
twenty.three miles, the whole cost OF
the road to be furnished in cash or
equivalent subscriptions Of stock, will
be $460,000. This does not Of course
include the cost Of the superstructure,
being the ties and rails, depot and sta
ton buildings, platforms, &c. Estimat.
ing these at $l2, 900 per mile or $276, 900,
tina whole cost cannot be less than
$4,000 for the finished road in con-
diton to receive the rolling stock.
We are aware that much lower es.
innate has been made, and it may Re
that ours is too high; but from our
knowledge and reliable information, OF
the character Of the streams and pro-
posed line of the road between the juno
ton with the Panhandle route and
Wellsburg, upon which the lower esti-
mate has been made; and Of the streams
and proposed line Of the road between
Wellsburg and a suitable and proper
depot within the limits Of the city OF
Wheeling, we are satisfied that our
estimate will be found to be the more
reliable. Should the Board conclude
that the best and permanent interests OF
the people Of this county would be pro-
NOTED and secured by subscription to
the stock Of the Pittsburgh, Wheeling
and Kentucky Railroad Company, the
10th section OF chapter 80 of the Code
(p. 239) enacts, that the Supervisors OF
the county may "by ordinance specify
ing the company to whose stock it is
proposed to subscribe, and the amount
of the proposed subscription, cause a
vote to be taken upon the question at
the several places of voting, in the
county, at the succeeding annual town
ship election, or general election for
State and county officers; but such
ordinance must be published through
out the county in the manner specified
in the eighteenth section of this chap
ter, thirty days at least before the poll
is to be taken" Iftherefore your Board
should desire a vote to be taken it is
necessary that they should fix the max
imum amount of the proposed sub,
scription. To do this an approximate
estimate of the cost OF the pro-
posed road and the present and proba-
Bile resources Of the company are
equally necessary. We have there.
fore, upon such information as
we could obtain, submitted the general
results before stated. Although we do
not propose, in this report, to discuss
the expedieucy or necessity for making
a subscription, (uor, indeed, in our
further report, unless desired by your
Board to do so), we cannot refrain from
suggesting, that, if you desire a vote to
be taken at the next general election,
hof tha ~, y,,uy,, m ~, ornt ~.