The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-01-30

simple question OF uOllhIS anu CcHIs, lut
civ has been the gamer. do not speak,
Mi. Chairman, in regard to tile advan'
tages resulting to the city from that road.
Unfortunately, from causes which i shall
not refer to now; the road was compelled
or, perhaps | should say, saw proper
to make connections that left the city Of
Wheeling, somewhat like the handle of q
jug, at one side; and as you and the citi'
zens generally know, after full legal in
vestigation, she was justified by the courts
in that proceeding. Still, so far as the
stock Is concerned, the city sold thelI
stock at premiums whichN justified them
In making the subscription even on the
principle Ofan investment, having receiv'
cd as much Us go per cent premium for
portion of the stock, and, perhaps, an aver
age oil twelve 10 fifteen for tho whole OF IT.
Then us ifregards the subscription 70
the Hempileld Railroad. In consequence
OF unforeseen (perbaps) mistortunes, we
have been very unsuccessful In that enter.
mise, Still, / hope even that enterprise
Is not entirely lost TO the city Of Wheeling
aud, from all can learn, the prospect now
Is very fair that that road will yet be
made q through line, connecting us with
the east by u more direct and better line
than we now have, even better than the
Baltimore IL Ohio Railroad itselt-botll
shorter and better In many respects.
Then we had the Cincinnati Il Mari
eta Railroad, which was total failure, SC
fur as the city Of Wheeling was concern
ed-the whole of those subscriptions hay
Ing been provided for, so far as the bonds
and their value Is concerned, by direct
tax on the property Of the city, so far as
they have been paid; and a great many
Of them have been paid as shown by the
recent report Of the Finance Committee
to Council. %
The subscriptions to tho Cleveland &
Pittsburgh Railroad were very small,
$4,000. l do not know that the city lost
anything on that If they did 1t was
very small amount. 4
Now, Mr.. Chairman, we are in posi-
ton, where a decided advantage may be
reapcd by the city OF Wheeling in con-
neCtion with the roads now projected,
From the best information can get-and
l have had considerable conversation
with gentlemen along the different routes
spoken OF, looking to Toledo-the road
referred TO In the second resolution
will be built TO some point on the
Ohio river; and the simple question
for us to determine now Is, | think,
whether the city OF Wheeling will put
forth It's best efforts to secure the terminus
of that road, which will connect US with
Toledo. II We do not, l think 1t is per.
iectly eyident-and, il ! were disposed, !
could refer TO facts which | think you
would oil understand very read
ily-that Bellaire will get that
road. l was very much surprised,
today, on making some inquiry Of
u friend In regard TO the Improvement and
increase of population in Bellaire. It is
not very long ago, Mr.. Chairman, since
the ground on which Bellaire is built was
q Iarm belonging to IN old acquaintance
of mine, by the name Of Harris. II was
bought, laid out in town, the terminus,
of tho Central Ohio railroad brought there,
and now, understand they have u popu.
latiOn of 1000 And | nm sorry TO say,
Mr.. Chairman, that such has been the
apathy and Indifference Of many Of our
prop crty holders, whom l used to regard
us tho best business men Of the city, In re.
gard to these public improvements and
the interests Of the city, that many Of our
people have gone to BCllaire, some OF them
having built q rolling mill, and others u
glass works, and others different other cs.
adjustments.
refer 10 these things, Mr.. Chairman,
simply 10 say that unless there is more
liberal and better spirit manifested in
regard to the public improvements Of the
city, think twill not bevery many years
until Bcllairc will prOably be equal II
not superior to Wheeling in point ofc0m-
mercial interest an,i manufactures. That
is saying good deal. came here, Mr..
Chairman, over forty years ago-now
about orty.one-when the whole manu-.
featuring interest Of the city OF Wheeling
was not the twentieth part of what Bel.
laire Is to-day; and yet you sec what It Is
now; and think II might have been q
great deal more had the same spirit been
manifested in regard to these things In
Wheeling all the time that has been In the
last five years ut Bellalrc.
| think, Mr.. Chairman, II Is perfectly
clear that unless we secure TINT road 1t
will go to Bellairo and that then, so far as
Wheeling is concerned, 1t not only will
not promote our interest 10 the extent Of q
dollar, but will considerably detract from
1t. think therefore that the citizens
should be thoroughly informed on this sub
iect, so TINT when the question comes, II It
ever should come to vote on the subsCrip-
ton of the 100000, which l sec has been
authorized by the Legislature, they may
vote understandingly And whilst l, as
property holder, have paid pretty dearly
for our former subscriptions, l am still
willing to pay little more for that, l
think It is very bad policy when man
finds he has been unfortunate, to stop and
do nothing to recover what Is lost. l
heard Of gentleman yesterday who but
a very few years ago failed in business to
the extent Of $S00,0O0-I refer to Mr..
Woods, of Woods moving machiLe-hav-
ing In his failure brought with him to
bankruptcy nearly all his friends. To-day
that man Is worth 100000. He didn't
give It up and refuse to try, like some Of
our property holders, who say, VIC have
subscribed once before and won't try 1t
again. | have heard that sort OF talk,
and don't think that It is the proper
course to pursue. .s....
In regard to the road up the river they
have, | understand, advertised for pro.
posals to build that part above Wellsburg.
| have heard that Mr.. Jowett has pro.
posed To build 1t, In connection with the
Brooke county people, down TO the Ohio
county line, provided the people Of Ohio
county will extend II to Wheeling. How
that Is am not definitely informed. Ire.
gard that as very desirable connection.
10 secure 1t the Committee recommend
that law bo secured authorizing sub.
scription, say OF 100000 in It's corporate
capacity on the part 0i Ohio county.
In regard to the lIempfeld, l have al.