The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-12
The wheeling, Pittsburgh and Hen.
lucky Railroad.
Editors of the Register:

Editors of the Register:
am glad to see that our people are
aroused upon the subject Of increased
railroad facilities; it certainly indicates
both healthy and progressive public
sentiment Owing in great measure
to our geographical position we are cut
off from a direct communication with
the great through lines extending from
the East to 1.-THE West, consequently it
renders it necessary if we wish to keep
pace with our neighboring cities, to
build branches or laterals to them on
the shortest and most practicable and
economical routes. To consummate
successfully these desirable results we
must expect to bear to a more or less
extent the cost of making these
branches, as it is not expected that any
Of the great through lines would make
all the laterals they are asked to build
without a very liberal and generous
spirit being manifested on the part of
those seeking the extensions and reap
ing the benefits thereof Such a case
is presented to us by the President of
the PENNSYLVANIA Central road offering
to equip and run that portion OF the
Pittsburgh. Wheeling and Kentucky
railroad between this city and the Pan
handle road opposite Steubenville,
the necessity and cost Of which | briefly
alluded to in my last communication.
Twill here remark that the building Of
this part Of the road at once does not
embarrass or supercede the neces-
sity OF continuing to completion
the road to its final destination, the
Kentucky line, but on the contrary
renders the completion oithe whole line
more certain and expeditions. am aware
that some warm friends OF the road
have been laboring under the impress
sion that since the Pennsylvania Cen
trail has leased the Wheeling Pittsburgh
and Cleveland road they would not
want our branch. Such is not the fact;
they do not intend to make any through
connection with that road, but will
continue to run it as it has been hereto
fore, entirely as an Independent road.
That lease was, in measure. consum-
mated when the proposition to equip
and run our road was made. Conse-
quently, it will not interfere in any
way with the arrangements at present
existing between the two companies, as
far as this road is concerned.
One of the greatest advantages this
road has over all others is that it is en-.
tirely within our own territory; conse-
quently all the profits derived from it
will be shared directly by the citizens
ofthe counties through which it passes,
and indirectly by the people Of the
whole State. And whilst / do not un-
derestimate the value of the railroads
projected on the other side of the river,
(yet, at best, in their embryo state) do
not think it prudent or wise on the part
of our people to run off on a tangent
after those projects, and let GER
tainty of greater importance fall
to the ground for the want of that in
terest and effort put forth, which this
great work requires at our hands, and
that spe eddy. Our manufacturers want
it to give them an additional outlet for
the manufactured articles and an inlet
through which to receive their supplies
of raw material, without being subject
to the monopoly Of one road, and that
at best switch" and without being
dependent upon the uncertainty Of river
navigation, especially as the Ohio river
of late years seems to verify the asser-
ton of distinguished statesman, "that
one half OF the year it is frozen up, and
the other half the big fish have to draw