The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-11
From the Cadiz Sentinel.
WHEELING e. TOLEDO.
The Railroad Meeting at New Athens
Saturday.

The meeting assembled at the chapel
of Franklin College.
On motion of James McClain, Jesse
Forsythe, of Washington township, was
made chairman.
The chairman called on Hon. S. R.
Watson to state the object Of the meet
ing. Mr.. Watson said that the citizens
wanted a railroad up the Crab Apple
branch of Wheeling creek, and down
Brushy Fork of Saltwater. If they
could not get road where they wanted
it, they would try to get it as near that
locality as possible, and the object of
the meeting was to talk the matter over
aud sv, rbat thoir ohanooO wors.
Hon. S. Boggs moved that a commit
tee be appointed to solicit the right of
way on the line of Wheeling creek,
Crab Apple and Brushy Fork.
Mr.. Boggs remarked that this was
one OF the most important means OF
getting a road. The Hopedale route
was ahead in this particular, and it
would have influence with any railroad
company.
Mr.. James McClain thought that
the matter did not need much discus
sion. The advantages of this central
route had been fully discussed and the
consummation was not far distant. The
location would be made in few
months and there would be road built
on one of the routes surveyed during
the past year. One of the first steps
should be to secure the right Of way, 50
they could tell what to be done on this
line. Other routes had done much
this one had done but little. We must
be in condition to represent what we
could do correctly.
Mr.. S. r. Watson thought this route
had operated very slowly. An early
effort should be made. The right Of
way secured first. If left off it would
cost more. The certainty OF the route
being located through a farm would
make the holder ask damage. Their
efforts should equal those of the Hope
dale route, where the speaker under
stood that the right oil way had been
secured except through one farm.
Mr.. McClain suggested that the people
on this route had been remiss. and asked
them to make amends. He did not
think that it would make much differ
ence whether the right of way was
secured in advance or not. They were
one of the several competing routes.
But if they did not equal others, of
course they would lose the road. The
Hopedale route was very active, but vet
he thought one of the Wheeling creek
routes might secure the road, but the
action must be prompt and energetic.
They must look to the Lake Shore and
Tuscarawas Valley railway for help,
which road was looking toward Wheel
ing as a terminus. That road was
certainty, and it was determined to come
to Wheeling. If we wonld have it
come past us we must exert ourselves.
He said they had many advantages.
The most important thing to be done
was to secure the right of way. Some
Wheeling men were expected to be at
the meeting, but they did not attend,
but, he said, the business men Of that
city were alive to the Importance of this
road.
Mr.. John Welsh said that now was
the time to work, The attendance at
this meeting was proof Of interest being
felt. The road was to be built, and il
it went by any other route they would
lose it. He thought they had the route,
and they must move in the matter, each
doing all that he could.
Mr.. Forsythe said that he was citi-
zen of Washington township, and lived
on Brusby Fork. When this survey
was made he had objected to it. He
also opposed this motion because he had
been informed there was no charter by
this line. If they had one they might
have effected something. This route
was behind what it was year ago. He
said they must 60 to work, and that
there must be a charter before the right
of way was asked, and when they want
ed the right of way to take the papers
with them. They could not consum-
mate any work without charter.
Building railroads was business trans.
action. A charter came first. Until
| that was done there was no use talking.
| As for the Hopedale and Harrisville
routes, they were out Of the question.
He said they were "air" lines and were
built as far as they ever would be. The
| Flushing route was good one, and the
Athens route had no advantages over