The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-04-20
The Proposed Railroad Bridge Sub
scTiptiOn.
Chairman Stats Exc
Wheeling. March %, 1871.

Now that the wheeling public have
been again assured through the Register
that Mr.. McCuLLoUGn, Of the C& P. road,
will give the proposed railroad bridge at
this point "all tho aid in his power" it
would be in order TO hear from Mr.. Nc.
CuLLoUCH himself on the subject. The
books are open and subscriptions Of stock
have been invited; and as Mr.. McCUI,.
LOUGH will be the party TO reap the first
benefits from the bridge, 1t would be en-.
tirely proper for him to become the first
subscriber. How much will he put down ?
That is practical and pertinent inquiry.
Whenit is answered the people Of Wheel.
ing will be better able to Judge than they
now are whether the city ought to sub.
scribe the $350OOO proposed. They will
be still better prepared, when some relia.
BILE and definite assurances have been iur.
niShed that the bridge is TO be used by
some railroad or railroads in addition to
the Cleveland & Pittsburgh. This is too
much money to voted away upon uncer.
tainties. Our people are certainly not
prepared to vote this subscription till posi-.
tive aud satisfactory arrangements have
been concluded whereby the building Of
at least one new railroad in connection
with the bridge is assured beyond all per.
adventure. 1t is with this just expecta.
ton, and upon assurances of this, that the
bridge project has been looked upon with
favor. Now its projectors seem about to
press for a subscription without reference
TO the success Of the new railroads which
were expected TO be carried along in con.
junction with it aud whose success is
essential 10 make the bridge useful and
profitable. II it supposed that the PEG.
pie of this city will vote $35O,OOO to build
bridge to be used only by the Cleveland
II Pittsburgh Railroad, and that too be.
tore that road has shown its willingness
to subscribe anything for the same pur.
pose, we are bound to believe the sup.
position a mistaken one.
We write this in the interest OF both
the railroad and bridge lit be possible
to make the building Of either contribute
TO the other, let it be done. The Legisla.
ture upon request of Council, has forbid.
den us to subscribe to q railroad without
bridge. 1t would have been equally
proper TO forbid any subscription to q
bridge without railroad. But, with or
without prohibition, We may rely on it
none will be voted under such circum.
stances. 1t seems unwisc, therefore, in
those who have the success of these en-.
terprises and the interests of the city at
heart to press q subscription 10 the bridge
till they are able to accompany the re.
quest with evidence that at least one of the
new railroads projected in connection with
it is a sure thing. ftheY are prepared
10 show that now, then now is the time.
II not, then, with all Difference 10 the
judgment OF those who are engineering
this measure in Council, this does not
seem to he the time. Our information
is that the management of the Wheeling
Il Lake Erie enterprise arc so much en-.
couragcd by recent legislation at Colum.
bus that they expect before long to have
their road organized into an assured sue.
cess. Perhaps our Wheeling & Tuscara.
was friends may be encouraged to re.
newcd efforts, and enabled to get their
project into working shape. In view Ct
these prospects, may it not be best not
to press for IL bridge subscription with
TOO much prccipitancy, lest the fruit be
plucked before it is ripe?