The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-14
Chicago RalIroads...Fifteen New
Ones Seeking an Entrance into

Chicago RalIrOads...Fifteen New
ones Seeking an Entrance int
the City.
From Chicago letter to the N. T. Times
We are in the midst Of quite a Lively
controversy inrelatiOn TO railroads lher'
Sre fifteen new lines seeking IN entrance
INTO the city, principally In the Yves
Division. They, of course, wish to reach
&C near 10 the centre OF business as prac
tIcablc, and, to do this, have to run about
6nr miles within the city limits. Passing
through streets and across streets neces'
ssrily depreciates the value Of property
abntting upon them. Naturally the own
ers are opposed 10 the roads coming
through their streets, while they are per
pctly willing that they should traverse
any others. Hence we are having pub.
IcmCetings, heated discussions and news
nlper articles in great abundance. The
general feeling is in favor Of letting these
roads come in on the same terms as the
others have. Railroads have built up
Chicago without the city, as n municipal.
ity, having spent or run in debt dime for
their construction, Every new one adds
10 our business and TO our wealth; so that
il Is as much for the interest of the city as
Ills for that of the roads that they have
every possible facility extended to them.
But there has been the same kind ~ oppo-
stion from the beginning. It was very
bitter, and came from some OF our most
Intelligent citizens, when the Illinois
Central proposed to come in on the Lake
ffOntand bring the Michigan Central with
il. at will ruin our property" VIC re-
member hearing Governor Bross say with
mich impetuOslty, and so said the rest.
But in less than two years they woke up
and found their property quadrupled in
value by these roads without any effort
on their part.
Then there Is o controversy about the
three blocks on tho lake front, between
Monroe and Randolph streets, east Of
Michigan avenue. There has been some
legislation by which the city Is apparently
bound to convey this tract to the railroads
at eight hundred thousand dollars. Ur
to the time Of the fire this transfer, upoI
these terms, was generally opposed, US
according 10 the price Of lands elsewhere
these blocks arc worth not less than three
millions Of dollars. Upon this land the
Illinois Central, the Michigan Central, the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and, pos.
sibly, the Baltimore & Ohio, propose 10
erect mammoth union depot. II is lust
tho place Tor it. 1t would add millions
Of dollars 10 the value Of property in the
south and north divisions TO have the
depot placed here rather than in the alter.
native location on land owned by the Iii.
noiS Central, about q mile and a half
south. The prospect now is that tho ar
Tangement contemplated by the leglsla.
ton Of two years ago will be consum.
mated, and that We shall have q grand
union freight and passenger depot just on
tue spot where 1t will best accommodate
the general business Of the city. 1t would
bca misfortune 10 have it fall through,
even though the roads are not required
to pay the full value Of the land. The
TACT Of the depot being located at this
point will make up much more 10 the in,
crease Of real estate values than what the
city fails 10 receive as q just compensation
Tor tue land. There is some feeble oppo
sition still, butt comes from those whose
lake view Is in danger Of being INSTRUCTED
by tue buildings which may be erected.