The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-06
wheeling Railroad Matters &c The
Bridge Enterprise.

lation affecting tho several railroad enter.
prises which have been canvassed here for
the past few months, viz; the bills author.
izing subscriptions by tho city to the
Wheeling & Tuscarawas Valley and the
Wheeling g. Lake Eric Railroads, and the
bill chartering a company to build q rail.
road bridge over the Ohio here, to connect
It with roads on either side Of the. river,
and authorizing subscriptions 10 the capt.
tai stock OF tho company by tho city and
county. Tho two first mentioned enter.
prises have been thoroughly canvasscd,
and the invaluable advantages that would
be conferred by both or either arc under.
stood and appreciated. Tho bridge project
has not been discussed much by the press
but 1t has been canSaSsed good deal
among tho people. Now that the roqni
site legislation has been obtained, these
matters come up for discussion and action
as practical issues. Tho Council ind
Supervisors arc now charged with tho
duty of taking the sense Of the voters on
such propositions as they may think the
public interests require them to submit
under the authority granted in these SOW
eral cases, .r.. Il.
II either orthcse enterprises singly was
tobe considered it would not be difficult
to determine what to do. With all three
asking assistance at once, 1t Is not so easy
TO decide just how 1t Is best to proceed.
As tothc two railroads, it has been sug.
gested that the requirement forbidding
subscriptions unless the termini be on
this side Of the east channel may be met
by establishing depots on this side and
bringing the trains across by ferry, as the
Baltimore & Ohio. Company did for many
years at Benwood. II subscriptions are
to be made to these roads, 1t will be neces.
sary, as preliminary thereto, for Council To
determine, first, whether this would be
such terminus as the acts contemplate;
second, whether the Companies will &C.
cept the condition imposed; and third, Il
would have TO be considered whether the
objects in making the subscription would
be secured by the ferry arrangement. L
1t be decided that the acts require Q
bridge, it seems TO be agreed that nothing
can be done tobuild 1t through the agency
of the acts authorizing subscriptions Il
. those roads.
This brings US 10 q consideration Of the
Bridge Charter, which proposes to creat'
aseparate corporation 10 build bridgt
and lay such tracks as may be needed L
connect with roads on both sides Of the
river. ..
1t is the opinion of very many tina
IL the city can secure the building Of q
bridge, it would be the best contribution
we could make towards The building o
the roads in question, and that it woult
be more rs to each than any sum We
proposed which it is probable the cit,
wonld be willing TO voLeas a direct sub
scription to either. It is true this would
build no part Of the road on the Other
side OF the river, but 1t would make thu
enterprise so much more desirable TO thu
whole route and the connections rs to more
than Overbalancc this. The river Is the onC
great obstacle TO all new lines from thu
city westward. The removal OF tina
makesWhccling accessible by rail to all thu
outside world. "Seek first the kingdom o
God and his righteousness and all thes
things shall beadded unto you" is we be
lieve a text of scripture, and il We MAJ
employ il without irreyercnce, it seem
APPLY to illustrate thc4prcsent case. LIE
us provide a bridge first and then tho rail
roads will bc added unto us; they will
come Of their own accord.
Now, MS TO the question whether the
building of abridge is feasible. On The
plan proposed by this charter, It seems tc
be entirely so The act authorizes {
much larger subscription by both city
and county than will probably DO nrcns
sary. The building of railroad bridges
by companies disconnected from the raj
ways using them has been found in othel
cases a very profitable mode of invest
ment, The chief interest in this bridge
would Of course arise out Of the public
benefits TO be conferred by 1t, and L
is only with reference 10 them tina
the city or county ought to sub
scribe to 1t; but it has an additional
attraction for private capitalists in that i
promises TO pay large diyidends on thu
stock. Let us refer to the Steubonvillt
bridge as an illustration. That bridge
We are informed, was built by q company
organized especially for the purpose and
not connected with the Panhandle Rail
way Company. The latter Company paid
certain tolls, so much per passenger OF
ton OF freight carried over the bridge
When the P. c. Is St. Louis Company
came into possession Of tho road they
found with the increasing business that
these tolls were becoming very heavy
and they sought for some more favorable
arrangement. Failing 10 obtain it they
tried 10 buy up the stock 80 as to gel
the bridge under their control. Failing
in this likewise, they finally effected .
lease, under which they now pay tn,
bridge company 100000 u year, in equa
monthly instalments. The original cos
OF the bridge was $4,000; so that I'm