The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-05-28
Mr.. Ross J. AIexander's Interview
with Mr.. HI. Ii. Wilson.

and Tuscarawas Valley railroad scheme
with request for its publication in the
REGISTER:
To the Editors of the Intelligencer:
In. justice to the corporators and
friends of the Wheeling and Tuscara-
was railroad, I am compelled to give
you the following letter for publication,
that the public may not be deceived or
misled by the letter of Mr.. Wilson
published in the REGISTER of this morn
ing. The letter shows clearly, without
any comments on my part, that the
corporators of this road had no knowl-
edge of, or anything to do with Mr..
Wilson's interview with Mr.. Alexan.
der. The Corporators never entertained
the remotest idea OF forming any alll-
ance whatever with the Wheeling and
Lake Erie project.
W. W. HOLLOWAY,
Chairman of the Corporators of the
Wheeling and Tuscarawas Valley
Railroad.
70 BRlDaEpoRr, May q, 1872.
" ". Holloway, Esq, Chairman of the
Icorporators of Wheeling and TuS.
caracas Rail,oay Company:
SIR-Your letter handed to me this
morning requests me ito state fully the
conversation with Mr. II. B. Wilson, in
Wheeling, on last Thursday morning,
on the subject of the Wheeling railroad
projects"
Our conversation was a private one |
having the privilege of communicating
it to few of the gentlemen Of Bridge
port who were interested in the con-
atruction of the Wheeling and Tusca-
ra1as Valley road, and to the corpora
tors OF the same.
With this explanation given to you
on the Suspension Bridge, casually
meeting you within five minutes after
leaving Mr.. Wilson. and asking that
no publication of my communication
be made, l will give the same as nearly
as / can recollect.
Mr.. Wilson understood perfectly that
l had no interests in Bridgeport, or
along either OF the proposed routes, and
that l represented no person or party
whatever but myself; and that l was
desirous of uniting both interests, so
that one road might be constructed and
both not lost, and let the terminus be
in Wheeling, the bridge built, and by
way of Martins Ferry and Bridgeport
20 up the valley of the Wheeling
Creek.
Mr.. Wilson complained Of the edit
orial in that mornings Ltclhqencer,
as being published prematurely, and in
violation OF confidence, and that one or
two statements Of the came were in
correct.
then explained to him how, in my
opinion, without very. great damage.
this road could be made in rear Of
Baggs' Planning Mill and the principal
business houses OF Bridgeport, and ex.
pressed the wish that he would examine
for himself.
Mr. Wilson said then that at first he
was talking to me with some caution,
but now he would talk with less re
serve.
He then stated that he coincided ex.
actly with the views | had expressed,
and had been seeking to unite the con-
f1ictiug interests of the two proposed
roads and unite them in one, and that
with this view he had interviewed Mr..
Hall, of the InteMgsncsr. and had under
stood that interview was not TO be made
public for few days, until he would
work up his plans and effect this union.
Iasked him, "Why not do this now7
Why can't it be done this very dayY'
He said it would necessarily take
some time; that he had the highest re-
gard for Mr.. Joel Wood, President OF
the Wheeling and Lake Erie, who was
very sanguine and hopeful OF the pros
poets OF his road, and he must talk to
him carefully, and to let him down easily
and thus get his co cooperation; that he
had letter in his pocket from the en-.
eineer which stated that it would not do
to build the road on that route as sur
veyed, and that another route must be
looked for, and that the route by Wheel
ing creek would be carefully examined.
Mr.. Wilson said he would personally
examine the different proposed routes;
that he had been over the Western por-
ton of Wheeling and Lake Erie route
to the Panhandle, and it was perfect
garden, and he intended to 60 in person
over the remaining portion.
Mr.. Willson also expressed the opin-
ion that the late railroad legislation of
Ohio could be made available for con-
structing roads, and it would not neces.
sarilv conflict with his contract.
Mr.. Wilson wanted TO know what
aid could promise ifthe union Of these
three interests could be effected. L
asked him what was the most en-
couraging aid promised by any town
on the Wheeling and Lake Erie route.
He told me that Norwalk, a town oi
7OOOiuhabitants, guaranteed $llO,OOO
l then replied that Bridgeport had, with
about 1000 inhabitants, subscribed
nearly $50, 900, and believed all Bridge.
port desired was a road built up the
valley of the Wheeling Creek, abound.
ing In coal and limestone its entire
length, and thus develope this great
wealth, but could promise nothing,
and that would like him 10 visit Bridge
port, and l would arrange for meeting
to be held there, and then he could
have definite Information.
He then named Saturday as the time
for the meeting, and said he would in
form me more definitely Of the hour,
after which, going to his room in the
Grant House, he returned with map.
which he exhibited TO me, and also a
veil executed survey Of the bridge, one
favored by Mr.. Wood, crossing at iona.
than's Gut, and the other by the Cleve-
land and Pittsburgh railroad, near to
Crawfords Mill, with the western end of