The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-05-23
THE RAILROAD SUBSCRIPTION.

THE RAILROAD SUBSCRIPTION.
And now the MtelHgencer thinks it
has discovered another reason why the
proposed railroad and bridge should
not be built. Until yesterday morning
its sole objection seemed to be that it
could not trust the City Council to ar.
range the details of the subscription to
these enterprises, but insisted that its
own superior wisdom and watchfulness
should have been consulted and the
Council should have been expressly for
hidden to steal the funds, before
submitting the question to popular
vote. 1t admitted that the railroad
was a good thing; the bridge was a
good thing; in fact both werey yer ex-
cellent undertakings that would add
very largely to the prosperity Of the
city and would be abundantly worth all
the money the city of Wheeling is asked
to subscribe; but the Council had, in
the editors opinion, become suddenly
corrupt since the time when the Wheel
ing and Tuscarawas Valley railroad
was under discussion, and could not be
trusted to make the interests OF our
people secure. Only a few days ago he
stated that the exact question at issue
In the pending election was whether the
Council can be trusted, and upon that
question he placed himself in the mega
tive.
But now another equally momeutous
question is raised. Another doubt
harrows the soul of our contemporary
and now his mind which was being
somewhat soothed aud to which conf
dence was being gradually restored is
"all tore up" The horrible idea has
really dawned upon him that
the contract for the construction
and equipment Of the Wheeling
and Lake Erie road was actually
made before the, money was
subscribed, and he gives vent to his
agony by demanding with a grieved and
injured air, "Now, why should the
contract for building this road be let
out before any Of the capital was raised
to build it?' THAT is the question that
agitates our neighbor, and in its pres
ence that other inquiry, Can the Coun
Gil be trusted sinks into insignifcance.
Ifthere was anything in the past con-
duct of the Intslliqsncr to show that it
is sincerely DESTROYS OF learning the
truth concerning the proposed Wheeling
and Lake Erie railroad, we would be
more disposed to treat its questions
seriously and republish for its benefit
the explanations that have been often
made. 1t has, however, manifested a
persistent disposition not to know any
thing about the enterprise, and its ed
itor has resolutely shut both eyes and
ears to the frequent opportunities that
have been afforded him of learning all
the particulars concerning the
contract and concerning the sub
scriptions that have been al
ready made and those that will be
made during the course Of the next few
weeks, that he has the curiosity to find
out or that anybody is entitled to know.
The construction contract has been
shown to him on two several occasions
but he refused TO read ii, and now pre-
tends to fud fault with somebody and
asks the people to vote against the sub.
scription, because he don't know what
the contract contains. Correspondents
of the IntelEgencer as we'll as Of the
REGISTER have explained the
provisions of the document, but
he still finds it convenient to pretend
ignorance of the terms of the agree
ment. A knowledge Of the history and
prospects OF the road might embsrrsss
him somewhat in the purely captious
opposition he has chosen to make, and
his standing in the way Of what. did he
investigate the matter, he would be
forced to believe was conducive to the
best interests of this community, would
be all the more culpable and worthy o.
blame. The apparent aim Of the In
t.Nigeneer has been to oppose the roac
right or wrong, but at all events to op
pose it. 1t is scarcely worth while
therefore, to reply to its objections. fol
no matter how plainly and distinctly
the truth is set forth, and no matter
how conclusively the opposing argu'
ments are answered, the objections re-
appear and the arguments are agair
put forward. .
But in relation to the Intelagcncer'.
objection that the contract for tn,
building Of the road was made before
the capital was raised, it is sufficient Il
say to any one who will reflect upon thu
subject a moment that no money car
be raised for enterprises of this kline
until those who furnish the money
know how much it is going to cost. l
was necessary for the corporstors Of tn
Wheeling and Lake Erie railroad to firs
ascertain how much they would hav