The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-03
Concerning Railr0ads-Views OF an
OutRfder.

To the Editors Of the Intelligencer:
The public prints OF the city have for
some time back been teeming with
laudatory communications furnished by
correspondents in favor OF certain con-
templated railways which are, in the
opinions of those writers, necessary to
the future prosperity of the city and
other parts Of the State.
One set of correspondents write in ex-
trayagant praise OF their own favorite
railroad scheme, and pronounce all
other contemplated schemes as visionary
and worthless. The other set are quite as
violent in their extravagant expectations
of the commercial bliss that is to follow
the adoption OF their railroad scheme,
and equally deuunciatory of opposing
routes. -.
Now, | submit to you and the public
that the plan of either of them should
receive severe examination at the
hands Of the public, and also Of the
press of the city, before any man under
takes to vote for subscriptions to both.
or either of them. 1t is contemplated
to saddle an enormous debt on the cltl-
zens in the shape OF taxation for the
benefit of the aforesaid railroads, and
we are assured it "wiN be the best thing
that has happened Wheeling, DC, for the
last tWenty years IL Is 10 De noPeu
this may prove true.
The writer of this is not opposed to
either, or both of these contemplated
RAILWAYS into the State of Ohio, if they.
can be shown beyond cavil to be able
to realize one-halt Of the solid advan-
tages promised by these apparently e1-
cited advocates OF the various routes
proposed.
The question is, do we need both, or
either of them! 1t is my opinion we 40
need one of them-but which will be
the best one ? is a question which con-
Germs every citizen to fully understand,
or to at least find out every probable
advantage and disadvantage peculiar
to either of the above routes, and In
short, of both, so far as in him lies.
For be it remembered, these routes
are championed with such zeal. that 1t
behooves every man to look into the
matter for himeey, and not take the
heated views of these Jealous advocates
as a sort OF commercial gospel; they
each praise their opn respective favorlte
route, and decry that of their rivals,
In a case like this, we should not re-
ceive all that either set of correspond
ents or advocates say about either
route, favorable or otherwise.
Now, gentlemen, l think it is the
part of the daily city papers, and their
bounden duty, 10 give all the light on
the subject they can. | think it is
their mission, so to speak, to educate
public opinion on the matter; to not
only give what correspondents say
about the matter but give us their own
views about the whole subject. i
here take the opportunity to say that
| | believe that one Of these roads ,oiA be a
vast benefit to Wheeling, and the road
that can give the best return for our
subscriptions, is the route that ought to
be patronized. Now, let somebody
give US facts, or something like them,
which will carry conviction with them.
More light on the subject, and fewer
fancy sketches. Which will be the
best, before it is too latsl The city oil
Wheeling is badly in debt, as every one
knows, and has a job on hand that will
not likely lessen that debt for years to
come. 1t is we'll understood that the
Gas Works, should the city retain them
will need an enormous outlay Tor en-
largement of street pipes. This may
be delayed a short time, but must be
consummated soon; and her further
railroad subscriptions, independent Of
those of the county. ought to give Argus
ewes to every member OF the City Coun-
ell, in all railroad matters. In conclu'
sion, any man, stakeholder, property
holder, or voter, is entitled to have every
thing pertaining to these railroad mat
tiers plainly Get before him without de-
pending TOO much on the views OF the
advocates of either railway routes.
Will the REGISTER please copy this
OBSERVER.