The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-08
The Bridge Enterprise...The Other
Side.
To the Editors OF the intelligence.

The Bridge Enterprise...The Other
Side.
To the Editors OF the Intelllgeneer.
Knowing that your columns are open 70
discussions on both sides Of al public
measures, desire 10 avail myself Of the
privilege thus allowed, TO offer few
thoughts on the railroad bridge enterprise
recently brought before the public by the
publication In the city papers, Of ian act
TO incorporate the Wheeling and Union
Railroad Company" and by your article
on that enterprise In your issue Of the 9th
inst.
That Il b emlnently proper that Wheel.
Ing should, by her capital and influence,
aid In securing more and better railroad
fe4lilies than she now possesses, ! fully
endorse; but that the expenditure Of 30
large an amount Of capital as will be 70.
quired 10 construct the proposed bridge, Is
the best way 10 begin the acquisition Of
such facilities, seriously and honestly
doubt.
The people Of Wheeling have long been
convinced Of the imperative necessity Of
railroad TO the Northwest and two
pro ects Of that character are now before
them, and have been for several months
past. know It Is claimed by the Origina.
tors and friends Of the bridge enterprise,
that It's primary and main object Is 10
invite and encourage just such projects
as these proposed northwestern roads.
But let us see whether tho building Of al
bridge 10 the eastern shore Of the river
would really be an aid or encouragement
TO these roads or either Of them.
Il Is pretty well known to the people
Of Wheeling that certain parties, said 10
be able and responsible, have proposed
10 build and equip these roads upon cor.
tain conditions. These conditions are, as
am informed, In one case-that Of tho
Wheeling s. Lake Erie road-that local
subscriptions Of stock to the amount
OF $4,000 per mile DO made along
the line, and that in the other case
that Of the Wheeling and TuscaraWas
road-that stock be taken along the line
TO the amount Of seven hundred thousand
dollars. Now, II these amounts Of local
stock can be raised without the aid OF
Wheeling orher citizens, then II Is fair to
presume that the roads will be built, and,
when built, will use the bridge in which
Wheeling proposes 10 invest Ter available
capital. But can these amounts, or either
Of them, be raised by the people along
the respective linesS That, 1t seems 70
me, Is the first and most important ques..
ton 10 be considered.
1t Is well known that both roads have
already applied to Wheeling for her aid
TO enable them TO raise the minimum
amounts Of stock specified; one asking
for q subscription OF three hundred thou.
sand dollars-clty subscription-and the
other the same amount Of city subscIip.
ton, with an additional hundred thousand
dollars individual subscription from citi-
zens. Whether or not the aid thus asked
for would be granted, should not the
bridge enterprise como in 10 absorb our
capital and divert 1t into another channel,
is.not pertinent here, though the fact that
our city council has asked for and obtained
the necessary legislation to enable rs 70
extendzthat aid certainly indicates vii.
lingness on the part Of the city to do 50.
But granting that from any cause
whatever, these railroad projects proper,
shall not receive from US the help they
desire TO enable them to fulfill the condi-
tions upon which the roads are proposed
to be built, the question occurs, can they,
unaided by Wheeling in the way Of sub.
scriptions to their capital stock, secure
the construction Of the roads. / think
not For while / do not profess to know
precisely what amount Of unconditional
stock has thus far been procured along
the respective lines, l do know that after
months Of hard and persevering labor by
the advocates and friends OF the respect
i've routes, so much remains yet TO be
done toward securing the required mini
mum amounts, that unless they shall yet
receive considerable, aid from US here in
Wheeling, both projects shall tail OF &C.
compllshment, and We shall be lett with.
out the much desired northwestern con.
nection after all.
!, for one, therefore, honestly and sin
cerely believe 1t 10 be the first and irnnle.
diate duty Of the people of Wheeling to
aid at least one Of the projected roads to
the northwest, in placing Reconstruction,
within reasonable length Of time, be:
yond doubt. Then, il bridge Is found
necessary, and we are able 10 do 80, build
one. But let US have a railroad, without
a bridge even, rather than a bridge with
out the railroad.
L am aware that the objection to giving
money to make railroads in Ohio Is very
prevalent among the people on this side
OF the river; and on this point would
like to comment somewhat, but this ar
ticle has already grown much longer than
intended. Suffice 1t to say at present
that If Wheeling wants another road to
the west or northwest II will haue 10 be
built on Ohio territory, and it Is by no
means clear that tho people Of Ohio need
a road 80 much more than we do, that
they will make one for as rather than do
without themselves.
At another time may have something
TO say on other considerations that, TO
my mind, lie against the bridge enter.
prise. s. SPECTATOR.
Wheeling, March 2, 1879.
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