Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-04-04

II l-5 -
EpITnR CHRoNfcLKAI see that the
County 9pers speak OF the Wheeling &
'Fuscarawas Valley Railroad, in a way
evidently designed to prejudice the
people of Belmont County against the
Athens route OF that road, and to gain
sympathy for the Flushing route.
am confident that if you are acquainted
Hwithaif ting fafis in the(histofy Of This
enterprise you would concede this to be
wrong. More than two .years have
passed SINCE certain citizens of Harrison
County copeeiyed the idea of penetra-
ting the mineral regions of Brushyfork
and Big Saltwater, with Railroad
running. from the Ohio river to the
Pan Handle Road at Dennisoai. These
regions unknown to q circle fof ihdixid-
uals to, be rich. in deposits of black band
ore and camel coal. I'D, T T,saia[ 49,
These men projected their road in a
way that divides the advantages about
equally between Belmontand Harrison
Counties. The road passing. through
Peas, Colerain and Wheeling township
OF belmont County, and Athens, Not
tHgham and Washington Of Harrison.
Add to this the fact Of the, termination
IOf the road in Belmont, andsiti will not
appear that she is so greaEl y deffauded
or, that Harrison CountyGis going to
take away her resources to am extent
that should excite alarm, Bat this
lequaliziDg was simply accidental The
projectors having no reference to Coun-
ty lines or interest, bat projected their
road upon the Line rthasi tiieysdeenled
most, feasible, and all, the subsequent
surveys and Estimates have proved the
! CORRECTNESS Of their jHdgmept. g But we
| are told that the Flushing rOutei takes
the Road ten miles further through the
County than idees the Athens. line
and thai, consequently, taxpayers
should go for Flushing. a is the locatio2
to- be decided BY tax apayers2 2 il If 50
| they might find it to their interest tf
make 1t as eircuitous and costly as pos.
lsibles But that view of the case viii
mot be the one that stock holders will
take, as stockholders through their rep
represe sentatiYes will decide the question
Of route that's best and cheapest. And
as the road by; the Flushing route, ac'
cording to- Mr.. Blickensderier's survey
estimates the. costs at almost tive
hundred thousand dollars more by the
Flushing, than by the Athens route
I've do not wonder that friends of Flush
ling appeal to tax payers and not to
lstockholders. The above is the differ
l.enee in the cost of the ruad should tun.
lnels be avoided; but suppose the tunne
line to be ad0pted, Which it ultimately
| will be, and the difference is nearly
-four hundred, thousand against Flush
ling. do not give exact figures because
/ / have not the reports before me-. Now
! it may be that o majority of the people
tof BELMONT County would be pleased to
have the stock olders of the road ex
pend from two, TO four hundred thous
lahd dollars to get the road little furth
Ter through the County But upon that
Question the Stock holders will certainly
] vote not agreed, But 1the Flushing
rSute does not take the road ten mile'
tfurther through, the C0unty. onlyi !
] lfractioH over five miles. And can any
one tell to what amount five, miles OF
Railroad will Lessen, taxation,24 1t ii;
one thing TO- increase, the reyenne of 9
1 County, and quite an0th her thing TO di
fminish its taxes, The history Of towns
cities and Counties, i1is, that as Thea
i tax xable property has Increased in o like
,lif not a greater ratio have taxes increas
led. But suppose tbata dminution1ol
taxes should take place that would be
something In proportion to the incress'
Of revenue upon FIVE miles Of, roaa
What would it amount to when dis
ttributed throughout the County? III
would be so light as to be imperceptibte
!. i.ayd BEIiMONr COUNTY CITIZEN. g