The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-17
THE RAILROAD TO THE NORTH.
WEST

THE RAILROAD TO THE NORTH
WEST.
The Cadiz Sentinel copies from the
REGISTER of the 9Th what we said about
the signing OF a contract Cor the con-
struction and equipment of the Wheel
ing and Lake Erie railroad, and
comments upon it as follows:
THE above is from the Wheeling
REGISTER. We copy it for a two-fold
purpose. First, to let the friends OF the
Hopedale route know Of the situation
OF their affairs, and second, to inform
the friends OF all routes Of the princely
and generous offers of Wheeling.
wheeling commences business upon
the assumption that the first object OF
projected railways is to make connec-
ton with that city and let the country
people 20 there 10 trade. To show her
iiberality she offers by taxation $500,
900 and by private subscription 500,
900. with this condition, however.
That the railroad company build a
bridge for Wheeling which would per:
haps cost about fifteen hundred thousand
dollars. Our friend OF the REGISTER
thinks that the different routes should
hasten to accept Of the liberal PROPOSE
ton
"Our Wheeling friends must do bet
er. The people west of Wheeling have
no main objects in view in the prof ected
railway lines: First, to find a market
for coal in the Northwest. Second, to
have competing line for freight to the
East. A road 10 Bridgeport or BelIalre
would suit all west of the Ohio river as
we'll as il it crossed at Wheeling. There
10 already a railroad bridge at Bellaire,
and freight could be received over it
without breaking bulk. But friendly
feeling has existed toward Wheeling
and desire to help build up that city.
IF Wheeling is distressed with the
idea that the main object is to build a
road to that city, we think she will find
ont that she has made bad mistake.
We take it that the main object OF
our Ohio friends in building railroads,
as in almost everything else, is to take
care of Number One" The same
spirit actuates the people OF Wheeling
IN relation to the same matters. This
city has no money to pay for railroad
in Ohio that will not benefit us, and,
for the identical purpose Of securing to
Wheeling the advantages OF the termi-
nus, it is insisted that the railroad re-
ceiving our subscription must make Its
depot on the east side Of the Ohio river.
Without this condition there would he
nothing to prevent the railroad, for
whose construction we had expended
100000 or 100000, from passing
us by on the other side
and leaving US as destitute OF direct
connection as now. The Ssatiac! says
that "a road to Bridgeport or BeIlalre
would suit all west OF the Ohio river as
vell as if it crossed at Wheeling" and
this is to some extent true. But before
condemning Wheelinss care:ulness in
this matter our friends should know
that such a road wou!d not sth us at all,
and we cannot be reasonably expected
to give any important assistance to such
an enterprise. We would not give a
baubee for a railroad coming simply to
Bridgeport or Bellaire or Martin s
Ferry. We have had too much ex-
perience in that kind OF investments to
be very anxious to repeat the expert
iment
But the Sentinel is mistaken in
saying that the condition OF our sub
scription is that the railroad company
build bridge" A bill is now before
the Legislature Of this State (if 1t has
not been already passed) chartering .
company of our own for the purpose d.
building a bridge across the Ohio river
for the benefit OF any railroad that de-
sires to use it, and it is probable that
very large portion of the stock will be
subscribed here. We say therefore to
each of these projected Ohio railroads.
we are willing to help you if you will
help US. We will pay handsomely
toward the construction OF your road,
if you will assist us in getting
it into this city where we
may reasonably expect to receive
some benefit from it. II, as you say,
YOU have "a friendly feeling toward
Wheeling and desire to help build up
that city," this is the way to dot. 1t
is not friendly" to expect US to assist
in the construction Of road that don't
come here; that either stops on the
west side Of the river or seeks an eastern
connection by crossing four miles below