The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-02-05
The Railroads Of wheeling.

The Railroads Of wheeling.
There is no place in the country
which has offered, by It's natural posi-
ton, 80 many prospects for railroad
examinations as the city Of Wheeling,
In the early history OF the country II
was the crossway OF the nation. This
was the point that the Indians defended
with the greatest pertinaclty, tor they
looked upon it rs the main key OF en-
trance from the East to the West. and
if they could make a successful defence
here against the white man. then they
could hold their hunting grounds at
all points with comparative ease. One
of the first pack saddle roads was from
Wheeling to the East, and on it and in
this manner the commerce OF the coun-
try was first carried. The first mill
tsry road was made principally on the
liue of that path, although It diverged
from it little bevond Uniontown,
Pennsylvania, to take the army Of
Brsddock to Pittsburgh or Fort Du-
auesne, and the grave OF Braddock is
almost in sight OF the present National
or Cumberland road.
The first railroad ever projected in
America had WLeeiing for its main
aud direct terminus on the Ohio river.
And undoubtedly had it not been for the
rivalry and narrow policy OF Pennsyl.
yania the road would long ago have
been made and completed and have
given 10 the commerce OF the country
all the benefits that can be derived from
the Connellsville road and the Hemp
field railroad when they shall have re-
ceived their most complete finish in the
Pittsburgh, Wheeling and Baltimore
road. Wheeling had subscribed large
ly, for that day, TO this enterprise, but
she has been cheated out Of all the
substantial benefits OF that road as
thea contemplated or has lost them by
weakness and mismanagement
1t is also certain that If Wheeling
had taken hold OF the Ohio Central
road with decisive purpose and nrm
hand. she could have so far controlled
the con instruction OF that road as to bring
it by a favorable tunnel from McMs-
hone creek into the valley of Wheeling
creek in Ohio, and directly into the city
Of Wheeling. And this was thrown
away in the same manner. Then came
the subscription to the Cincinnati and
Marietta road, which should have been
given to the Ohio Central, and which
was so much money cast into the sea
With a milestone around its neck.
Then came the railroad on the west
aide OF the river. This was offered to
Wheeling. 1t was pressed upon her.
The company was anxious to come
down on this side, sll the way from
Hancock to the very postottice in the
centre OF the town. 1t could have been
had for a great deal less than the Pitts
burph, Wheeling and Kentucky
road, and we would have had the direct
connecting advantages OF that road for
all the years that have elapsed since its
construction up to this time. 1t has
built ND MartinsviIle, Bridgeport, Kirk.
wood. and helped materially to build
up Bellaire and Benwood And this
vas thrown away-.emphatically, thrown
away. :,
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad
nav. thrown their bridge across the
river At Benwood and Bellsire 1t
does not propose to make its bridge
the point OF passage for that road
alone. 1t is to be the point OF termi-
nation on the west boundary OF West
Virginis for the old Hempfeld, orthe
pittsburgh. Wheeling and Baltimore
road. In other words, Wheeling is
.1si. to he sacrificed by its own suplne'
Des. and its want OF intelligent emery
and decisive action. -. -,
The misfortune or the cslamlties Will
not end here. The Baltimore Company
i, looking for connection to the
Northwest, through the valley OF
Wheeling creek, and the bridge at Bel
,aire with the tunne! from Elm Grove
,o Rsnuood will suit as we'll tor that
Connection as TO come through Wheel
snc and make another bridge here for
that purpose. Don't you see 1t! II
YOU don't, admire your stupidity:
When this is done, Wheeling Will be
lik. the casts way at sea in HE own LITTLE
boat
Water, water everywhere
And not drop to drink.
We, an. will have q railroad to Elm
Grove, to Beuwood and to Wellsburs
and a horse.train to Bridgeport; Under
all these circumstances 10 keep III
our character on this l. 10 ou'
lust and proper to surrender all THESE
matters at once and without injunctlon'
or any decent regard for the opinlon'
OF mankind" to the Baltimore Com
.psny aud to the Wheeling Intslhgeneer
Don't bsild the bridge at the head o
wheeling Island. With the superi
roads mentioned above We have enough
Of them. Do let the Intellgeneer ant
che Baltimore Compsny have their owl
ssy, and then fence up the town. fo'
know the best way TO make a peopl
rieh is to build wall around them. ant
let them live of OF each other. WheI
th. tunnel from Elm Grove to Benwoo'
10 completed, and the Intsltgeneer ha'
defeated the bridge, and the Tuscar
a.ss road is finished to Bellaire, tn.
fact will be pretty fairly aceoupl,shed
A, this seems to be the end OF all ou
:II J,a,,,,a, 7 sion myseIf