The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-16
p. w. & x. H. Il.
History ofthe Enterprise from its
Inception.

From the Brooke County Independent.
Mr.. EDITOR II read with interest
your article on this subject in your last
and also the Official Report of the
Board. 1t may be Of service to my fell
low taxpayers to know the history o.
this twenty-five miles of road, from the
commencement. In 1859, shortly alter
the Baltimoreans had terminated their
road at Beuwood, four miles below
Wheeling, with a switch only to that
favored city OF the Mother State, q
number Of Pittsburgers, applied for q
Charter, authorizing them to build q
road across the Panhandle, and bridge
the river, as has been done, near Steu-
beuville. The city of Wheeling had
then an honest man to represent them
the late Charles Russell. He present.
ed 10 the Legislature the manner
the Baltimoreaus had opened their
great thoroughiare 10 the West, so as
to leave Wheeling out in the cold, con-
trary to the letter and spirit OF the
Charter, and insisted that the Pitts
burgers should not be permitted to open
another great route TO the West, in
further subversion of the interests Of
Wheeling. That Legislature granted a
Charter to cross the Panhandle, and
bridge the river near Steubenville, but
with this express condition, that they
should run branch to Wheeling, over
the same route our Board have been
fooling with the past two years, and
invested the city of Wheeling with the
right to apply to the Courts, and COM
pei a faithful compliance in all re-
spects. The Pittsburgers accepted the
Charter with this condition, and cons
menced work, which the late war sus-
pended.
In 1862, emisaries ofthe Pennsylvs-
MIA Central, visited the legislature Of the
recognized government, at Wheeling,
and, through appliances now go common,
got law passed, purporting to release
the Holidays Cove r. K. Company
from its obligations TO build the branch
to Wheeling. 1t WAS said the representa-
tive from our County, had his palm
tickled with quite a roll on that occas
sion. As the Charter Of 1859 conferred
the exclusive right on Wheeling to en-
force the building of the Bridge for a
sufficient consideration, paid by Wheel
ing, the Legislature had no power to
release this vested right, and SO MOTH
,ng was accomplished; and still the
Pennsylvania Central, through what
was then known as the Panhandle
Company, from Pittsburgh to our State
line, and the Holidays Cove Company,
hen hopelessly insolveut, managed to
complete the road acress the Panhan-
lie, and build the bridge and then COM
nenced running trains through on the
great Panhandle Route" as they ad-
Iertised it everywhere throughout the
when Wheeling could have
1t any time enjoined the use OF the
Holidays Cove Railroad, until the
2ranch to Wheeling had been in like
manner built and equipped. See ses-
ion Acts OF Va. $50, page 26G.
10 this time | felt no particular in'
crest, nor had much knowledge OF its
as ! had recently become a res~
dent OF Brooke county. 1t was durisg
. Journey 10 New York saw every
where large bills posted OF the great
Route" claiming for its pe-
,uliar advantage, the great saving in
distance to the West; and on arriving
nome | made some enquiry about it,
and was told that we should have had
l branch connected with it, and rum
1inc 10 Wheeling Uia Wellsburg, had
rot representative fthis County, with
others, sold US out in the Legislature. !
examined thu Charter OF Holidays Cove
Company, OF 1859, and became satisf-
ID the Legislature had not the power
o release a right, exclusively vested in
he city OF Wheeling and for which che
lad paid valuable consideration. l
my views TO the leading men
IF Wellsburg, and as our people could
,nly help by backing Wheeling, which
.lone had the power to enforce the
of our branch, | visited Wheel
ug, conferred with several OF its lead
ug men, and the City Council referred
he legal question to two its ablest law
'ers, and they substantially agreed with
ne as TO the law in the matter.
Col. George McCook, who represents
d the great Panhandle Route" being
Iesirous OF Obtaining the consent Of our
legislature to consolidate the three
Dads, and thereby get relieved Of the
.reat burden of keeping up three sets
# officers in place OF one, met three us
n Wellsburg about this time. He was
nanifestly disturbed somewhat, at the
Jews | expressed, and fearing the buil-
ling OF our branch would be insisted
N az q condition 10 the Legislature, be
.dyised that we should visit the Presi-
lent Of the Pennsylvania Central, at
l declined going, unless
he city of Wheeling, as much, or more
Interested, and alone possessed Of the
ooweg TO enforce-should appoint a
to accompany US. The other
NO gentlemen demurred, and | with
lrew. These two afterwards, "a [ was
n'ormed. substituted Joseph II. Pen
iIetou, Esq, in my place, applied to
,ur Town Council, who furnished them
With funds. They then started bat
vent only to Steubenville, where they
conferred, as I understood, with Mr.
TeHe;t, subordinate Of Mr.. Thompson.
gave 70 particular attention 10 the
ubject afterwards !; though before that
ime l had given my views fully, IN one
# our town papers.
At, and after this period, Mr.. Hervey,
think, represented our county in the
(. legislature al WhepIiuy and MT Lamb