The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-16
The Hempfield Extension Entire sus-
pension of Work.
We clip the following from the Wash
ington Rcrictc and Erdn,iRcr:

We clip the following from the Wash
ington Rcrictc and ErdmiRcr:
Last week We made mention of rumOrs
to the effect that operations on Baltimore
and Ohio Short Line Railroad, from this
place to Bclrvernon, would shortly be-
suspended. This week week We have
the unpleasant task of announcing that
on Saturday last all work on the entire
line was suspended for AN indtinitc peri
cd. By this action over $50 labOrcrs ar"
thrown out of employment; from 100 Ia
l25 ON Col. j. A. Boyd's section, which
includes the tunnel just east Of town;
about 90 on the Bcntlcysville section
known rs No. 10, and about 80 on the
Bcllrvrrnon section, No. %. Many of
these men have families dependent upon
them. and are at loss to know what Ia
do t. obtain the means of support.
There are various reasons given for
this suspension, but We are inclined to
the belief that the following Is the true
explanation: A. is generally known the
design has been to connect the Hemp
field extension with the Pittsburgh and
ConncllSvillc at or near Layton station,
and thus secure direct communication
with Baltimore. The Pittsburgh and
Conncllsville company being utterly un-
able to meet lis obligations. the Balti-
more and Ohio Company. which has II
large investment in the Pittsburgh and
COnnclSvillr. and l. also the real owner
of the Hcmpfcld, cndcavorcd to have the
city of Baltimore release II portion of it,
claim against the Connrll>villcw with avicw
of preventing foreclosure of mortgages
and the probable purchas" of the road
by in adverse corporation. Not long
since. n We are informed, the Baltimore
councils, in conformity with this suggrs-
ton. passed AL ordnnnc" releasing about
a million and half dollars of it, claim,
but Mayor Van Zant, acting under ad-
vice Of M"ssrs Baldwin * Baker the
city solicitors, vetoed the urdinanCc-im-
nrdiatcly following which was the order
su,prnding work ON the Hempfeld cH-
tension.
This action on the part of the Balti-
more officials strike uS very unwise. Had
the r"lcas" been granted the Baltimore
and Ohio company would in all prOba-
bilitirS have assumed tn" remaining obi
cations of the Pittsburgh and Connclls-
Vile, and would certainly not have
hcSitat"d tupush the Hcmpticld extension
t. early completion. and thus have open
ed to Baltimore city new route 10 the
West shorter BY a. miles, and dispensing
with the heavy grades between Wheeling
and Cumberland.
OF course this suspension involves a
heavy loss To nil the contractors. but it i
particularly severe on Colonel BOYD, who
ha. been operating on hi- section for a
much longer period than the others.
When il l. stated that he ha, been work
ing between 100 and l2j hands has
erected over 80 buildings principally
dwellings for his men, has had about
thirty horses at work, ha, over thirty
cars each costing about SSO,j has pur-
chased about $1,000 worth of rail and
laid track from the mouth Ofthe tunnel
to the borough line and has cx-
pended over 100000 during less than
two year. some idea of the magnitude Of
hi, operations may be obtained. In ad-
dition. he had recently opened stone
quarry at Elm Grove and had about
100000 brick made near Triadelphia. His
personal property on the section (horses,
lumber, cars. carts, &c. i probably worth
5000, the greater part Of which he will
b. compelled to sell at a great sacrifice
By his courteous manners and honorable
dealing he has rendered himself quite
popular in our community, and his early
departure for Maryland will be q source
of sincere mutual regret
The work on Col. Bovd's section is far
advanced and j. admitted By experience
ed railroaders To he of superior charac-
ter. a portion of the tunnel is ready for
srching, and the entire heading within
between 200 and 800 for being finished
Should the suspension be Of long dura-
ton, much of this work will b. lost. a.
the air has a tendency 10 decOmpose por-
tions Of the material We sincerely hope
that operations will be resumed At an
early day, and this great improvement,
which would be Of incalculable benefit Il
our county. opened 10 public use
Col. Boyd Is now engaged in selling OF
lumber and other material, and those
wishing such merchandise would do well
to give him an early call