The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-03-31
RAILROAD MEETING IN BETHANY
New Plan for IL Railroad from New:
YorI, Harbcr Through West Nir
giuia To the Ohio River-Much In
Ierrst Manifested
Editor, OF the Register

Editors OF the Register:
.Ata railroad meeting held in Bethany
March -, 1875, Mr. A W. Buchanan,
President, called the meeting to order.
Prof. ". X. Pendlrton introduced Mr..
y. McConaughy, Chief Engineer of the
Peoples Freight Railway Company. MIR.
McCouaughy began by saying that the B.
r. Railroad Company WAS organized to
cheaper lIcight>. % rs To increase the
prof, To the producer, and at the same
time enable hiin 10 sell his products ut
% les, price, and gave several very apt IL
iu.trations. Continuing, he said that ii
was ohviou, that the present sys-
TEN Of railroads could not
cheaper transportation between the
the east and west and that the canals Of
the United States by the intlcXibility of
their course and the limited area which
they can reach and the slow transit
through them only afforded partlsI re-
nrt. That from November until May
the water route, from east to west are
closed. thereby reducing transportation
facilities at least one half and that too at
a time when farmers most need means Of
transit for the product Of their farms
and at "A time when the present railway
management seize the opportunity OF
increasing railway freights to the highest
points. 80 that the farmer must hurry his
crop, 10 market before the close of navI-
cation or submit to the eXtOrtcd rates of
I transportation during the winter season.
And il was to meet this want that the
! Peoples Freight Railroad Company was
organized; that the scheme WAS founded
ON the theory that the general govern
ment alone could not provide the means
To cheaper transportation without es-
/ tablishiug precedent Of doubtful c"n>ti-
tutionullty, and upon the further theory
that any new railroad under prlvat"
. corporate control, could furnish no addi-
tiOnal element in solving the problem q
cheap nsportation. And further, Il
new railway from West to
East can be made to carry freight,
Is cheaply Us by water trans
portation, II it be honestly construct
rd Tor ready cash in the most economical
MANNER Provided, that the company
owns the bed and track, and furnishing
ia" motive power to firms or individuals
who wish TO become common carriers,
own and operate the trains, paving the
company prescribed rates OF toll, 50 much
per ton per mile, So rs To- make no dis
crimina,iuu in regard to the distance
that is. ton 10 be transported tor rs low
a rate per mile for ten miles rs II the dis
lance were one hundred miles. That 10
huilG such "a road would not be difficult
task: that 100000 pcrsoLs, taking
500 worth of ,tock each
would furnish the necessary
capital 90 build the road from New York
lIarbor To the Mississippi river; that on
the proposed road the highest grades are
t. be- found IN Pennsylvania, Ohio and
West Virginia; that the route already
LAID out Is from the harbor at New York
across New Jersey, to Pennsylvania on
the Delaware river, thence westward
through Pottsyilr near Harrisburg, up
sherman, valley to Burnt Cabins; thence
To Bedford, Somerset, and Umontown,
via Rrd,tunc; to Brownsville, thence to
Mount Braldock and through Washing
ton 10 Bethany Via Brush run; from
thence to the Ohio river.
Mr.. McConuughv having been over
/ the different routes, from bethany To the
/ river, during the present week, decided
that he can secure the desired grade by
crossing Buffalo creek ut Mr.. \. VI.
Hurhuun,, following Grog Ran to the
Cuui line, tunuclling through and follow
iug the course of a small stream west of
Mr.. James Agncw To- the Ohio river.
The grade desired is fifty feet to the
mile going West and forty
going East. After leaving the river COM
tiuuiug direct t. Crliua Ohio. where the
road will branch, one arm direct to st.
II. Louis, the other uorthward to Chi
ca-o.
Attcr the conclusion of Mr.. Nee, re-.
marks. Mr. ". p. Campbell, chairman OF
the comuitlc" to draft the necessary pa
prr> To- procure articles of incorporation,
made his report by presenting Smdpapcr-
after which large amount ot stock Was
Immediately subscribed by those present,
with the assurance of more when the
proper time shall arrive.
The meeting was large ana much inter
. ct waS taken, and it seemed to be decld-
cd that Il. far IS the citizens of Brooke
county were concerned, there should be
no failure 10 the road. Surveys will be
/ made through Brooke county a. soon a
the weather will permit, The meeting
adjourned to meet NJ the call of tn" Sec
rotary. {. SHENEK, Seen
\. VI. BUCHANAN. PreS'.
TIM. rrNt .nriu,r election " III be held