The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-05-18
Railroad Meeting at BelIaire.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
Fcm the independent, 9th inst,

(From the independent, 9th Inst.} Si
The following report vas submitted to
the meeting held at Bellaire the evening
of the 4th inst and heartily approved:
Since our last public meeting the com
m;itee for the BelIaire end of the propos-
ed railway TO the southwest have pro
cured a charter for the company under
the title of the Bellaire and Southwestern
Railway Company;" and under the call
Of the corporaturs have provided for the
opening of stock books at Bellaire, Arm
strong's Mills, Bealisyiile and Woods
field; besides arranging portable stock
hooks to be used in, canvassing the in
termediate country.
F. II isTnot proposed. at present, TO call
for an election Of otfteis or organization
of The company until a sGfiiciency Of
stock shall be subscribed to make a
proper financial basis fer further action;
hoping that the friends OF the enterprise
will have. sufficient public spirit to keep
the work under way without the promise
of pecuniary compensation.
Preliminary surveys have been made
from both ends Of the line. The result
has been quite satisfactory-sho wing
that, even without the extended labor
and care necessary to determine the best
possible route, we find several routes
which can he made available without any
material increase of distance over the
ordinary travelled rosds, and within the
limits Of curvature and gradients gene
trally submitted to the narrow-gauge
roads.
The distance between Rellaire and
Armstrong; Mills by any of the three
available routes need not exceed II to
Is miles, and with maximum grades of
| from 80 TO 100 feet to the mile. Between
Armstrong; Mills and Beallsville we
find grades averaging 60 feet to the mile,
but in a distance of less than eight
miles. From Beallsville to Woodsfeld
| three routes have been surveyed varying
from go 13 miles, with a maximum
grade of 100 feet to the mile, available
on an acceptable route Upon the whole
line there will be required but three brid
ges of a permanent character, viz: for
the crossing of McMahon's, Captina and
Sunfish Greeks, respectively. s'-
i As the surveys have not been made in
sufficient detail to estimate very closely
the cost of the work, we can only. say
that appearances confirm the assumption
that by watchful economy and with a
moderate stock of machinery the road
need not cost exceeding $4,000 per
! mile. Contingencies may arise, in ac-
| tual experiment, to swell this amount,
but it is hoped not Some narrow-g gauge
roads, liz localities where the cost should
not have been greater have actually cost
more. With the plan indicated for our
enterprise, Of having every dollar re-
quired for construction disbursed in sub
divisions and Immediately under the
eyes of the stockholders, the presump-
tion is that all the expenditures will be
at a minimum. ..fs
/ There has asyet been no sufficient test
of the disposition Of the people along
the line to take the ,ohole stock necessa.
ry to secure the, construction of the
road all that we see and hear. however,
point to an attainment of the requisite
Iquota between Armstrong; Mills and
lWoodsield. We have great confidence
also, in the ability and disposition OF the
ipeople in the neighborhood OF Arm
strong's Mills, and probably for one
third Of the distance from that point in
this direction; but as the town of Bell
aire will be required to provide for tht
balance of the.line-and that the mos
expensive part-we shall be constrained
to make more urgent requisition thar
will be needed for the balance of the ter
ritory interested.
We are satisfied that the importance
of this measure will justify any reasona
BILE sacrifice upon the part of our towr
to furnish its quota of the means re
quired; and We trust that the intelligence
and public spirit of our citizens will in
duce them to meet cheerfully the heavy
requisition that will be madeupon them
The road, with machinery will cos
$4,000 per mile, or for two-thirds the
distance to Armstrong; Mills say $l44,
600. This, whole amount We do not ash
from our citizens, expecting as we do te
bond the road for rail, machinery, DC
: but to secure loan on any reasonable
terms we must have basis equal to tht
estimated cost of grading the road ant
! fitting it for, the rail. This would b,
: about Sc, 900 per mile,or for the II mile
say $4,000. With over 100000 o
realty on the tax list, (which is assessed
at only about one-third its true values,
!, 10 or even Is per cent upon the rea
estate taxsbles of Bellaire would be onl.
from 8 to per cent upon its real value
and we think would be a light reqpisi
ton for 80 important a work as this pro
posed railroad, the completion of whicl
would Immediately enhance the value Q
all our real estate very greatly beyon'
the apparent burden upon it.
ri Respectfully submitted.
} l1sdsa9@ aid vs. s. J. H, SULLIVAN.
laeR noHsesa, j. F. ANDERSON. 3
: lsisem all 5d J.,W. CARROLL.
id d2asi at sfe VIM! N. ARMSTRONG.
2 FRA .Tgaoeoi -, A. w. ANDERSON.
ell u5 w T. RARNARD