The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-24
Ght9telLiaett1en.
rhe pnrkersburg Convention.

Tic thEhCESSAS = S--
This affair, so much talked abou
among the Democracy Of late, and s
much looked forward to by all their pol
i,icians, seems by our dispatches to hay
turned ont to bc rather ridiculous per
lormauce. The Hon. Ben Wilson seem
to have been the only individual wh'
came out ahead. Hegot the only suga'
plum in the dish. As for John Hanson
he met the enemy once more, as at Ellen
bOro in 1874, and once more the enemy
was not his. On the contrary, qui'e 'H'
reverse. ~. ~,
l;ks 10 see an ambitious and talented
,"nny man like the Hon. John Hanson
=, hack in this persistent manner. We
t.,, ,b,,the honorary position Of Elector
will never compensate him for the time
and money he has spent for several years
ma, in roaming over this district in quest
If something more substantial. Surely
!, va. not for such n come OF as this that
he had all the young lawyers on duty at
the Court House on that memorable day
Of Uncle Johns convention.
From all accounts the convention was
,tormy body. Major Jim Sweeney got
st,er Lewis Baker hot and heavy. we
.npposed that his wrath had somewhat
abaIed by this time, especially after that
high priced verdict, but somehow his idea
Of reform seems to have taken the shape
Of an ayenging Nemesis, and TO be on the
aIer. for further satisfaction.
II il not necessary at this time to dis
cuss the merits Of the nomination made
Yesterday. Col. Ben Wilson is pretty
we'll known to the people Of this district.
With all his faults we regard him US the
strongest candidate the Democracy were
likely to put in the field. Hs has the
prestige Of success in his favor at the
last election, although, for that matter,
he has been beaten in the district. He is
not, however, by any means the man who
should go to Congress from this district,
aud we shall do our part to keep him at
home.
The wheeling & Lake Erie Road.
We are able to state that contract
vas concluded yesterday at Martins
Ferry, between the Wheeling & Lake
Erie Railroad Company and Edward
Darragh, Of Panesville, Ohio, and Hugh
Mckee, Of Pennsylvania, contractors, for
the building Of narrow guage line be-
tween Sandusky and Martins Ferry at So
cooper mile, payable ouc.half incash and
one.hali in the first mortgage bonds OF
the company. II is agreed that the whole
!ine-l59 miles-shall be completed by.
the lst Of July, 1878, and the so miles
between Sandusky and Dalton within ten
months from this date.
The Company have at the present time
u stock subscription OF S65O,O00. OF this
amount, at least IS per cent Tor say in
round numbers, S5OO,OOO) is believed to
be good. Already forty miles Of the road
have been graded-uostly on the
eighty miles between Sandusky and
Dalton = and it is estimated that
the cost Of that eighty miles will
be so much below the average estimate
per mile that the company will be able
to iron and equip it without seriously
treuching on their remaining resources.
The 5000 per mile includes all the work
necessary to prepare the road for the
cars, such as grading, masonry, bridging,
laying ties and putting down the iron,
the company, OF course, providing the
ties and iron. The object Of completing
the 80 miles between the Lake and the
MassillOn coal fields at Dalton, is to
afford the Company an immediate paying
business, and thus make the road built
tributary to that remaining to be built.
The coal trade is expected to be large
and profitable on the northern end OF the
line, and as the track is laid this way II
will increase in business from both direc-
tiO1s.
Mr. DArragh is the contractor who
built the Painesville & youngstown mar
roWgauge, and this fact is guaranty Of
his efficiency and responsibility. He
knows what is before him and how to
accomplish what he has undertaken.
While the amount per mile looks low
enough, the company have reserved
the right to still further cheaper
it, it necessary, by reducing tho
grade Of the work from higher to
lower class. They propose to put the
road through from end to end, even If
they are obliged to cheaper the work
somewhat in order to do so. They rely
upon the resources OF the country (cspe.
ciaIly in the way Of coal) through which
the road will pass, to give it such
an earning capacity as will supply
means to elaborate and perfect its struc.
lure hereafter. They propose to put
down athirIy.ive pound rail, which will
coat say $40 per ton, and equip 1t with
engines Of 10 to 20 tons, that will cost
from $1,000 to $4,000 apiece. The road
and rolling stock should not cost
over $4,000 per mile. This is an
IMMENSE reduction on the estimated cost
0i the road standard gauge) three years
ago, when $4,000 per mile was talked OF.