The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-29
Ghe9mteIli1elr
Cleveland, TuscaraWas Valley d
wheeling Railway.

=
midst Of prosperity, with gold ranging
from 81 OSI to 81 100, but all other val
re, above the standard, this enterprise
WA presented to the citizens of this Coun--
ty. A very favorable proposition was
then made by the projectors OF this rail
way then in its infancy. Much hard
work was done, many able articles ap-
peared in your columns as well as the
Wheeling papers, urging the great i'm
portance Of making every effort to secure
this much needed improvement; our
brightest anticipationS were bIasteG'
swept away by tho great panic; financial
ruin appeared imminent: Now, WIN
gold ranging but little higher, ana all
other values at the minimum, the same
enterprise is prescnted to us-not in its
infancy. bnt with one hundred miles OF
raiIWSy we'll stocked and doing a flour
isbing business, within twenty miles Of the
yas,cpn border Of our county. No
Gmvtb u no uncertain project, but well
established railway corporation, asking,
will YOU assist us in extending our road
into and through your county? Is it
worth the effort? Will it pay? Have We
the enterprise and spirit worthy Of our
selves and the progress Of our generation?
Shall the accomplishment Of this great
highway planned and contemplated for
almost half of this century, by our Oldest
and best citizens, be tho way-mark ofthis
centennial year? We believe n united
effort can accomplish all We desire.
WILL IT PAY?
Let US look at the result Of other i'm.
provements in our own county. The
[. o. Il. R. was located and opened to
Belairo in 1S55-cvery year thereafter
increased the valuation Of property in
that part Of the county. In 1850 the
nine southern townships had total val
uation on the tax duplicate Of So, 275, 1856.
The seven northern townships had s., 432,-
7Gj, or Sl,l57, $3.50 in excess Of the nine
southern townships. Yet the south had
GO sections, or $4,000 acres, more land
than the seven northern townships. The
CO. K. r. commenced running in 1856
was in full operation in 1860. Ten years
after that time the appraised value OF the
property in the same nine southern town.
ships had increased 10 $780,, 2S5, while
the seven northern townships arc APP
praised at S0,4O5,0O0. In other words
the southern townships made up the
great difference in valuation and have a
surplus Of about 100000. These south
ern townships have maintained this
great excess from that time TO the
present. And had it not been for
the large gains in Peasc township,
having the benefit OF the c. & P.
R. R., the northern townships would
be behind to-day about 100000. To
make il still moro plain, let us compare
the valuation OF some townships that
were about equal in valuation in 1850,
when We had no railroad in the county.
Let US first compare Warren and Flush
ing-the extreme west bound townships.
Warren has 80 sections, and was ap-
praised in 1850 at S594,777. Flushing has
80 sections, and was appraised ut S445,-
500. The difference in the amount OF area
will make tho valuation near enough
equal to make comparisons. Warren
township, with the C. o. Railroad passing
through her territory, places taxable
property on the duplicate Of. 1875 TO the
amount Of s., 00G, GS2, while Flushing has
only 94G, 46G on the same duplicate. In
fifteen years Warren, with railroad has
added $50 per cent 10 her valuation, while
Flushing without n railroad-which she
might have had with proper effort-has
only added small amount over 100, per
cent 10 her valuation.
In 1870 Warren township had 1885,
900; in 1876 Warren township had 81
09GGS2; an increase OF S152,7S2. Flush
ing had in 1870, 1898, 500; Flushing had
in 1875, S9iG, 400; an increase Of only
$l9G6G. Warren increases ut the rate
Of $4,000 annually, while Flushing in
Creases at the rate OF $500 per annum.
Would it pay Flushing township to give
100000 and get n railroad?
So it is with Smith and Colerain. In
1850, Colcrain with but q sections OF
land, had $4,000 on the duplicate,
while Smith having SO sections, had but
$3S9,0OO. In 1875 Smith has 81 ,062, 1874
on the duplicate, and Colerain is left be-
hind with but sS24,OOo. Smith has gained
sl3Sl34.
Wheeling township with % sections
had in 1850 S492,275 on the duplicate,
while Goshen with SO sections had but
$4,000. Now, Goshen has Sl,ll6,493,
while Wheeling township falls behind
with only 81 ,O76,0oO. Goshen has gained
more than $4,000.
Notwithstanding that the northern
townships had the best farming land,
smoother and better cultivated, the SOUTH
ern townships make a steady and certain
gain from year to year. But look for n
moment at a comparison Of Pultney and
Pease townships, both having railroads,
but Pultney with the advantage Of the
terminus Of two. In 1850 Pultney placed
on the tax duplicate S3s7, 225; Pease
placed on tho same duplicate 1915, AIS.
Pultney places on the duplicate in 1875
S2,962, 225, while Pease has but $780,
1888 on the same duplicate. In other
words, Pultney township has gained over
900 per cent, while Pease has only gained
but little over 200 per cent. In 1850
Flushing township had 100000 more tax
able property than Pultney. Now Putt
ney township has over 100000 moro
than Flushing. We do not claim that
the railroad causes all this difference,
but we do claim that these figures show
what a railroad would do on the north
side Of Belmont county.
We know that figures are very dry
reading, but let us look at another benefit
that the county at large receives. The
Central Ohio railroad placed on the
tax duplicate Of Belmont county for
1875 Sl42O53, which is $4,000 more
than the total duplicate Of Pultney town
shipwhen this railway was commenced.
The C. & P. Road placed on the duplicate
Of 1875 SS34,S33; add the two amounts
and We have $776,6S6 Of taxable property
listed by these companies. Belmont
county took stock to the amount Of $780,
900 in the G. O. r. R.; she has S400 600 OF
this amount, on which she receives in.
terest. The amount the county received
for taxes on this S776,936 added to the
amount OF interest she receives, will pay
her ! $40 per cent interest on the origi-
nal investment OF 100000. live add To-
cal leyies tho nitiznna nj thia county arc