The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-26
Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley &
Wheeling Railroad.
Letter From President ROsS, of
Franklin College. TO Il. }. Bnggs,
NV ATHENS, Dec. 10, 1875.

NEW ATHENS, Dec. IL, 1879.
Jackson Baggs Esqs Bridgeport, elslg
DEARsR: Knowing you to be deeply
interested mthe extension of,the CleYe.
land, T1scarawas' &Wheeling Railroad
from its present terminus to tho City Of
Wheeling, | address you few lines in
regard to the present prospects Of this
enterprise. You are well aware from
your observations during your late visit
among us that the people along the line Of
this extension, are deeply interested in
It's completion, and subscription to the
capital stock Of the company will be OBJ
tanned TO as large an amount as could
reasonably be expected from oommuni-
tyso situated. You are aware that there
are no large towns upon the rout, so that
subscriptions must be obtained almost
entirely from the farming populations
but these will subscribe Us literally as
such a community can be reasonably ex-
pecled 10 do-indeed the two competing
routs OF New Athens and Flushing, in
sures the largest possible subscription
from the line Of the road. But all the
stock that can possibly DO raised along
the line OF the road, will DO entirely in
adequate 10 meet the requirements Of tho
company. A subscription Of stock TO the
amount OF 100000 cannot possibly be
obtained from this source. ~
Under these circumstances We. look
trustingIy to the City Of Wheeling to help
us in this matter, and it seems TO me that
il the attention Of the cnterprising citi-
zens Of Wheeling were once fairly direct
ed 10 this important enterprise, the re-
quisite subscriptions would not long DO
wanting. By the completion Of this en-
terprise, Wheeling would secure a rail
roal connection far more important to
her interests than any other which she
has in prospect. In the first place she
would at once secure large local trade
which is now diverted to Pittsburgh, by
the Panhandle road, and its Cadiz branch.
The trade Of all that district Of country
lying between the Panhandle road and
the Ohio Central naturally belongs to
Wheeling, and would go there, if facili-
ties for transportation were provided, hut
this trade is now largely diverted to
Pittsburgh, by the Panhandle road.
The completion Of this road especially
upon its most northern rout, will restore
to Wheeling all this trade, together with
that Of all the upper part Of the Tus-
caravans Valley. Let any one take the
map Of Ohio, and study her railroad sys-
ten and lines oftrade, and he cannot fail
to see what an important adjunct this
road must be to the local trade OF the
City Of Wheeling.
But in the next place, by the compile
ton Of this road, Wheeling would put
herself in direct connection with the west
and northwest, and with the wholeintcrior
system Of railroads in Ohio. BY its ter
minus on the Lakes she wonld have di-
rect access to the best mineral deposits Of
Lake Superior, and an outlet in every
direction, through the Ohio system Of
railroads for all the products of her man
utacturing industry.
All these great advantages Wheeling
can now secure to herself ut the minimum
OF cost to her citizens. We are not ask
ing them to build road for our benefit,
but simply to supplement our inabilityto
reach them with this improvement. AL
the money that can under any circum-
stances be raised on the line Of the road,
will be raised. The competing routes
secures this: What Wheeling il asked to
do is simply to make up the deficiency
and thus secure the early completion OF
The road. Nor need her citizens have any
as to the early completion OF
the road; he road will be completed alan early
day ifthe requisite subscription q obtained.
Has any enterprise been lately pre-.
sented to tue acceptance Of the City OF
Wheeling, Of anything like the import
ancc TO her commercial prosperity with
This, and which she can secure tso cheap
4 rate? Will the Wheeling & Kentucky
Road secure to the city one-fourth Of the
advantages which this road is sure to do,
Il once completed? Nor should subscrip-
ions to this road be considered in the
light Of bonus to the Company. If any
projected road is likely to be paying
road this is one OF them. One hundred
niles OF the road are already completed
md operated probably to the Company,
md does anyone suppose that when the
.ich coal field Of Eastern Ohio Is reached
md it's connection with Wheeling secur.
ID its earnings will be less. Perhaps no
.oad in the country will be less dependent
IN the general commerce Of the country
or its freiglitage than this. The trans.
,ortation Of iron ore and coal alone will
llways be sufficient to give It profitable
Such is the light in which
his enterpriBeprescnts itself to my mind,
Ms to its important bearing up
IN the interests Of Wheeling.
l hope that her enterprising and intel
igent citizens will not be slow to perceive
hese advantages, or to avail themselves
If the opportunity now presented to
hem so certainly and so cheaply. Atany
ate | feel anxious that their attention
hould be directed TO these facts and views,
ind il you think this letter would sub
erve this purpose, you are at liberty to
lao IL In any 'way Won think most Droper.