The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-17
Ghe4ntelLigereer
The ChoIce OF the FIushing Route.

The Choice OF the Flushing Route.
As our readers are generally aware,
the Tuscarawas Valley road is finished
from Cleveland to Uhrichsville, one hun:
dred and ten miles, and passenger ana
freight trains pass over the road every
day, and have been doing sOfor about two
years. As yet however it is an uneom'
ploted road, as its name implies, VIZ:
aThe Cleveland, Tuscarawas VALLEY &
Wheeling Railroad" andian effort is now
in progress to push it forward, il pos
sibIc, to the Ohio river this year. A for
ward movement is in contemplation just
4, soon as a satisfactory amount Of
stock is taken. A large amount has.
already been subscribed owing to
the rivalrytbet the two competing
routes. TheIe.routes divctge Coming this
v.yD about IL miles this side OF Urichs-
vile, one route ascending the Brushy
Fork and crossing the summit through
tunnel at New Athens, striking Wheeling
creek at the mouth OF Grab Apple branch,
while the other route leaving Brushy Fork
to the left, follows up Big Saltwater
creek, via Freeport, to the mouth Of
Boggs Fork, crossing the esummit through
tunnel at Flushing, and thence coming
down Wheeling creek to Bridgeport.
This latter route is the one that has
been chosen. It is not the nearer nor
vet the less expensive route. 1t is
about one mile, longer than the New
Athens Tor Brushy Fork route, and may
cost 100000 more money. But never
theIess it was considered the preferable
route on account Of It's commercial ad.
yantages. A choice between the two,
however, was not arrived at until after a
long and careful examination at Cleve-
land, and patient hearing OF the repre-
sentatives Of both sides. The Cleveland
Herald, Of Monday, gives the following
particulars in regard to the active can
vass that was made by the rival routes.
"The advocates OF each OF these lines
had made such an exhaustive statement
Of the arguments against and in favor OF
both that there was little left for the
Board to do other than carefully weigh
the merits OF each and decide on that
which would be most favorable to the in
,erests OF the company. Nevertheless the
meeting was long and an earnest one.
There had been such very great desire
on the part OF the advocates OF these rival
lines to secure the railroad, and their ef-
forts to that end had been SO energetic
and able, that the gentlemen of the Board
did them but simple justice in only coming
TO decision after the most thorough and
unpreiudiced deliberation. The gentlemen
reprcsenting New Athens and Flusing had
furnished large and accurate maps Of the
proposed lines, and with these before
them the directors went over with great
care and in detail the advantages OF each,
and after lengthy discussion came unan-
imOusly to the conclusion that, although
the New Athens route would be less ex-
pensive Of construction the interests OF
The company would, on the whole, be best
served by adopting the more southerly or
Flushing line. The mineral wealth OF
,hecountry through which the road would
pass by adopting either route was 80 near
" the same that this element was at once
left quite ont OF the discussion, and it
became only u question whether the
greater number OF business centres which
the road would accommodate and the su-
perior position it would have with refer
ence to competing lines by choosing the
Flushing route, would Offset the cheaper
construction and shorter distance OF that
by New Athens. The settling OF this
point favorably to Flushing chiefly iniu-
enced the decision ef the Board.
There was, OF course, at Flushing and
at New Athens the greatest anxiety to
learn the result, and Immediately after
the close OF the meeting 1t was telegraph
ed to both Of these towns. The Joy OF the
one and the disappointment OF the other
can only be understood by thosewho have
known with what warmth this contest has
been carried on. The people Of the un-
fortunate route, however, may console
themselves with the reflection that their
want Of success was neither owing to lack
Of zeal and able management on the part
Of their Representatives, nor to an unfair
consideration OF their claims by the Rail-
way Company. The advocates chosen on
both sides were men of unusual energy
and influence, and they always found the
gentlemen Of the Board OF Directors
ready to meet them half way in making
a practical, business estimate Of the Hd-
vantages Of the respective routes. There
has probably not been in the history OF
railroading in Ohio relatively more
exciting struggle for the location Of a
line OF railroad than this one, and the
earnestncss with which it has been con-
Quoted only goes to show how thoroughly
the leading business men OF this part OF
Southeastern Ohio have studied the pres
ent and future value Of the Tuscarawas
knlIoy rnoI