The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-23


animation of facts and reliable sources
of information will show conclusively
that none. of the roads named, except the
G. and p, will compare favorably with
the w. and l.. L. in the matters of ad-
vantageous termini, courses, distances,
qualities and quantities of Goals, popuia-
tion and local resources OF soil; and as To
natural resources of coal, soil and min.
erals, the G. and p. will not compare
equally.
/ THE-CoAL FIELDS.
Wheeling, w. Va, is the centre Of the
Allegheny coal basin. Here from the
top of the hills to depth of 1000 leet
may be found l0sesms of coal, Of which
have an aggregate of 81 feet of coal. The
Wheeling vein is from to e feet, and at
Wheeling is about l30 feet above the bed
of the Ohio river. This seam dips to the
southeast at the rate of 30 to % feet te
the mile.
For 25 miles the Wheeling and Lake
Erie follows the valleys, the hills on either
side of which are full of this coal, above
the track and on every mile, at an atti.
tude that at very slight expense, the coal
is carried by gravitation to the cars
| Now, it will be remembered that TO
miles north of the Wheeling and Lake
Erie line, AND parallel with it, this coal
| is not to be had, its incline taking it above
the top of the hills; hence it is unknown
to the Pan Handle, the first road north
of us, From to 10 miles south Of .he
Wheelingand Lake Erie and on psrellel
line this coal is below the bed of the
Ohio river and its tributaries, hence
there is very little mileage of this coal on
the Central Onio, the first road south OF
us) and there they get it by shafting.
\ little west of Hopedale, % miles
from Wheeling, this vein is at the very
summit OF the hills, about 500 feet above
the level Of Lake Erie and some
200 feet above the road bed.
The road bed here Is not far above the
next seam OF coal which rises to the
northwest and is soon above the track as
it descends the valley o! the Conottoni
thence to Navarro, 80 miles from Wheel
ing, there are seams of
COAL ABOVE AND BELOW THE ROAD BED,
the entire distance; and these seams
range in thickness from 3 to 9 feet.
Al Navarro all the veins are lost t.above
the hill, except No. |, or Massllon, or
Briar HILL or Mahoning by which seve-
raj names it is known. This coal is the
lowest in the series, and is on the line, at
convenient shaiting depth 200 to 300
feet).. Thence to Burton City, at the
crossing of the p, TT. W. u c., 81 miles
from Wheeling, IS from Sankusky and
Ill from Toledo, the distance from
Wheeling to Toledo; being 1913 miles,
scarce { miles from direct line.
l confidently assert, fearless OF success
| full contradiction, that no railroad in the
United States has any 200 miles with so
many miles of coal, Of so many and de.
sirable qualities, located SO advantageous
ly with reference to the road bed, and
that can be carried 50 cheaply.
NV calculations have been based
wholly on coal shipments in one dIrec
tion. The passenger traffic, shipments
in the other direction, and through and
other freights ought to equal The receipts
from coal shipments; and operating eI
pcnses ought to be placed at 40 per cent.
or less, instead of As per cent.
| have not named the large deposits OF
black band and other iron ores, the fire
clav and lime and sand stone (oi
the celebrated Waverly aud other
groupes) found in such abundance on the
line.
POPULATION.
Toledo has population Of 30 900 an 1
Sandusky City has Is 600 on Lake Erie.
On the OHIO river, within radius OF
two and II halt miles centering in Wheel
ing, is u population of $4,000, which, for
ITS numbers is uneXceled in this coun-
try in iron and glass products.
FOURTEEN COUNTIES on THE LINE.
The counties of Bemont, Jefferson,
Harrison, Carroll, Tuscarawas, Stark,
Wayne, Medina, Lorraine, Huron, Erie,
Ottawa, Sandusky and Lucas are Of the
very best coal, ore, grain, stone, timber
and stock producing counties of the
great State of ONO, ard have popula-
ton of 10000.
THE LIFE OF RAlwAIs
is in the local traffic, and this line pre-
sents unequalled resources for the out
growth and upbuilding OF the very best
local traffic.
Through rates from points to points,
where competition exists, are paid by the
interior shippers.
The substance of the local shipper is
eaten up in exorbitant freights Tor 100
miles, more or less, to pay the freigEts OF
him who ships from 81. LOUIS or Chi
cago, to Baltimore or New York.
Hence. the desire and necessity of up
building system of railways, pronotive
of local growth and advantages, which
at the same time answers the purposes OF
through freights and travel. look tor
ward TO the time when local wants and
means will find local ways by narrow
gauge to reach the valleys OF our own
State, so rich with ores and natural wealth,
and thereby rapidly populate and enrich
her.
CONNECTIONS.
Our road will reduce the distance from
here to Sandusky, Toledo and Chicago
more than 60 miles; will put those cities
and intervening territory on line
through this city actually 10 miles and
practically more than. 200 miles nearer to
! Baltimore that to New \ ork.
At Toledo We will connect with the
great net work of railways centering
there. and be part OF q narrow gauge ex-
tending thence 100 miles to South Hs-
ven. on the East Shore of Lake Michl-
can. which connects Us with both of the
great lakes, and opens up new and
most direct route to the great ore ana
lumber regions. The ten roads the
Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad
crosses between here and Toledo, will, as
Mr.. Shanly says, "subserye its interests
ss ready made branches, and 1t seems to
me that local and foreign capital is tex
ceedingly sensitive and blind with pref
udce and panic if this line is allowed te
sIumber The line has commended Itself