The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-10
WHEELING AND TUSCARAWAS
VALLEY RAILROAD.

VALLEY RAILROAD.
Several gentlemen from Bridgeport
and mum Der of Wheeling business men
met at the Grant House, in this city, last
evening, to consult as to the present con-
dltion and the future prospects OF the
Wheeling and Tuscarswas Valley Rail-
road. The Superintendent of the road,
Mr.. CARD, was present; and among those
from Bridgeport were Messrs. HoL-
LowAY, BAaGs, ALEXANDER and DR..
Cook, ...
The condition of the present enter.
prise WAS stated TO be about this: The
road has been completed and is being
successfully operated from Uhricksville,
in Tuscarawas county, to the mouth OF
Black river on Lake Erie, some % miles
West of Cleveland, distance Of lOl
miles, with side tracks TO coal mines, &c,
80 miles IN length. The company owns
valuable hsrbor privileges at its northern
terminus, and has erected costly and con-
venient docks for the handling of coal
and other merchandise. 1t has fsvora-
BILE running arrangements with the
Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati
road by which it runs into the clly OF
Cleveland on the track OF that COM
pany, without being subject to terminal
expenses. 1t has also such pro rating
carrying arrangements with the Lake
Shore road as enables it to deliver freight
in New York and Boston from any
point on its line at the same figure as
the same freight Is carried from Cleve-
land. The earnings of the road during
the last six months were about hfty
thousand dollars per month, which may
be considered quite good Tor these
times of business depression.
And the expenses of the
road, including construction and
repairs, were but 81 per cent. OF the
gross earnings; which is nearly 10 per
cent below the average cost of operating
railroads in Ohio. That portion OF the
Tuscarawss Valley road now in opera
tion runs through country rich IN coal
and farm products, and thronged with
an industrious and prosperous popula-
ton.
The Capitol stock of the road is, In
round numbers, one million dollars, and
its bonded Indebtedness something
over three millions. Of this
debt two millions are first
mortgage bonds, bearing per cent. in
terest, and the remainder second mort
gage bonds, which will bear the same in
terest after January lst, 1878. The
whole liability of the road amounts TO
about $4,000 to the mile.
The distance from Bridgeport to
Uhricksville is about "a miles. The
cost of building this connection was put
by Superintendent CARD, at about sl,-
600 90. The company proposes to thePeo-
pie along the line to place this link under
contract as soon ss $3.50, 900 of stock and
a free right of way are secured. The
friends of the enterprise at Bridgeport,
Flushing. &c, have about secured the
right of way along the whole line, and
have bona fde subscription of $l7O,OO0.
They think they can raise $4,000 ad.
ditlonal, and this is the utmost they can
do. They appeal to the business men
of Wheeling to come to their
aid with the remaining $4,000
Unless this is done prompt
ly, the enterprise must be abandoned, be-
csnse by the terms OF the subscriptions
already made, and the rights OF way Sc
cured, the work must be commenced be-
fore the frst of July next, else all is
forfeited. The whole case in q nut shell
is this 1t Wheeling wants this road she
can have it by raising $4,000 in stock;
if she does not do this now she is not
likely even to have the road.
It is p.oposed to make the eastern
terminus OF the road at West Wheel
ing, running the track down
to the waters edge. Cars loaded with
freight tor Wheeling or with ore for any
of our mills or for the Bellsire, Ben
wood, Martins Ferry or Etnaville
mills. will be run on to fats and towed
directly to our wharf or to the mills to
be supplied.
We must content ourselves with this
brief outline this morning, reserving
for other articles discussion of the ad-
vsntages to accure to US by the opening
up 10 our commerce Of the rich country
north of US and TO our msRufactories OF
competing line to both the East and
the great Northwest.
There will be another meeting at the
Grant House next Thursday evening, in
the same interest.