The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-26
MoRGANTowN, November

the attendance OF the ABOVE nauleu OLl-
GERS OF the road, who would make their
own propositions, and give any desired
information.
Then Mr.. George g. Sturgiss, as chair
man OF the committee to confer with the
people as to their willingness 10 sub
scribe, reported that he had found
hearty spirit OF interest manifested
among the people; that they seemed
more willing to subscribe some definite
amount, such rs the company might
deem necessary.to do their share OF the
work, and that then the company take
the risk of its requiring more than the
amount specified, and that he believed
$4,000 could be raised, this being the
amount asked of this section.
President Wiley then, by few pointed
remarks, gave the people TO understand
That "we mean business Eow," and that II
was expected that the matter would soon
assume such shape that when they SUD-
scribed they would be held by law
TO their agreement. He then Introduced
Mr.. Hayes, General Superintendent
of the Castle Shannon road, who, In Il
distinct and forcible manner, represent
ed TO the meeting statement OF the
financial condition OF the company, and
thegenersl feasibility and advantage OF
carrying out the proposed scheme. lie
stated tnat when this road was started,
Sl,0O0,O00 were raised within thirty
days; that the first contract was gwen
since the Pittsburgh riot; that they are
now laying the track at the rate of three
fourths of mile per day; and that by
December 10Th, they expect to haye IL
completed twenty miles beyond Castle
Shannon, or twenty-eight miles from
Pittsburgh; that the road has about SIPS,
900 bonded Indebtedness, and about the
same amount OF stock, but that the
bonds are all in the hands Of the stock
holders, and therefore there Is no
trouble to be apprehended.
In contrast OF this it was stated by the
speaker that the Pittsburgh, Virginia
and Charleston and the Southwest
ern railroad, OF which some have
found hopes Of seeing sooh, soaring
up the slumbering echoes of Monongalia
were, neither of them what we want,
from the TACT that the former has u
bonded Indebtedness whose interest an
nuaIly amounts to $4,000, ard that ten
miles on either side of its line through
this region could not pay this interest.
The South Western road would want
$4,000 from Monongslis county, and
this would not grade the track Tor u
broad gauge road, while the Castle Shan
nJa company asks but $40 600, which Is
expected TO be sufficient 10 grade bridge
and tie the section Of the narrow gau5 e
road from here to Mount Morris, since
the cost of the construction OF narrow
j only about $4,000 per mile, while that
If the broad gusge Is from $4,000 to
$4,000 per mile. Mr.. Hayes affirmed
that he believed the
TRANSPORTING POWER
of narrow gusge roads 10 be fully equal
t. that of the broad gusge. The former
had locomotives OF IA to 80 tons weight.
the latter of from 80 to 40 tons. The
stock cars of the former weigh tons and
the latter 10 tons, so that with
locomotive OF 10 more weight the
latter, with train OF twenty cars, haul
over 100 tons more dead loss in weight
than the other. The cars on narrow
guage roads are the same width but
three feet shorter than the others. The
rate OF speed Is fully as great on the mar
row roads, and they can haul larger loads
IN proportion, climb sleeper grades and
turn much shorter curves. They can
haul l25 tons on grades OF l25 to $50 teet.
THE COMPANY PROPOSES
that if the people of this section will
grade, bridge and tie the road and secure
the right OF way from here TO Mt. Nor
ris, the company will put iron and rolling
stock on and run the road This sub
scription can be paid in labor or in any
way the subscribers desire, and from the
time it is paid in until it Is returned 10
them they are to receive interest semi
annually. Meanwhile, rs soon as the
$4,000 Is raised, the company will give
81 necessary proof of their ability to per-
form their part OF the agreement, and
give collateral security tor the $4,000
and guarantee that 1t will be refunded
with interest il the road is Lot In opera
on in six months after it is paid.
Also that none of the money here
raj. ed shall be expended on any other
portion OF the road, but that every dol
/ Ar shall be used in West Virginia, and
paid TO West NiTginians II they will do
tue work; that If they are furnished with
money as they want 1t, they Will have the
road completed rs lar MS Morganlown by
the 4th of July next. Already vii but
$4,000 has been raised, and all but eight
miles contracted for rs far as Carmi.
chaels. The speaker made many more
statements, and among them wss that,
although he acknowledged the mineral
resources OF this region, and that this Is
the "bllnd side OF PittsOurgh," there will
be 10 railroad here unless the people SCI.
about it and build il. ut Is bound 10
come, but il you let this opportunity slip,
there is no prophesying when 1t Will
come"
Prot. J. G. White, of the University,
WAS then introduced. He exhibited u
map which had been constructed, show
ing the proposed route OF the road from
here to Mt Morris, and the position OF
the various coal beds. The grading will
be very easy, I'D 10 tunnelling will be
necessary; only cut Of about 10 feet in
depth aud $50 yards long. y road
through here would pass right through
four workable coal beds, VIZ: FRS,
the Pittsburgh coal, which is over ter
fee. thick, while at Pitts burgh 1t
> only from FIVE TO six. Thiriy-fve feet
above this is the Redstone coal, an excel
lent variety of cokIug coal, and Is also q
good blocking coal. This vein is tour
feet thick. Sixty feet higher we have
the Sewickley coal, five thick; and 25O
feet above this we have tho WayneS-
burg coal in bed s feet thick, good
furnace coal, but not fit for cooking pur-
poses. From eight to ten feet below this
last coal is bed OF splendid brown hem
attic iron ore, from two 20 four feet thick
and at least 40 per cent pure. Then 1t