The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-14
AN EXCURSION
ON Saturday Last Over the BCIlaire and
south Western Marrow Gauge.

ON Saturday Last Over the BcIlaire and
south Western Marrow Gauge
o. Saturday last q number Of invited
guests from this city, Bridgeport and Bell
aire made an excursion over the Bellaire
Il Southwestern Narrow Gauge as for as
Armstrong; Mills, half way to Woods
field, 81 miles from Bellaire. Among those
from Wheeling were James Dalzell, ESQ.,,
Prof. Robert Dalzell, Of the Wooster, O.,
University, LIS, Delaplain, Esq, and grand
son Louis, Deacon Ell Stone, Jacob Thomas
and Mr.. Faris, Of the Register. Among those
from Bridgeport were L, P. Rhodes, ESQ.,
Captain Andy Baggs and Warren Hollis
ter, ESQ.,, while from Bellaire were Col
Sullivan, Col. Poorman, Col. Morris and
Mr.. Strong. Of the G. 4 P. railroad, Mr.,
Anderson, Of the Independent, Jacob
Heatherington, Esq, and Uncle Billy Bar
nard. In all there were about so persons
on the two cars constituting the train, the
expedition being in personal charge oil
President Mooney.
One Of tho cars, q gondola, fitted up
with an awning over it (the sides being
left OPEN and plenifully supplied With
chairs, was the favorite car on the part Of
those who desired plenty Of air and good
view OF the country. At 1890 A. NJ. the
train left the famous State Tobacco Ware
house depot, having in the lead the pio'
neer locomotive OF the line-the Woods.
tield-whiCh has not missed day in its
nearly two years service. And this refer
ence to its long service reminds US that
the Bellaire and Southwestern road has
not had mushroom growth by any
means but has progressed slowly and
somewhat painfully as far as it has been
built Its experience, however, in this
particular, is one OF many instances OF the
same kind. The great New York Central
road was built slowly and by piecemeal,
under half dozen different names. 1t is
now nearly two years since the B, & S.W.
road was built to Wegee, and about four
years since it was organized as company.
According 10 all appearances, however, it
has acquired an accelerated motion that
will carry it through to Woodstield, TO
which place 1t is graded, during this
present year.
There are twenty stations on the road
from Bellaire to Armstrong; Mills, in.
Guiding those two points. They are as
follows: Belmont, Pnltney, River View,
Gravelton, Wegee, Dillie's Road, Maple.
ton, Ervins, Durfee, Shiloh, North Gap,
Pipe Creek, Grand View, Sullivan, Oak
land, Glenn Falls, Rock Valley, North
Bend and Armstrong; Mills. These sta.
tions are, OF course, close together, two
miles being the longest distance between
any two OF them, and some OF them being
only half mile apart. In addition, the
cars stop anywhere, wherever the train is
hailed. The B. &; s. W. is q model local
road in this respect. 1t makes its money
this way, and Just now it is making good
deal OF it, we are glad to say. Its receipts
are averaging $50 per day, while its run.
ming expenses are but 81. On the 4th
Of July lis receipts were $500. At every
step OF its progress its earnings have in.
creased, and by the time it reaches Woods.
fed they are expected to net $l10 per day,
or counting 3l2 working days, SS4,S20 per
year, which amount will pay the interest
on S240, 200 OF the . per cent. bonds and
leANe SlU,DUUO Oh surplus,
The eXcursionists OF Saturday were i'm
pressed with the excellence OF the terrific
ry which the road traverses. They all got
out Of the cars at the top OF the ridge at
Grand View, near JaCobsburg, to take a
look at the vast extent OF rich and highly
cultivated country that met their eyes in
every direction. They had the testimony
Of Deacon Stone that no such country was
to be seen in Palestine land he has re-
Gently been therel, and hence we have no
doubt that the prospect far exceeded that
OF Moses frem the top Of risgah when he
looked upon the land that flowed with
milk and honey beyond the Jordan. In
fact, We judged from the Deacon's remarks
that II he owned Belmont County he would
not swap It for two Palestines. Certainly
it was n sight worth seeing to look upon
such IN immense area OF beautiful, rich
and highly cultivated country as was visi.
BILE from that summit. And to railroad
mans eye, the fact that 1t was all divided
off into small farms, and was thiCkly stud.
died with fields OF golden grain, waving
corn, and green pastures, and that sheep
and cattle could be seen upon "a thousand
hills" lent a peculiar charm to the scene.
Here, said he, is the country from
which this narrow gauge is to draw trade
and travel. Mr.. Mooney claims that the
line from the Ohio river to the Muskingum
is the best unoccupied territory for rail.
road in the State Of Ohio, and we think it
quite likely that he is correct. By a re.
ference to the statistical report OF the Sec.
rotary OF State Of Ohio for 1877 We find
that the gross movable tonnage,
almost entirely agricultural, OF the
territory tributary to the first di.
vision OF the Il. IS, W. road, comprising
one fourth Of Belmont, iourfltths Of
Monroe, and one fourth Of Noble county,
aggregates annually two hundred million
pounds, or one thousand tons. live take
Of this amount only one fifth, or say 90.
900 tons, and add 10 this the lumber,
timber, building and lime stone (which
last item, .by the way, promises to become
important over this road and to this again
addthe coal and miscellaneous merchan.
disc that the people require in exchange
for their products, and to this again add
the passenger travel, together with mails
and express, We will have some idea Of the
tralllc that seems in store for this road
when 1t Is completed.
Speaking OF limestone, the attention al
the excurstonists was several times called
to the amount Of II Immediately on the
line Of the road. Limestone Is in active