The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-25


in regard to the proposed railroad between
this city and Petersburg, but not too
much, for, In my opinion, It Is q prOiecto
great importance TO the country through
which it will pass as well Us 10 the two
terminal points named. 1t is natural that
there should be some doubt in the minds
Of the public in regard to the paying ma.
ture Of the enterprise, and it is with the
view OF assisting to remove this
doubt that / venture to ask space
for few lines in your columns. have
been quoted as holding the opinion that
this road will pay those who engage in
building 1t. This is indeed my decided
belief, and the following are some Of my
reasons for SO believing. For one am
willing TO engage in 1t, because | re.
gard the trade that will follow this enter.
prise as sure TO be Temunerative 10 the
stockholders. In the first place, the line
OF The road will not exceed 81 miles in
distance when completed, because a say.
ing oil some three miles can be effected in
avoiding the bends Of the river. II is pro-
posed to start the line from the
present freight depot OF the r., W.
4. Ky. road on the north side Of
Wheeling creek in this city, aud We ex-
pect 10 have the privilege Oi running our
care over the track Of the 7. W, 4 Ky. ex-
tension to Benwood, when it is built, by Il
mutually satisfactory arrangement with
that company. by such an arrangement
We will be able TO save large amount OF
cost in construction. Our plan will be to
lay third rail on the track Of that road
from BenwoOd 10 Wheeling, thus enab.
ling our narrow gauge cars to come into
their depot, and make close connections
with passengers and ireiGhts fer all points
north, east and west.
am well persuaded that such road as
is contemplated can be built and fully
equipped with all the necessary rolling
stock for $500 per mile, after allowing
four miles OF siding, and this estimate is
an advance upon the cost OF any ether
narrow gauge road in this country.
The road will not only make close
connection with the T. ". * Ky. road
and the whole Pennsylvania system OF
roads, at Wheeling, but will also make u
close connection with the Baltimore and
Ohio road at Moundsviiie. Ii l mis-
take not it will run close to the
west side of the i. & 0. depot at that
place, where freight and passengers can
be easily transferred not only to the East
but TO all points west reached by the
Baltimore < Ohio connections. These
connections certainly give our road
great advantages. 1t is feeder to two
great trunk lines and will in turn be fed
by them. Furthermore, it will connect at
this city for the towns and cities on the
new TusCSrawas Valley road. At Parkers-
burg it will connect with the b. Il o.
and Marietta 4 Cincinnati roads, as
well as with all points on the Ma
rietta and Pittsburgh road, and also with
the contemplated narrow gauge from Park
ersburg TO Charleston on the Kanawha,
and at that place with the Chesapeake and
lions We must add the natural business OF
the Little Kanawha region and the Ohio
River at PaTkersburg, such as oil and lum-
Der, and the ore for Wheeling from the
New River ore fields when the Charleston
extension is built. All these alliances and
feeders are bound in the aggregate to fur.
nish an immense amount OF business,
sufficient in my judgment to assure the
paying character OF the proposed river
railroad.
As for the prospects for local business
between here and Parkersbntg, think
they can hardly be excelled by any road
in this section OF the country. Take for
Instance the amount OF business that is
done by the steamboats, during the season
OF navigation between this and Parkers.
burg. 1t will amount to not less than four
or five hundred dollars per day. Not that !
mean to say that the road could expect to
do it all, but simply that the road would
divide this business with the boats, and do
1t at much less expense than they are COM
PEELED 70 undergo, and during the low
water and the ice season 1t would do il all.
know something OF what has been lost
to the steamboat interest by the building
ofthe Marietta and Pittsburgh road, in the
shape oil business diverted az the
former point from the river to
the cars. 1t has seriously topped
the river business at that place, as
will always be the case were q railroad
comes in competition with boats. By the
building Of the Wheeling and Parkers.
burg railroad saving in distance to Pitts.
burEh Of 81 to 81 miles will be effected.
Naturally there will be an increase OF local
business, as the facilities for doing 1t in.
crease, which is the history otall railroads,
and this increase will afford business both
for the boats and the road. And Just here
! will say that it Is not my intention, in
taking the interest do in this proposed
railroad, to disparage or iujure the steam
boat interest, for havea very warmside Tor
that interest. But, az our steamboat friends
must know, boats are one thing and cars
are another, and the progress OF the times
demand the advantages ofquick travel and
transportation, It is part Of the spirit
and necessities Of the age in which we
live, and Young America will not be con-
tent to be shut out from the world a large
part Of the year Tor the lack Of navigation
facilities when they can secure these ia.
cilities In some other way. We must
have railroads and telegraph lines.
By means OF well and Cheaply built
railroad, ordinary freight can be carried
about us cheap, counting everything, as
by river. Owing to the easy grades Of this
road it can be built cheaply, and also be
so constructed us 10 admit OF large trains
" Tue eUellts SOhL Gdu VIC 4lAulSu W III
kersburg for three.Quarters OF cent per
bushel, and large winter and low water
business can be done in coal transporta.
lion alone. This road will have peculiar
advantagesi in the way Of easy grades and
curves, and Its running expenses thereby
reduced 10 minimum OF cost.
L In conclusion, l assume, on the basis OF
we'll known facts, that this road cannot
only be built and run cheaply, but that it
will secure large and profitable bust
ness. estimate its receipts at not less
than $500 per day for 800 working days Of
the year, which will amount to So, 100
per year. Allowing 10 per cent for ex-
penses, there will be balance OF profit Of
S55,G20 wherewith to pay 6 per cent on
capital Of SSOO,O0O. And in this estimate
am only dividing the business between
the boats and the road, whereas; the facts
will be that during the suspension OF nav.
igation these receipts would double in
amount. In view OF these prospects