Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-30
THREATENING US WITH A RAIL
ROAD.


\ very general feeling is being stirred
up at Pittsburgh tor the immediate eX-
tension Of the Pittsburgh Southern rail-
road TO the West Virginia line. They
feel assured that when the road reaches
this point, which is only fifty miles from
the present terminus, the people OF
West Virginia VIII be so thoroughly
aroused to its importance to the State,
that they will carry it right along until
the connection is made with the South
ern railway system, making our State
the great thoroughiare for travel and
traffic between the North and South.
But that which is of equally vast I'M
portance is the immediate development
and markeIingof the immense resources
of our state. From a condition of pow
ertv and obscurity our territory would
l,ar adj pUpuIatlon TO an extent We can
hardly conceive of. Branches OF rail
road would reach out from this CEN
tral artery until every species
of our wealth would be
made available. That one of the main
objects Of the road is to gain access to
our resources is evident from the argu-
ments advanced by the promoters of the
enterprise outside Of the State. For ex-
ample the Pittsburgh Post sets forth the
following advantages to be gained
from il:
l. II taps the iron region OF West Nir-
ginia, and will give us hematite and beS-
senior ores, at three dollars ton cheap
or than the superior ones. This should
effect the price here of pig iron. Any
engaged in the iron business have only
70 count up what amount of pig iron
they use yearly, to know exactly what
advantages this will he to them. The
question Of Pittsburgh'S precedence in
iron manufacture may vet depend on
the cheapness and quality of iron ores.
The West Virginia ores have been
analyzed and are of the best.
,. IL will tap the Southern railway
system. This means that the 3,5OO,OOO
people near us at the South, and all that
can be reached by direct railway lines,
will be held as customers to Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati and Louisville have built
railroads TO catch that very trade. 1t
naturally belongs TO Pittsburgh. We
are nearer it than many of the cities
competing against us. Unless we have
direct communication with the Southern
railway system, We shall fail To reach
that trade. This is one problem, and
this the extension OF the Pittsburgh
Southern road solves.
5. tits prOspectively profitable road.
Aside from all else, enough is known of
the necessary demand in this city for
the iron ores of West Virginia for it to
be certain that its trade will be large
and profitable. Pittsburgh now uses
100000. tons Of pig iron, and will steadi-
Is increase its amount. With equal
ores to Lake Superior, at 8 ton less,
il is not question where our supply
will come from. The stock and bonds
Of this road, to a small amount, are now
10 be put on the market TO complete the
road 10 the Yves tNirginia line. We al
wise our capitalists and manufacturers
that il is a good investment, both as to
safety, security and repayment. 1t will
paw good dividend, and develop the
prosperity OF Pittsburgh. tits proposed
to close this matter up in very brief
time. We hope all our interested man
ufacturers and capitalists will ut once
look into this matter that the city may
have the benefit.