Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-13
RIVER RAILROAD.
The Views of Tyler, Peasants
and Wood Counties.

Colonel d. D. johnson, Of Long
Reach, is in the city, negotiat ting for
sales OF slaves, and was approached,
Yesterday, with view OF learning the
current opinion OF Tyler county in re-
gard to the Wheeling and Parkersburg
railroad. He was rather cautiousin ex-
pressing his views and intimated that he
had little scheme OF his own in
view, the precise nature OF which he
was not prepared 10 disclose at present
The farmers of Tyler" he began,
"are not the most enthusiastic over the
new road. That is, they are not willing
to donate their land 10 the new company
free. They are willing TO see the road
20 ahead, and il thew ship over 1t they
will pay for their freights. y
"Is it the old farmer antipathy to rail-
roads?'
"No, not so much that, but they con
slider the road as a duplicate to the
river. What they want is a road run
ming from the river to Clarksburg. My
idea is TO have the road they want run
from Clarksburg through Middle Island
valley to Long Reach. And it would be
grand feeder to the river road, beside.
"Where is the market for Tyler pro-
duce?"
well, our products are wheat, corn,
potatoes and apples. Most OF the corn
goes to Pittsburgh, and the wheat and
potatoes to Wheeling. Apples 90 to the
South, all the way to New Orleans. our
cattle are driven over TO Pennsboro and
shipped to Baltimore
III so much is shipped in this direr-
ton, do not low water and Ice often III
| terfere2'
"Not so much. 1t may be rut our
people have gotten into, but they do
most of their shipping in the TALL and
| spring, when there is always full stage
| Of water. II corn is husked in Novem-
Der it is sold then, and, ii cribbed, it Is
kept until spring aud sold dry, when
there are 6S instead OF 20 pounds to the
| bushel. At either OF these times Ill"
| river is in good condition.
"And there is another objection 10
| the road, which | might mention. The
/ farmers argue that supposing the road
| does enhance the value OF proper
| ty, it simply increases tax
/ alton without increasing their
products. And the only argument
| against that is that for every mile OF the
road there is ;, 900 OF taxable property,
| the tax to 90 into the general fund.
"Have there been any meetings on
the subject held in Tyler
"NO, believe not.
"What is your private opinion rs TO
the merits Of an investment in the road,
in your county"
II believe II would be a good thing,
and would pay handsomely; /
am satisfied it would. think
the best plan TO pursue in that
! county is to ask the farmers, instead Of
/ giving their loan to the company to take
that much stock. tell you plainly that
| | do not believe the farmers should give
/ their land free unless they derive some
benefit. You see, in Tyler county, the
| great drawback is the want Of capital.
| Money is not too plenty, and those who
have it have it locked up in real estate
| and cannot get at 1t.
"Tyler is no poorer than hel neigh
| bors, is she?'
Not at all. Tyler had $4,000 OF
! taxable property at the last assessment,
and the railroad would pass through two
townships that represent S7OO,OOO oil
that amount. And that is the substance
/ of my views on the railroad
ATALE WITH HoN. e. p. ROSS.
Hon. G. =. Ross, member of the House
/ of Delegates from Peasants and Wood,
/ was in the city Yesterday, and in a con
/ versation on the proposed railroad down
/ the river he expressed himself quite
! freely. He has talked with a good many
OF the more enterprising citizens Of
Peasants and the upper end OF Wood,
| and lac finds the temper of the people
/ excellent. He says that his section Is
! not without its specimen old iogy, who
! will grunt and growl at being asked to
| give the right OF way or vote for a loan
/ To help make the Improvement. Yet he
is satisfied that when the question
comes to be fully discussed Peasants
county will be substantially unanimous
i'm favor of the subscription.
The people along the river will re-
! ceive more benefit, said Mr.. Ross, than
would the people OF the Interior 10y hav-
ing railroad running through their
country: because, railroad out in the
interior has everything its own way and
can charge pretty much what 1t pleaseS
for carrying freight, while the people
along the river will always have that
great thoroughiarc To keep the railroad
/ authorities on their good behavior.
There is good sense in this view.
After talking railroad, Mr.. Ross had 4
few words To- say on politics.
, lie is almost constantly en-
gagged i'm travelling about the
country, and, Of course, being an intclli-
gent man, gathers public sentiment as
he goes along. lie thinks that Hon.
| Jake Jackson can have the nomination
of Governor il he wants it-there being
pretty strong feeling springing mp in
his behalf The Third District would
do the handsome thing by the Honor
able Jake, and, of course, the First and
Second would be gratiiied to have such
an able and altogether proper candi'
date as he. Mr.. Ross rightly regards
Mr.. Jackson as one of the very ablest
men Of the State and man OF sterling
integrity. lie would make a No. Gov.
ernOr.