The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-08
THE RAllron.l on ,hs National turnpike
ElllIOfS IntHllIReneeF.

A writer In your paper Of yesterday say
that we cannot tell how many ATTENDED
the country meetings adverse to stean
from the reports OF such meetings. TIL,
reports state that the meetings were larg,
and earnest. II any doubt that the farm
ers are and that the whole country Il
aroused inthis matter, the slightest inqui
ry.will satisfy him that the Indignation ant
threats Of many pass even proper bounds,
and that the country Is practically unani
nous and far more violently opposed tc
the measure than two years ago. --
That candid writer places the poor ol
this city ut 10000 or 25,0O0. No remark Is
needed. lie pictures the laboring man
taking the Elm Grove horse cars at
Or. NJ, and being able to get back with
his family at 10 P. NJ, only byfidihg direct
10 the end OF the road dand,immetliately
back again. The fact is that II takes about
one hour TO gothe end OF the road, and the
same back, leaving two hours in the coun.
try. But the workingman, after aday Of
toll does not take such trips, nor does he
feel able TO spend 25cents each for. himself
and wife and the same for three children
over 10 years old-l0 cents or more when
they are under that age--foran evenings
amusement. The road Is used by differ
ent class Of e9cursionists.
This writer says II the Senators will ride
out the Hempdeld road they. will very
likely Zee tW0 Sird1g men holding. .qiLiet
horse by head till the cars pass by, the
horse showing little signs Of fright. Our
men must be growing timid. II man
and wife, or lady alone, or ladies', are driv-
ing or riding who would at the opportune
moment supply the ttEo strong mknf
The TRUTHS that the workingmen who
use the Elm Grove Railroad for country
excursions do so on Sunday, their day OF
rest, and II answers every demand on their
men, for whom steam is demanded, are
the rich directors and stockholders in
whose interest yesterdays article was
written. qlEi 'tG
1t afIirms the horses will not scare.
The substantial farmers who told the Sen.
ate committee, and came from their bust.
ness and homes miles away to do 1t, that
persons would wait for half an hour be-
hind theirbarns 10 hide from the Hemp.
field train, are OF different opinion. As
toa dummy" they say that In Philadel-
phia even city teams rear and plunge and
will not pass 1t, as they have personally
seen. Farmers are generally supposed to
know something about horses. .-r+
They assert that the use OF steam will be
q practical abandonment OF the road, that
no one will use it unless compelled to risk
their lifein doing so. They ask II this
road which the public has paid for and
which is necessary to them in making a
livelihood, is to bo surrendered either TO
city residents seeking pleasure or corpora
tors seeking gains without compensation.
Suppose locomotive meets funeral to
Greenwood or the other cemeteries, one
scared animal mashing vehicles, would
inevitably stampede the train. Net re.
suit more funerals. The Hempheld does
not run on the bed OF the turnpike. Its
few daily trains can be and are avoided
carefully. But those 10 or 90 minutes
apart on the bed OF the road it would be
impossible to avoid.
Our very best citizens OF Wheeling,
bankers, merchants and even stoCkhoid-
ers of the Elm Grove Railroad are opposed
to steam. The opposition Is not confined
10 farmers. Tie whole project is viewed
in both city and country with aniazement,
Tint company who have been given the
right OF way free and have made money
should now ask exclusive use OF the only
road to be depended on in all seasons and
weathers should not excite astonishment.
These co-oporators individually would
never think Of such action. But they do
not hesitate when the responsibility can
be divided by. creating one OF those artii-
cial persons which have 'sneither bodies
TO kick nor souls 10 be damned -
In Yesterdays communication paid at.
torneys are charged with getting up these
country meetings. No attorney has aughi
to do with the steam controversy adverse
" except the writer, who is by calling one
OF that unfortunate class who never work
and the first knowledge had by myself Of
any such meetings was notice from the
country that they would be held. They
were never even suggested by me. They
were Us spontaneous rs they were numer'
GUS and formidable In their protests against
what they Justly characterized as an out
rage on their rights. II | maybe excused
for so far speaking Of self, l wish to say
that whatever l have done in this matter
has not been for pay, nor as any one'
lawyer.
We are all in favor OF steam on the Elm
Grove Railroad, but we are in favor OF the
railroad first being taken off the pike
Farmers and the other citizens OF TIKI
State have some rights, which even an in
significant railroad four miles long into tn
country 1--WE have an abiding confidence ii
eur I.egislature) will be compelled tore
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