The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-20
A Railroad DoRn the River Badly
Needed.


everything at these lyceumS.
A Railroad Down the River Badly
needed.
! The Tyler county Star cries out In lie
last issue, "Glve usa railroad" Thiscry is
no doubt the expression at this time Of
nine,tenthS Of the people along both
shores OF the Ohio. The prolonged sus.
pension Of river navigation last winter
and again this fall, has brought 10 mind
very forcibly John Randolph's celebrated
remark about the Clio, that in winter It
was frozen up and In summer dried
up. While this remark Is an exaggera-
ton OF tho actual facts in regard to the
Ohio river, yet 1t has SO much OF truth In
II that people always think Off alter such
seasons Of suspended navigation as
We have had in the last twelve months.
1t is q lGmentable fact that the Ohio can.
not be depended on In wlntOr or summer
Us highway Of commerce. II Wheeling
was left to tho river alone these days, OK
she was once, We should not sec much Of
a business boom in our midst. And 1t is
because our neighbors down the river are
left to it alone that they now cry out
give US railroad" They may well cry
out thus, for lately they have been almost
cut off from the outside world, as they
we're for so long Rseasou last winter. In
consequence OF this isolation they are
greatly disadvantaged in commerCs-in
their sales and their purchases. Their
produce cannot be got to market except
at great cost, and all that Is shipped to
them by tho little fat.bottomod boats Is
81 ldIed with double rates for transporta,
ton. Their apples, potatoes, wheat, oats,
tobacco, lumber, ETC., are all enlarged
for lack Of shipping facilities. Those who
buy their produce at time like this do so
on speculation, and will pay only the
lowest prices, for fear Of decline before
they can get the stuff to market. Thus
the farmers candle is burned at both
euds, for while he gets the lowest price
for everything he has to sell, he must
needs pay the highest price for all he has
to buy, on account Of the difficulty and
cost Of shipping it to him.
The only remedy for this great disability
Is a railroad along the shore between this
city and Parkersburg. That such rail-
road would be- full and complete remedy
Is not matter for any doubt at this late
day. That it would be paying remedy,
both directly and indirectly, both to those
who may build it aud thUss whose disabili-
ties it will remove, is hardly less doubtful,
for with the experience Of two railroads
travetsing the Ohio river to this point,
and both paying handsomely, it can
hardly be doubted that single line be-
tween this aud Parkersburg would in like
manner pay well. AT the time, two years
ago, when the matter was discussed, Capt.
Mcclure gave it as his opinion, based upon
his long and intimate knowledge Of the
trade between this city and Petersburg,
that 1t would be one Of the best paying
lines in this region Of country. No man
in our midst is better qualified to give an
opinion on such question than the Cap.
tain. for he is not only an experienced
riverman but he has Of late years been a
close observer OF the railroad development
of this part Of the country, and was al.
ways sanguine that the P, W. & Ky. road
would prove, as it has proved, q paying in.
vestment to this city.
There is very large business to be done
by a railroad along the river, as far down
as Parkersbirg. The trade and travel to
this city would bc greatly stimulated by
such quick method OF communication
aud transportation. So great, in every
pointot view, would be its advantages that
we doubt not that the counties along the
route would subscribe literally to the
stock. Ohio county could well afford to
take two hundred thousand dollars in it,
the PennsylvAniacompany us much more,
and the counties OF Marshall, Wetzel,
Tyler, Peasants and Wood the balance.
1t ought to be built and equipped for q
million Of dollars as narrow gauge. As
a standard gauge, one million Of dollars
iudiciously spent on it would make it
easily bondable for such an amount as
would complete and equip it.
1t seems 10 US that this Is a good time
to renew the agitation Of this important
matter. Certainly the people along the
shore are in condition Of mind, after last
winters experience, and that OF this fall,
to be easily persuaded to take hold Of the
project