The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-01
the DeIlnlre and southwestern naIlroad.

The BellRlFe anu NORTHWESTERN tthllF0hu.
Wehaye received a copy Of the state.
mont OF the affairs Of this company on
the LIST day Of January Of this year, Just
issued from the press. From this state
ment we gather a good deal Of lmforma'
tion that must DO interesting to many Of
our readers. The people Of Wheeling as
well as the people Of BellairC are deeply
interested in oil that relates to the build.
ing Of this road. We have always regarded
It's completion as the means OF opening
up wider field to the trade Of this city.
Wheeling now finds no little difficulty in
reaching the sections Of Belmont and Mon
roe counties that will beopcnedup to easy,
direct and cheap transportation By this
enterprise. At present her freight to
WoodsAeld goes by way Of GAINESVILLE,
and reaches Its destination at an expense
Of TO 80 cents per hundred, 30 OF which
is consumed by the wagon haul from Bar
nesville. And us for such pointsalong the
line Of the proposed road as Armstrong;
mills, BeallsvilIe, Jacolsburg, Ozark, Cald.
wells, and half dozen other points that
might be named, We can only reach them
by wagon from the river or railroad, or by
reshipment from Woodstield, andata heavy
expense for freight rs compared with
what it will be when the new railroad is
completed. tits in contemplation on the
mart OF the road To make close Connec-
ton with this city, either by IA arrange
ment with tho Baltimore 4 Ohio or by
boat, They have river frontage at Boil
aire down which to run an incline for the
purpose Of discharging and receiving
freight, and asa matter Of course they OK.
pecL to do u great deal Of business with
Wheeling. Hence we say that the Bell.
aire & Southwestern road is an enterprise
that naturally should enlist a great deal OF
good feeling, and also an active Co-opera-
ton on the part OF the business men Of
Wheeling.
The present status Of this enterprise ap-
pears to be this: The cars IRE now run.
ming as far as Jacobsburg--some ffteen
miles-and the road is earning expenses.
This promises well for it when it is COM
pleted through to Woodsdeld, twenty
seven miles. AS TO when it will be COM
pleted depends on how soon the amount
Of means necessary TO finish it may be
raised. The first surveys in 1876, estima-
cd the cost of the road at ST., 900 per mile,
hut as matter Of fact, owing to the
shrinkage in iron and other material, and
labor, it has turned out that it can be
built for $4,000 per mile. The road bed
is no& nearly completed the bridging and
trestlingare approaching completion ;cross
ties have been provided for the entire
line; 10 miles of track. with the necessary
sidings, have been put down, and there is
iron enough provided to lay q miles more
Of track. The managers Of the road feel
confident that they can complete the entire
line to WOodsfeld in 90 days when good
weather comes. The estimated cost Of do
ing so is put down at $4,000. This esti-
mate includes all the grading and bridg-
ing, the rails, switches, water stations,
cattle stops and necessary turn tables, and
all expenses for labor.
In addition to this amount, an estimate
is published Of the expense necessary for
procuring 4 fill equipment of rolling
stock, and it is put down ut $3O,05O, and
includes two additional locomotives at
5000 each, % coal cars and fiat cars at
$3.50 each, 10 box and 10 live stock cars at
$500 each, one second-class passenger
coach at $1,000, two first.class coaches at
$500, and four hand cars at $50 each.
The sum total Of all expenses estimated
as necessary to complete the road to
Woodstleld, and fully equip it for freight
and passenger business, is set down at
sllO,l5O. Upto this time there have been
spent on the road S2S4,970 81, consisting
of Sl6l,O35 OS. subscriptions to the stock,
and money borrowed and bills payable to
the amount Of sl2S,042 SO. There is still
owing, on account of subscription, some
100000, out Of which the company expect
to collect $4,000. To complete and equip
the road, and TO discharge the present
liabilities, the company have the following
resources from which to derive tho funds:
UneOleCCd stock, regarded a. good ...,,,,.s 5000
Zeal estate al its cash value 1900
FIist mortgage 10000
$3.50 GOO
Total
Estimated ro't u completing tn tOal........ 1870
Es'imtcd cost OF additional rolling StOcE".~ SV,aSO
Iotal''..''',.' COZ
In order to complete the road, pay off
its floating debt, &c, the company pro.
pose now to dispose Of their first mortgage
bonds, which will bear per cent interest,
payable semi-annually. These will con.
stitute a mortgage on the line for little
over $500 per mile, and will, Of course,
be q first lien on the road. This will be
only little over half tho actual cost OF
the road, and hcncs will be strong
security.
The only question is, will tho road pay
when built? This is the important ques.
ton to the investing public. II it can be
shown that it will undoubtedly pay, thoro
will be plenty Of money ready to buy the
bonds instead OF seeking Investment in
United States four per cents, for it is pro-
posed, rs We understand, TO market these
bonds ut eighty.fve cents on the dollar,
thus making them an eight per cent SO.
curity. In order to answer tho question
whether tho road will pay, the directors
have made the following estimate Of their
traffic pOr day in car loads:
Cali! Gal, ! saT per day. az sS..:~,,... 1000
Lumbar CtF mar ain ~