The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-23
TIE ExTRNsION.
vlsWs or Some Prominent Citizens on
the subject.

the subject.
The recent introduction in the Second
Branch OF the City Council Of resolutions
looking to reopening Of the question Of
granting the right Of way through certain
Streets In East Wheeling for the extension Of
the Hempheld branch Of the B, & y, road,
has caused the matter 70 assume timely IN
terest in the public mind, and considerable
talk is to be heard among Councilman, rail-
road officials and interested business men ON
the subject With view TO asCertaining
what the drift OF opinion Is, u reporter yes
terday interviewed several gentlemen who
are in q position to form an intelligent
opinion, aud whose views OF the same time
will command consideration and respect.
Mr., ISAIAH WARREN
says he has seen nothingt to change bis former
views Of the matter; He thinks that the y.
& o. company could have Conciliated the
main opposition by very slight concession.
Both the gus works and Sir, Warren's oil re-
finery property would have been avoided by
locating the north portal Of the proposed
tunnel at point 800 or 400 feet farther up
the creek, and there could be no reasonable
and Weighty objection to this on the part OF
the railroad company. The proposed route
would have so enCroached upon the property
OF Senator Camden and Mr. Thompson, upon
which the oil refinery is located, as to make
Il unavailable for use. This property is
worth $4,000. Then the objection on ac-
count OF the fear OF damage TO the city gas
works would have fallen through had the de-
Election suggested been made. Mr. Warren
says when the matter was up he consulted
with Mr., Nels Whitaker and that gentle
man said he had no objection to the adoption
OF the route suggested. MIR. Warren Is also
of tho opinion that the advantage to the city
Of having the u. & o. main line extend
through It would be largely COunteraCted by
tho confusion and noise, the smoke and the
increased danger to life consequent upon one
hundred trains OF coal and coke passing over
the streets daily. He would at the same time
like to SEQ the extension constructed, but
thinks the accommodation should not DO all
on one side, but that the railroad company
should consult the various interests con-
cernGd.
Mn. JOUN II, HALL,
prominent member Of the First Branch Of
City Council, n member Of the Railroad
committee, and q gentleman who took
deep interest in the extension matter was
hailed by q reporter, and asked:
"What Is the status OF the II. 4 o. extern
sion ordinance now? DO you regard 1t US
dead and done ior?'
0So, Sir," said Mr. H.; ~ do not. think
the road will be built" And he went on 70
give his ideas Of the status Of aIEaiS, Hesaid
he thought that II tho city were to make
reasonable proposition the company would
accept It, The proposition TO cross the creek
and tunnel the hill some distance above TIC
point proposed was objectionable to the
company because II would necesState Drllg'
ing the creek diaSonally which would be
hard to maintain when there was lrcshet OF
an leo break Tho objectionable stipulation
that tho company should give bond with
personal security to idemniy the city against
damage to the gus works he thought would
be so modified US to accept the company
own bond. The provision making the whit
taker Iron conpGny's consent a prerequisite
to tho contract in certain particulars was
mistake, and had no right to be In the Ordt
nance. Mr.. Hall thought there could be nc
two opinions concerning the advantage to the
city OF tho construction OF the road, and be
lieved that instead OF injurlng property or
i Nineteenth street II would eventually en-
nance It's value and make thriving com
munity OF that part Of the city. lie ha!
good reason to believe that the question Will
be reargued at an early day, and had hope
that good counsel will prevail and the city
show a disposition to DO fair with the railroad
company. and secure the advantages Of thu
extension.
Mr.. SAMUEL LAudHLES,
Chairman oftlie Council Committee on Rail
roads and mover OF the resolutions referred L
in the opening OF this article was next called
upon. lie thinks there Is n general desire OF
the part OF the important business Interests
OF tile city that the question should DO re
opened, and everything In reason done Il
secure the construction VI the rOad. He ha(
call but recently from Col Boyd, the con
Tractor on the extension, who assured lln
that the disposition Of Engineer Randolph
and the other officials OF the road was 10 NEE
the city In n spirit OF fairness--ihat the com
pany desired to 90 to work at once 10 maxi
the tunnel and lay double track through
the city. Mr.. Laughlin says that the dl latory
spirit OF the City Council In the matter is gen
erally condemned by shippers and business
men ASIA member Of the Board OF Ga
Trustees he had never had any reason L
change his opinion that there was no reason
to fear damage TO the gas tanks by the prox
unity OF the track, and he thought If hi
owned real estate on Nineteenth street III
would rather have the railroald pass 1t thar
not. HIT did not enhance 1t, It would al
least not lepreciate tho value. lIe says III
Is only waiting the action Of the First Branch
and II they do not act soon he will call the
committee OH the resolutions OF the Second
Branch, and proceed TO hold n conference
with the i, Il d. and p, W. & Ky. companies
concerning the right OF way and route Of the
proposed extension. lie Is persuaded that
tho matter will meet with much less oppo
sition than before In Council.
MAJ. ALoSzo 1oRtyd,
Secretary Of the Benwood Iron Works, was
found at the Office OF the works on Fourteenth
street. lie said very decidedly that hO re.
gardcd the 3. e 0. extension as Of more vital
Importance to the manufacturing interests OF
the city, and consequently, OF course, TO the
city itself, than any other railroad project
that has been broachcd for long time. II
removes the one disadvantage Wheeling en-.
counters as competitor with Pittsburgh In
the manufacture Of IRON by placing the two
cities on an equal footing as regards the
freight on coke. Pittsburgh would then have
only four miles shorter communication with
tile Connellsville coke region, which would
not affect freight disadvantageously TO It's. Az
II is now, however Pittsburgh phys but $40 a
car, while Wheeling pays $50. In the mattel
Of coal Wheeling has the advantage OF cheaper
andm accessible coal. The Wheeling coal
kItuNGl thlh'
In use at Pittsburgh, which Is undesirable fol
making finer kinds Of iron; but with the late
improvements In the manufacture Of iron By
the use OF gas as fuel, our coal Is moro
desirable than Pittsburglfs, producing
more gas 10 the ton, and for ordi.
nary grades OF iron there Is little difference,
for nails the preference beinggiyen to Wheel.
Ing coal, rs the sulphur gives the nail O
harder surface. II, said Mr. Lorlng, tho u. &
O. extension Is not built, this community
will no doubt be able to hold the iron fur.
naces she now has, but II is improbable thai
she could ever induce others to locate here
With the extension this point would posses,
q decided advantage for tho. manufacture oil
iron over Pittsburgh and would attract new
factories and furnaces. It Is important also
he thinks, that there should DO no delay In
securing the construction Of the road, n
there arc now several large iron industries
seeking location. Among these IL the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, and II II 10 the
Intention OF tile company to manufacture
their own iron, the Major could sec no rea.
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