Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-28
R. A. & O. C. RAILROAD.
READABLE ACCOUNT or AN IMPORT.
ANT ENTERPRISE.
Right Of way-0amages Extraordinary
Public Judgment on the Kanawha
Observation-Disclosures IN Fay
etts-C. 4 0. Trying to 0ccu-
py Both Sides Of New River.
PROGRESS OF THE R. A. 4 0. co.


Special Correspondence of the Register.
Some observations on the status and
prospects Of the new railroad projected
along the Ksnawha and New rivers
may be of interest to the readers OF the
REGISTER. You are familiar with the
history Of the organization of the Rich
mond and Allegheny Railroad Company,
the acquisition Of the property Of the
James River and Kanawha Company,
and the building Of the road from Rich.
mond 10 Williamson's in an incredible
short space Of time-a history Of
energy, determination and skillful
management almost without a parallel
In railroad building in our country.
Following this we have the passage Of
the act by the last Legislature amending
the charter OF the Guyandotts railroad
company, and making it applicable to
the route down the New and Kanawha
rivers, then the organization OF the
Richmond, Toledo and Chicago, under
whose auspices the prelimary survey
was made-then the consolidation OF
these companies under the name OF the
Atlantic snd Northwestern, under con-
troll of the Richmond and Allegheny,
and finally the consolidation OF the Ohio
Central, Richmond and Allegheny, and
all the rest OF the business
under the name OF the Richmond, ALE.
gheny and Ohio Central road, and the
placing of large loan to raise funds TO
build the missing link" between Cor
ing, the eastern terminus OF the Ohio
Central, and Williamson's, the western
terminus OF the Richmond and ALE.
gheny.
The purpose in brief is to give a di.
rect through railfc&d route from Chica
90 to tide water on lighter grades, at
less cost, and through richer country
than any other line between the great
west and the seaboard.
West Virginia is OF course mainly in
terested in the construction OF the road
as a means of giving access to market to
her varied agricultural products, to her
stock, to her timber and her minerals.
The recent visit to this section OF Cap.
tain H. &. Parsons, TO whose indomita-
BILE energy and enterprise the great pro.
gress already made Is mainly due, has
stimulated activity in railroad circles,
and revived inquiry as to
The Prospects and Progress Of the Road
As to its construction there Is not the
slightest doubt. About the exact route
there may be some question, whether
the ro,d shall follow the Kanawha to
the falls and proceed thence through the
New river canon, or whether it shall
leave the Kanawha below Charleston,
90 up Grail river to its head and strike
New river at the mouth OF Piney or Blue
Stone is not so we'll settled. So far u
part OF the people OF Kanawha have
shown purpose 10 drive the en-.
terprise out OF the county entirely, il
such a thing be possible. The recent
awards Of damages tor right Of way
along the Kanawha from Charleston to
the Putnam line have been extraor-
binary, extravagant and outrageous.
Upon lands that are assessed at $50 per
acre, the Commissioners awarded dam.
ages at from 5000 to 81, 900 per acre. The
Lenslow farm, containing 800 acres,
was bought last year by
a man named Ryan for $500. His
damages for elk acres were assessed at
5000. Land for which the county paid
Mr.. Joel Quarter $50 per acre, as part
OF the poor farm, was charged to the
railroad at $745 per acre. And thus
through the whole list. The most pre-
posterous claims were Set up by the
counsel for the landowners and evident.
" allowed by the commissioners. Dam.
ages for imaginary dangers to life and
lilnb; damages for disturbance OF rest
and distress Of mind; damages for in
creased insurance on houses that will
never sarry a policy; damages to the
tillage OF fields as barren as the desert OF
Sahara; damages TO bridges that
would not bear up q calf;
damages for roads inn passable to cart !;
damages political, fictitious, romantic;
damages to gnarled and blighted fruit
trees that do not bear three crops in a
century, and 2,600 mile for imaginary
damages to hypothetical fences that will
never be built. The
Injustice OIL tneeo AWaros
is admitted by the great majority OF the
people OF the country. They recognize
them as the work OF few men to take
advantage OF the situation to organize a
system OF legal pillage, and are not slow
to denounce IL accordingly.
Kanawha has always prided herself
on her public spirit Again
and again has she voted TO
subscribe large sums in aid OF railroads
under the management OF men who
we're unable to fulfill their pledges. Now
that an enterprise OF merit and sub.
stance knocks at her door the great
majority are averse TO having it merci.
lessly skinned. 100
As matter OF course the company
will not submit to these awards. They
will either abandon the route along
which such an extortionste disposition
is manifest, or will seek that redress
which is guaranteed them by q resort TO
the courts. ...... ~
The Action Of the Commissioner
has excited much unfavorable comment.
Some OF the land owners are expressing
themselves az anxious TO compromise.
IL is pusslble that such concessions may
be made and will close the breach. Last
Tuesday was the day fIed TO hear an
application by the r. A. & 0. q. Co. for
she appointment by the circuit court OF
condemnation commissioners in
Tayetts County.
II being understood that the Chesa-
peake and Ohio claimed both sides OF the
New river, and had taken out . special
charter for the Greenbrier and New
River Company 70 occupy the route pro-
posed TO be taken by the r A.
4 o. @. Co, it was sup
posed their counsel would resist
the application. General Thomas Ew-
ing, OF Ohio, and Messrs- Miller and
CouIh, of Charleston, appeared at Fay
ettsyille before Judge Holt. on the day
named, and on behalf Of the nes rail.
road applied for the appointment OF
Commissioners. No opposition xs
made, and Il appearing that notice had
been given 10 ali parties Interested. OF
the time and place of the application,
and there being no objection, the sppli.
cation vas granted and an order entered
.Lo Ha,,c,,s.iorors al NJ