Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-30

Hempfield Extension Through Wheel.
iug.
Correspondence OF the Register.
l haven't any doubt at all in my own
mind as to the cause OF the opposition to
the propositions made by the B. & O.
Railroad Company to make through
line OF it's Hempfeld branch through
Wheeling. Prejudice is, in my opinion,
the sole and only cause OF the fight made
against the company, whenever and
wherever it attempts to make any i'm
provement about Wheeling. To me,
this is certainly very supercillious and
unwise. The city lost the Central Ohio
railroad bridge and its connections.
and Bellaire got it and them for
just exactly for the same rea.
son they are now urging against
the Hempfeld extension-prejudice.
Our City Council. it seems to me, OPP
poses everything that would build up,
open up, and develop ou; city, and put
it on an equal footing with other cities.
The Hempfeld extension would cir
culate in the city, that is, just the work
to be done alone within the city limits,
about $3.50. .OOO) seven hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. This, OF itself, is one
strong reason why we should concede
anything we possibly can to the COM
pany. The great advantage our
mills would derive from the prox-
imnity OF the coke regions to
them, by this extension, is another.
But, in my judgment, one reason more
potential than these, is found in the fact
that our city would no longer be a
switched-off city from the main line.
but would be directly on that line, and
an important station on that line. This
is the controlling reason with me in
favoring this extension. 1t would make
great difference with our merchants,
hotels and manufacturing industries.
People would come here then, who now
pass US by and go elsewhere to spend
their money and time.
Merchants and manufacturers are
opposing their own interests, and the
best interests Of our city, in opposing
the extension.
We can't have too many railroads
coming into, or going out OF the city.
They bring capital and labor with them,
and We are all mutual sharers in the
benefit.
Personal prejudice against the B. & o.
Company, and that too, without any
common sense reason, rejects, and de-
priyes our city Of the Hempfeld extern
sion, and its incalcuable interests to US
all, to-day.
We hope to see Council and the peo.
pie generally look at this question in the
right light, and with the proper spirit.
The damages, il justice is done the
company, to the city would not amount
to scarcely trife. Ten thousand dol
lars would pay every honest dollar. But
there are people here, just like in other
places, who 20 wild over imaginary dam.
ages, and who think and do not hesitate
to say that, because it is railroad, II
should pay excessive damages for their
almost worthless property. The route
proposed by the company would not re.
ally damage the city at al because the
improvement OF real estate in that sec.
ton OF the city would more than ten
fold enhance the value of the property
along the route through the city where
it passes.
As to the gas works, it would damage
them in no way whatever. The opposi-
ton then from this source, know, is
more of personal nature than anything
else.
Taking the entire route as asked for
by the company, there is no property OF
any considerable value to be damaged,
because it passes through that part OF the
city where valuable properties are not
found,
Since 1852 the B. & o. R. R. has been
our main dependence to 60 east and
west. 1t ia our only inter State line OF
Without 1t We would
have no intercourse with our State.
am not writing in the interest OF the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad company,
but in the interest only, OF our city in
this matter. want the railroad extern
sion and whatever good results may,
and will come to the city from 1t, and l
care not who builds it.
The B. & o. company has the right
OF way through the city now via Six
teepth, Seventeenth and McColloch
streets. 1t can annoy and injure the
city incalcuabIy more by putting "help-
ers" on this line and push their trains
through the streets mentioned every
few minutes, than it would or can
by any circumstancial possibility
over. or on the route asked
for through the suburbs of east Wheel
ing. suppose for a moment that the
company adopt this hinted at dernier
alternative, what would our remedy be?
None whatever.
II our people and council will let rea.
son sway and Influence their judgments
aud conduct in this matter, as it should,
the right OF way will soon be agreed on,
and the extension become a fixed fact;
aud our city and people of all classes
would be greatly benefited thereby.
Come, let US reason together.
Jusr.cR.
WHEELING, August 27, 1881.