The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-15
Barne.yiIIe, ohio, and Its Railroad As
nIFnliOnn.

BAPneHyllle, Ohio, ana Al AAAlEVeN ~
PiTaIiOnI.
A good many Of our Ohio nsighbors
over at GAINESVILLE are lamsnting the de-
feat Of project which was incubatiug in
the Legislature at Columbus . few dAyl
ago for authority to levy tax OF SlN'OOO
on Barnesville in the interest ola standard
gauge railroad connection with the Wheel
Ing & Tuscarawas Valley road, Although
the proposed amount is more than one
tsuth Of the taxable property Of Barnes
vile, yet q large number Of people there
were willing to assume such burden lor
the sake Of getting road that would IN
their OPINION, restore to them the trade
and prosperity lost to the town BY the
building OF the narrow gauge from Woods
field to Bellaire.
1t is now admitted that the building oil
that road was q severe blow to Barnes
vile, inasmuch as Is 1t ha' diverted large
Monroe county trade to the river at
Ballalre that used to seek the Central ONO
Railroad at Baruesville.
1t seems by an editorial in the Enterprise
that BarnesvilIe rea! estste has been de-
precistiug for some time past, and that
the people are showing a disposition to
emigrate, believing that the town has
seen its best days and Is verging into de-
cadence. With view OF checking this
retrogade tendency the movement to raise
100000 for railroad to the North was
started. The bill authorizing the levy oil
this amount passed the Ohio Senate, but
when It reached the House 1t was referred
10 the Railroad Committee, the chairman
Of which was hostile to suCh grant OF
authority, regarding It as excessive and
Injurious, and hence when the citizens Of
Bonneville opposed to the bill appeared
before the committee they had an easy
victory.
The defeat Of the measure has cast q
good deal Of gloom over the GAINESVILLE
community, according to. the Enterprise,
and men are asking each other what the
town shall now do to be saved, The En-
LepriH Counsels them to keep up their
courage, reminding them that all things
are possible to stout hearts and willing
hands. There must still be railroad
built to the north, but It need not neces.
sarlly be a standard gauge road. A mar.
row gauge will do, and 1t holds out the
project Of q connection with the Cleveland
& Connection Valley narrow gauge (now
building) at Bowerstown on the Pan Han.
die road. The distance from Barnesvllle
10 Bowerstown Is 80 miles, and the cost oil
narrow gauge road to that point would
be at $4,000 per mile say 100000 The
Enterprise intimates that II the township in
which GAINESVILLE Is situated will subscribe
$4,000 the railroad company will be In
duced with the addition Of other sub
sCrlptlons along the route) to come to
Barnesville, and from GAINESVILLE extend
their road southwark to q connection with
the WoodsHeld and Bellaire narrow gauge
In this way thetown Of Bsrnesyille would
hope to recover some Of her trade from
the South and gain some from the North
What is wanted in the estimation Of the
EnIerpriic Is bold leader at this time. Says
the editor:
ave need the energy, the ability, the
money OF our leading citizens. We want
wealthy citizens to come 10 the front,
like Mooney with the Bellaire 4 South.
western, without whose efforts Woodsheld
could never have obtained her railroad
like Holloway, who secured railroad for
Flushing; like Frank Atkinson, whose en-.
ergy and enterprise galvanizss the little
village OF Batesvllle into new life; like
Cochran, who did much 10 make Quaker
City important like Sullivan, whose ability
developed the railroad system Of Bellaire
Barnesyile needs leaders, men who will
use their talents, their wealth and inilu'
enCe, not to crush the aspirations Of the
people, but who will aid In every enter
prise which tends towards the advance
ment Of the place.
While we admire the earnestness Of oul
good neighbor In this matter, we really do
not see how he can hope to force trade Ia
Barnesvllle from the lines north and south
otthe place. Bellaire Is the natural out
let for Woodsdeld and the whole country
bordering on the line Of the narrow guage.
Trade will inevitably follow that line. Az
regards the country to the north oil
Barnesvile, II seems to US that Mr.. Brad
field Of that place was right when he ex.
pressed the opinion that good pixies would
do more for Barnesville than anything
else. The people who live along the line
Of the Tuscarawas Valley road will seek
the river by that line. No cross rail.
road can divert them. They are more
likely TO 60 10 st. ClAirsville, as that ID
their county seat, and much more likely
to come to Bridgeport and Wheeling. A
mere railroad connection with Cleyeland
means no increase Of mercantile trade ID
GAINESVILLE. She has no special induce,
ments 10 offer as q mercantile centre
Therefore her true policyis to command
the country Immediately around her,
north and south, by good pixies.
A defense OF tho Hancock County system.
The OHIO State Journal comes 10 the de.
tense Of the Hancock county system Of