Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-11-12

up Elk river, and the promoters all
hopeful, active and liberal.
The Atlantic and Northwestern
has 50 far shown more signs Of purpose
and ability than all others combined. Its
agents have secured and paid Tor
rights of wav through Mason
and Putnam. They have made
conditional contracts iOr nearly all the
right of way from Charleston to kana'
wha Fails. But for the outrageous e1-
actions made OF them in the way OF land
damages in the lower part Oi the county,
they would have been under way all
along the Valley before this. The line
is located, and the contract let, and the
funds are ready. Nothing but the
grasping spirit Of a few land owners has
so far kept them back.
They nOw propose as a compromise 10
pay the owners the enormous awards
allowed by the commission for the land,
but to do the fencing themselves. The
result will be that the owner will get
big price for his land, but he will not,
as originally contemplated, get paid
81. 600 a mile Tor fencing he did not
intended to build. The compromise Is
a fair one for him. Ii aCceded to, the
road will 90 right along through this
Valley. Ii not, there is at least lair
probability that it will cross the ha'
nawha, 20 up Coal river. and leave the
people to gather and enjoy the bitter
fruits OF their own seltishness.
The Leading Spirit
OF this great work is II. Chester Parsons,
formerly OF Putnam, but more recently
of CAbell county, man who has shown
4 genius for great enterprises, which
Jew thought him to possess. and Tor
which the public reluctantly gives hlm
credit, as his labors are crowned with
success. He it was who first conceived
the consolidation scheme embodied III
the act passed by the West Virginia
Legislature, February 25th, 1867, pro-
yiding for merging the Virginia Cen
trial, the West Virginia Central and the
Covington and ONO roads into the Ches-
apeake an! Ohio,a and carried the scheme
through to success. He was
Huntington's Pilot
when that adventurous capitalist made
his first examination OF the Chesapeake
and Ohio route. Through all the pre-
liminarv steps, and indeed up to the
completion of that road he furnished lis
organizing ability and skill. 1t is need
less TO INQUIRE whether he was dlsap-
nointed or satisfied with the subsequent
policy or management. 1t is enough to
know that he felt the need Of a second
line. In spite OF heavy opposition, ne
carried through the Virginia Legislature
his project to transfer the James river
and Kanawha canal to the
Richmond and Allegheny railroad,
raised and deposited S50N,COO in |. ;.
bonds as security for tue performance
OF his contract, built, ir"ned and equip
ped 221 miles of railroad in eighteen
months, and then formed powerful
combination to carry his road westward
10 the Ohio river and the lakes. lie
united the Ohio Central, with the Rich
mond and Allegheny, with the Atlantic
and Northwestern as the intermediate
link.
Five Millions
have already been raised, as much more
has been offered; all the money his pro-
iects need can be had. The work pro
claims the worker. Should his health
continue and no accident beiaIl him he
will in ten wears stand in the front rank
OF the railroad magnates OF the country.
The People OF Wheeling
are now interested in the completion OF
this Atlantic x Northwestern read more
than many OF them imagine. 1t pro
poses TO lind in Wheeling market for
its coke and iron ores. True the dis
ance is great, but with its own low
graLes coupled with those OF the Wheel
ing, Parkersburg and Charleston road,
with which it will connect at Point
Pleasant, its projectors are not unrea-
sonable in claiming to be able to furnish
Wheeling with cheap ore and coke.
A Large Land Purchase
was made here last week by DR.. ID.
Ward, OF Detroit, Michigan. Mr. ii. :.
Walker sold to him the Walker coal lands
on the kanawha about ~ miles abov"
Charleston, together with two smaller
tracts adjoining, for Sli7 900 cash. The
entire purchase aggregated 5000 acres
A little less than $50 per acre.
The tract is one of the finest in the
valley, contains over thirty feet OF splint,
camel and coking coal in workable
seams, and has available transportation
either bv rail or water. DR.. Ward is an
immensely wealthy lumber dealer oil
Michigan, who has been examining the
coal lands OF this valley for some time
with a view of investment. Last SUN
mer he bought 1000 acres OF &. &
Lewis for $4,000 He will spend large
sum in developing his property
and expects to ship by W.
ter to Cincinnati and Louisville and
the Southern markets, and by rail to the
cities OF the Northwest. He is full ot
energy, a man of rare business skill and
experience, and will no donbt be the
means OF largely advancing the materi-
al interests Of this valley.
HAMPTON.