Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-18
PROPOSED EXTENSION.
A THROUGH LINE EAST VIA con-
ktll>V
important and interesting Railroad Confer
ence Vest rtay-PrOposed Changes
in the 3. 4 0.-Proposiions
Of Interest 10
Wheeling.

OF IUlefeSt "
Wheeling.
The completion of the Hempheld
branch of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road through TO Connellsville, Pa, has
so often been talked and written up that
the project is quite familiar, in It's gen
eral nature, to all interested The adj
yantages TO the city OF WHIT cling by lis
location OH the main ADD through line
and ID the iron industry by direct com:
munication with the coke regions oil
Connellsville, have been July set forth.
Ii was known that preliminary surveys
of the proposed line had been made and
txo years ago the project Was freely dis
cussed as a fact 10 have been accom-
plished in the near future; 1t was hipt-
ed that through line would soon be
completed and 1.-The grass could grow On
the main stem OF the b. & y. road
through West Virginia; but OF late but
little has been heard of the proposition.
Mr.. Garrett and Mr.. keyser were both
absent, travelling through Europe, and
the public mind almost lost its grasp oil
the subject.
A renewal took place yesterday, and
developments were made, from which 1t
appears that by this time one year hence
the new road will be completed, and the
main line between Chicago and Balti-
more and New York will pass through
this city. The first intimation had OF
this proposition was through call is
sued on Wednesday to the Coun-
ellis Committee ON Railroads
and Board of Commissioners Com
mittee on Finance TO meet the
officials OF the B. & o, road at Captain
Devries' Office, yesterday afternoon.
The road was represented by Vice Pres
ident Keyser, Chief Counsel Caleb Bog
CESS, Chief Engineer Randolph and
Capt. l.. L. Devries and besides the COM
mIttees mentioned were several promi-
nent iron manufacturers OF the city.
The conference was opened by Mr..
Keyser, in a statement that he had de-
sired the gentlemen to meet him to con-
fer upon project in relation 10 the COM
pletiOn of the Hemptield through TO
Connellsvllle. In response to pressure
brought to bear upon him-the weight
OF public opinion desiring connection
between Wheeling and the Councils.
vile coke regions-he had written to
President Garrett upon the sub.
ject The reply OF the latter, da-
ted at Paris, authorized him to
proceed at once toward the completion
OF the extension. Mr.. Garrett said that
could suitable arrangements be made
with the people OF Wheeling, he would
give them a double track line through
to the coke regions and place Wheeling
on the main road from Chicago to the
sea board.
Ii then remains with the people OF
Wheeling, whether this line shall pass
through or miss the city. The COM
pany, Mr.. Keyser explained, has three
plans in view, which were fully ampli-
fled and elaborated on a map OF the city,
spread upon table.
The first plan is to abandon the track
which at present runs from McCul-
ough street down Seventeenth to the
depot, and for it substitute the following
route: in place OF turning off upon Sew
enteenth street, just south OF the Cen
trail Glass Works, the track will continue
southwark, down the new made street
at right angles to the Zane street
bridge, until Nineteenth is reached;
here the track defects toward the
west, again turning south at the
Hinge Factory and crossing the creek,
striking Chapline hill about one hun
dred yards west OF the Crescent mill.
There tunnel begins and runs in
southwesterly direction, opening on
Twenty second street, at the north end
OF the Fifth ward market. The track
will run west on rwenty-second street,
curving to the south at Main, and con-
Meeting with the river tracks about at
the alley between Twenty.second and
Twenty-third streets.
By this plan, through freight IRON
the west crosses the bridge at Bellaire,
follows up the river to the point men,
toned and goes on east by the new tun-
mel. Passenger trains will come up to
the depot, and thence back down to tue
syitch and on east. One thousand cars
per day will pass over the line, said Mr..
keyse. TO perfect this plan, the
company will require sufficient ground
along the river to lay the side tracks
necessary to handle the local and
through business.
The second plan differs in regard to
tunneling Chapline Hill. 1t proposes
to open near the Crescent mill and tun-
mel due south, coming out at q point on
Caldwell's run, short distance west of
Coal street, back of the LaBelle mill.
A short track will then make direct
connection with the present line at the
curve on Thirty.third street This plan,
removing the tracks from the river,
within the city limits, will necessitate a
change OF depot, which it is proposed to
erect near the creek, in East Wheeling.
The third plan is an ultimattm
course in case satisfactory arrangements
cannot be made with the citv. Ii is then
proposed to make q connection that will
leave Wheeling in the cold. A tunnel
will be constructed from Jacks run, at
Elm Grove, striking in at Bogg's run
and connecting with the present track
near the eastern end OF the Bellaire
bridge.
Mr.. keyser made no proposition to
the city. He simply gave the gentlemen
to understand that the road would be
completed through and it depends upon
the city, or her people as individuals,
whether she will derive her share of the
benefits accruing from the direct con-
nection. The road will be put under
contract during the coming month and
it is expected will be completed early in
1852.
A great deal OF interesting converse
ton ensued, relative to freights, princi-
pally on coke from Conceivable. The
iron men greatly desire to obtain this
interesting article at the same figure as
Pittsburgh and from the sentiments ex.
pressed would hail with delight the rail-
road facility that would accomplish this
end.
No action OF a definite nature was
taken at the conference, which was SIM
ply for the unfolding OF plans. A sec
ond meeting will be held at an early
date, at which time Mr.. keyser will per-
haps make q detailed proposition.
Without its having been said, the COM
many douhtlass desiras concessions in