Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-08
THE EXCLUSIVE GRANT
TO THE CITIZENS RAILWAY COM
PANf,
Soon Expires by limitation-GiSe Us a
Flat Rail and Abolish the Present
Six Cent Fare.

the coming OctoDtT, anu no sulaii ln-
terest is taken in the probable course to
be pursued by Council in the matter.
Other questions of interest are involved,
and as comparatively few persons are
familiar with the history OF the corpor-
alton, we give the salient points.
THE LEGISLATIVE ACT.
On January 20, 1868, the General As
sembly OF Virginia passed an act incor-
porating the Citizens Railway Com
pany OF the city Of Wheeling. Messrs.
John l.. Hobbs. S. II. Wood ward, Ches-
ter d. Hubbard, Joshua Bodley, John
List, Robert Crangle, Andrew J. Sween-
ey and Robert Irwin, or a majority of
them, were appointed Commissioners to
open books for the subscription Of stock
to the company, which was empowered
to lay single track, with necessary
sidings and switches, TO run from the
southern limit OF Ohio county to the
Martins Ferry landing and across
Wheeling Island to Bridgeport, the cor
porations OF Wheeling and SouthWheel.
ing first giving their consent. All of the
usual corporate powers were given to
the company, which were consistent
with the laws of the Government and
State.
The company was compelled to lay q
track Of gauge most convenient TO We
hicles, and was prohibited from altering
the grade OF any street without the con.
sent Of the corporation. The act also
,raui,lac thot tho .han Hnan
the street within the track in good re-
pair, and also two feet on each side, aud
shall in no case use engines on the road
without the consent eli the city. The
city OF Wheeling shall have the right to
levy and collect a tax OF not more than
S25 per annum on each Car, and the
town Of South Wheeling OF not more
than 50. No greater fare is legal than
ten cents pei passenger on the main line
and fifteen cents on the bridge line, and
the company is authorized to carry bag
gage, packages, etc.
On February IL, 1862 the Legislature
OF West Virginia passed an act to con-
fer additional privileges upon the COM
pany by giving it the right to construct
its track 10 the lower end Of Benwood,
and the right to condemn such land as
might he necessary TO the track, and also
the right to use dummy engines on the
extension alone.
After the passage OF the first act given
above, the gentlemen mentioned took
active parts in obtaining the necessary
subscription OF $4,000. In the enter
prise they were materially aided by the
az uh ial nnnnnrnnnl tIn
ject in every possible manner. 1t was
over two years afterwari, however, be-
fore the success OF the undertaking was
assured, and the matter brought to the
notice OF the City Council.
THE CITY LAW.
On the 9th of October, 1866, an ordi-
nance was adopted by Council and
agreed to by the company, giving the
company the exclusive right, for fifteen
years, Of making and operating a street
railway through the streets OF the city,
under certains conditions. First, that
the laying OF the track should begin
within four months and that cars would
actually berunning for at,least distance
Of 220 rods, within twelve months from
the passage OF the ordinance; second,
| that the guage OF the track should be
| five feet and two inches, and not more
| or less. 1t was agreed by the city that
during the time OF this exclusive grant,
1t would not tax the capital stock of the
company, or the railways, cars, horses,
| depOts, or standing grounds; nor would
it tax any other property Of the cOmpa-
ny at Il higher rate than like proper
ty belonging to other companies;
and that during these fifteen years
the city would not levy any tax upon
the tolls, fares, profits or business ofthe
company, except when such was in the
hands OF individuals or OF other corpora.
tons. The remainder OF the ordinance
is in relation to keeping the track in re-
pair and upon level with the street,
and the right of the city at all times to
90 under the track for the purpose OF
laying pipe, sewer, etc. Various am.
endments have been made 10 this Or
dinance, but the above contains the sub
stance OF the legislation upon the sub
jeCt as il now stands.
Within the four months specified
above, the work of track LAYING was be-
gun and in the summer OF 1867 the cars
were started on the main line. The
Island track was afterward completed, it
requiring some time TO effect satisfactory
arrangements with the bridge company.
For nearly fourteen years the Citizens
Railway Company has lived and flour
ished, until to day il has built itself into
WEALTHY CORPORATION,
able to care for itself and weaned from
the necessity OF any assistance, other
than the natural protection OF the gen.
al law.
On the 9th OF October OF this year. the
exclusive grant expires. After that
time, other corporations may be formed
for the purpose OF operating street car
lines in the city and the city may then
tax the present company. It probably
will. When the company was formed
it was recognized as public good and
in its struggle into existence, the city
extended the discriminating hand OF
help. Now that it has dropped its
swaddling clothes and is full grown, it
is time That Council placed it upon
equal footing with others.
There age two subjects upon which
the company and the general public are
at variance. They are: Rails and fare.
For several years past, wall has gone
out from the owners OF all descriptions
OF wheeled vehicles against the charac.
ter OF rail used on the street tracks. 1t
must be changed and il the scraps of
conversation picked up by reporters are
indications OF the general sen
timent, it will be changed.
No other city would have tolerated it
half the time, and no other company
would have withstood the pressure
brought to bear upon it. What we want
is fiat rail, modern rail which can
safely be crossed at an acute angle hy
oarriages without the danger OF con-
verting their wheels into kindling wood.
We WANT FLAT RAIL,
such as is used in other cities, 80 that
the track may be used az a roadway,
and not remain, as it now is, q por-
ton OF the peoples street, ruled out
OF general use and devoted ex.
clusively to the cars. The present rail
is an unmitigated nuisance; it ia the
bane OF all drivers and the terror OF the
countrymep, who bring in produce.