Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-05
BRACE up!
THAT IS WHAT WHEELING MUST DO.
An Interview Setting Forth Meetings Pug
nacious Disposition, ia the Past
Toward Railroad Enterprises
and Improvements.
LET WEALTH BUILD ITS MONUMENT.

A remark made by a member OF the
Committee on Railroads, on Tuesday,
was overheard by REGISTER reporter
and it started him to thinking. 1t was
this:
1.-The puguacious policy pursued by
the city oil Wheeling in the past has
utceeded in driving all railroad enter
prises from us and leaving us out in the
old-msking OF us a good sized town
when We ought to be city. However,
We must now look to the future.
1t striking the reporters mind that
Their. was sound sense in the o5serva'
ton, he yesterday hunted the gentle
man up and asked for an elaboration oil
his views. At first this was declined,
the gentleman objecting TO appear in
print in an interview; but, by q rounda-
bout route he was led to converse freely
upon the subject interwes wing his con-
versation with such general ideas as
were suggested by the topics discussed.
"What said yesterday he remark
ed, II believe to be entirely true. There
is a most singular combination OF in.
eonsistencies displayed by Wheeling
capital. Our business men are what
might be called public.spirited and
enterprising and yet their poll
cy, as it has operated, has been
generally obstructive one 1t may ne,
he added, with a smile, "that i, being
no capitalist, take one sided view OF
the matter, though | think l have
studied it somewhat. l said inconsis'
tency and think can explain it this
way: Take promising railroad project,
one that is supposed to benefit the city
or State, and our solid men rise to sup
port it. You noticed that in the pro.
posed road down the river, and yet |
venture 10 say, that in spite OF this spirit,
it has been determined opposition to
railroad enterprises that has prevented
Wheeling from becoming twice her pres
ent size. Let me give you Pittsburgh to
illustrate. Some years ago, Wheeling
was the larger OF the two places, and
had an equal chance to go on. But look
at them TO day. Pittsburgh is a great
railroad centre, and is city OF nearly
100000 population, or six times larger
than Wheeling. What has done It'll
Railroads, and nothing else. Why,
railroads are the great arteries that carry
traffic, the life-blood OF nation" smil-
ing little at the metaphor.
swell, what has Wheeling done?'
pursued the reporter, seeing the Coun-
Gilman hesitate.
Done? Everything to retard her
growth. She has hectored every attempt
to bring a railroad into her territory
until it has been abandoned. Here she
stands, to-day, a monument to the bull
headed imbecility OF her people. Here
she Is switched off from the line Of
progress and lying dormant on a siding
of the B. d D. railroad. Not one through
trunk line within the corporation. How
can she expect to build up? Do you
know what is the cause OF the phenome-
nal growth OF our Western cities?
Again say, railroads. Look at Atchi.
son, Kansas, for example with her
nine railroads and building up as fast
as money and workmen can do it. You
can lay your life it not the fault OF the
railroads that Wheeling has not four or
five of them, for they have tried hard
enough 10 come.
"First OF all there was the Cleveland
and Pittsburgh. 1t might have come
down this side OF the river as well as
not and would have done so il Wheel
ing would have allowed it. But no, it
was driven over into Ohio and we were
left out. Ohio That reminds me-"
he continued, relapsing into a George
Francis Train style. Look at the great
State OF Ohio and enquire into the cause
of her greatness. Look at the map and
YOU will see the State is cut up in every
direction by railroads. Not a county
without one and wouldn't be without it
at any price. There is one OF the secrets
OF 0hio's greatness.
"Well, the Cleveland and Pittsburgh
road has lodged Wheeling and what did
she do with the Central Ohio? That
bridge now at Bellaire was to have span
ned the river here, but the obstructive
policy OF prominent Wheeling men
drove il to its present location. Now
there's the Marietta and Cincinnati road
in which the city poured its money but
what was the result? From the pusil.
luminous policy pursued here, the
money might have just as well been
poured into the river. Then there was
the last project to bridge the river a. the
head of the Island which would now
bring the G. & p, the Tussarawas Val
ley and the Wheeling and Lake Erie
roads right into the city and eventually
result in the building OF grand union
depot. But, no; that too was fought off
and whipped out OF existence"
III - a thini, II
4 o. extension?
al think it is one more chance and
I'm waiting TO see whether our people
will permit it 10 be thrown over our
shoulders. Here is an opportunity for
Wheeling to establish herself TN a
through trunk line and flatter myself
can do some work toward helping IT
along. It's time We were shaking off
this Rip Van Wrinkle sleep and making
an effort to keep abreast of the times
and this connection with Connellsville
is altogether too important to be neg
lected. However, a feeling has sprung
up favorable to the road and the people
will recognize their interests in the mat
ter"
After few moments pause, he said,
"There is another matter
connected with this that / had not
thought Of, and that is in relation TO
machine shops. II this extension is
made, cannst see how the company
can get along without building new
shops here, and more OF them. The
present disgrace will surely not suffice,
and will give place, have no doubt, to
a large roundhouse that will give work
to hundreds OF men. This is a point
worth considering"
Some little time was consumed in dis
cHssing various matters, when the gen.
tleman said:
speaking OF public spirit and enterprise
in Wheeling, there is smother fact which
has crossed my mind and has nothing to
do with railroads. / expect l could name
you twenty-five or thirty men in this
city who are wealthy. Considered in
an Eastern sense. there is not wealthy
man in Wheeling, but thepersons have
in my minds eve can average
a quarter of a million apiece. But what
good does that money do the city of
Wheeling? Twill venture the assertion
that out of those thirty men not five
will ever leave q monument 10 their
aver aCcomnlish NTH