The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-27
THE UNION RAILROAD.
SOME EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION
~ Prominent city Onleials, Well.kuown Members
Of the Ctr Council, aud Leading Dusfhs.
aen-lsegrets for the Past and SOME
Suggestions for the future.

Sassestfons for the Future.
| The, suggestion made In the editorial col.
unlns Of the lNrELLldEScER OH Saturday for Il
| belt or union railroad track traversing tn
length Of tho city on the river front, 10 be
ioihtiy Used by ali railroad companies, but
controlled by tho city, was tho subject Of
considerable comment about town, and Tor
the purpose Of asccrtainns what the drift Of
public sentiment was, reporters interviewed
large humber Of citizens and officials, and
some Of the opinions expressed and spgges.
tons made will DO found below.
Among the first gentlemen called upon
was City Solicitor Caldwell. lie was dis,
covered 10 BIZ enthusiastically In favor OF q
belt railroad, not only aloug the river front,
but surrounding the city. He reminded tho
reporter that when the ordinance sanction.
Ink the agreement between the Baltimore 4
| Ohio road and the Pittsburgh Wheeling 4
Kentucky company, by which the latter Sc.
cured The right Of way across the creek was
Under consideration IN Council, Mr.. Hall, Of
the Fins. Branch, introduced MI amendment
prepared by The Solicitor, the purpose Of
which was tho enforcement OF tho provision
That any other company could use the track.
This was rejected by Coahclt. Had It bcea
adopted the city would low have prac,ically
tho very belt road contemplated by the IT,,
rgLLlGENcER's suggestions. lnasmuch as they
neglected the opportunity to secure /, then,
Mr.. Caldwell thought this WIS d good juno.
ture to ugitAte the matter, in order that the
public and Its representatives, might 10 pre-
pared to do the right thing when I'm 0ppofta.
nifty ~ afforded to retuGdy past mistakes.
When the subject OF union railroad was
broached at Cincinnati, prominent citizens
took the matter III hand, saying that It WAS
too big thing for the railroads themselves
to have control OF, and they sent n rcpresen-
tativa TO Columbus to secure legislation by
the General Assembly TO empower the city 10
construct and operate such road. A belt
road Is tho best thing III railroad way that
any city cnn have, aud there arc special rea.
sous for Wheeling's making the move 10
secure one now. ....II
President Scott, OF the Second branch of
Council, would vote and use his influence in
favor oil any plan 10 increase the transp0r,a.
ton facilities OF the city, which involved no
injury to the public's interests or dctrimcnt
|
promised much good, but could not express
m intelligent opinion US to it's feasibility.
He instanced Columbus, Indianapolis and
Toledo rs showing what railroad CONNECTIONS
do for Il city. ~
Mr.. A. Rsymann said he was in favor of
any project which would secure railroad
connection with tue outside world. lie
thought the proposition good one In
general, and il the plan were found 10 be
practicable no thought 1t ought 10 be adopted
without hesitancy. - !
Mr. Wn,. Ellipgham said 1.-THE IsYRsl,.
GEScEE Inns taken the right step, and mos,
heartily say amen to that pointing to the
editorial. TT is Il good thing if the city never
gets Il cent out OF it. We want railroads
and the more the better for every citizen,
| care not who he is. would do all could
TO further such u scheme, and union depot
Whit. Some people will howl about ihe
expense, but look at the benefits. There
was the Hemplieldl-the city lost money but
we've got the road, and mighty important
road 1t is going to become"
Mr.. John Fl. Hail. of the First Branch, was
'irrevocabiy convinced that the plan for a
belt railroad was correct one" Said Mr.,
Hull: 1--WE want railroads and we must aj1
them all we can. 4 belt railroad and n
union depot, or the road without the latter.
would insure the condition OF our iron inter
ests and make them fixed fact. II the
Council had adopted the amendment |
offered when the ordinance WIS passed a few
months since granting the P, ". & Ky. the
right Of way over the creek, after lis agree.
ment with the u. & o., there would have
been no need OF aeimting the question now.
by the adoption OF that amendment a bel,
road was virtually established, but Council
saw fit to kill it.H' :
Mr.. Philo L. Kimberley was Asked "What
do you think OF the belt railroad project a nd
It's feasibility well, I'll tell You
This city don't know ANYTHING
about any railroad knocking nj her doors,
Council hasn't received any notice OF such n
proceeding When the thing comes before
Council in proper form and it is known
definitely what is wanted, then ri tell what
] think"
| Mr.. II. \. List had not given the matter
enough attention TO venture an opinion rs To
the feasibility OF the project for publication.
The city needed MI the railroads that She
could get, and II these roads were really
coming something must be done BY some one
In order to enable them TO get into the CITY.
Mr.. Samuel Ililareth regarded the plan ms
feasible. and !! il game up in any practical
form, he, rs member Of Council, Eould Ia
III favor OF its passage. He thought the belt
railroad much needed, aud that this was
good time TO mature plan and have il ready
loFany opportunity which might occur for
putting Unto execution.
ES.City Surveyor 3. w. Paterson express.
ed the opinion ttiat there Is no oity IN The
country which has IL better chunce 10 huye
what Is the equivalent OF belt railroad. in
other words. a track which will reach every
manufacturing establishment In the city.
| The schens 10 practicable; there are no
structural dihicu!ties whatever In tho way.
aud tho cost of the property required 10 Se
| taken would be comparatively speakinr
nominal, as the city now owny the riparian
rights Of over seyenty-live per cent OF thc
line. Mr.. Peterson thought the 1yrEL1lGgy.
GERS article very sensible and timely. ann
had board u great deal Of favorable comment
upen it. . =
II nm sure" said Mr.. Joseph speidel,
| President OF the Board OF Commissioners
that the views Of the IXrElLlaEycgg on this
important subject--the entrance and exit of
all railroads--ara coincident with those Of
every business man oil the city. | WINS In
tItfsbnrgh few days since and every nler-
chant | conversed with said that what Pitts.
burgh was to-day was owing 10 the raiItoaIs
which have been encouraged and fostered
and offered every facility. we should do
the same here. The idea IN relation 10 ,he
committee isa number one idea. The two
presiding officers Of Council should by
all means be on the committee. p;tts.
burgh Is far ahead OF us rs regards
facilities for transportation, and there Il No
reason why such should lie the cuse. Hv
proper action now, inside Of ten years thers
should be a population Of 10000 within n
radius OF four miles from the State House
II Is good move and one that hone viii
meet with no opposition such MS the Is. & O.
met with when asking right of way along
Nineteenth street, II eventually the B, go
should be forged up EogSs Run, 1t would he
tllcmost disastrous thing imaslhable TO- lie
| CITY," .rlt. ES7aE.aH =, L r -