Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-26
WHEELING AND HER RAILROAD

"hEELANd AND HEN hAhhnVAOS-
Wheeling has been peculiarly unfor-
tunate in her railrosd enterprises or con-
nections.
Over forty years ago she was to have
been the great terminus N the Ohio
River, of the Baltimore and Ohio.
Pennsylvania had granted it the. right
of way, with limitation as to time.
Wheeling, then only a respectable vii
lage, subscribed for that time, the enor-
nous sum of one million of dollars to
its stock. The Pennsylvania limit of
time expired, and would not be renewed.
A controversy for the Presidency of the
road took place, and Wheeling, with
her one million of stock, voted for LOUIS
MCLENE, and actually elected him
President of the road. Almost his
first act was breach of
faith with Wheeling, and
his appearance in the Legislature of
Virginia, asking for right of way
through the State by which he could
wholly abandon Wheeling. This was
the beginning of all dissatisfaction and
contention between this company and
the city. Who was to blame because
the Pennsylvania time expired before
the road was made to Wheeling?
Then the Hempfield was projected,
under piece of chicanery practiced in
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and
Ohio county subscribed half million!
Then the road from Wellspille, o., to
Wheeling came to our doors, and asked
to come into the city. but wisdom and
enterprise sent it to Bridgeport, O.!
Then came the Cincinnati and Mari
eta, and the Ohio Central, both ask
ing to come to Wheeling, and Wheeling
subscribed two hundred thousand to
the Cincinnati & Marietta and lost both,
when she might have had the Ohio
! Central, and been an actual railroad
/ centre, with almost all of the advant-
ages of the original line through Penn
! sylvania.
Then came the little enterprise of the
| Pwiky of twenty-five miles, and after
! much mismanagement with this, it has
at length had enough influence on our
| prosperity to teach us what We may ex-
| pect by the exercise of some wisdom
! and prudence in the future, and to give
us some insight into the value of that
| which was lost.
In the meantime came the PROPOSE
| ton for railroad bridge from Martins
! Ferry into Wheeling-making Wheel
| ing q terminus, instead of the village on
| the other side of the river, and inviting
| all Northwestern Ohio roads to come
into the heart of this city Of Wheeling.
Within the last twelve months, the
| Wheeling, Pittsburg and Baltimore
road, that is the Baltimore and Ohio
| Railroad Company, came with full
| hands, and / believe with honest pur-
poses so far as the improvement and it
may be said the reconstruction of this
road is concerned, to enlarge and open
| up the Wheeling and Connellsville
| route. The company had taken steps
TO secure its right Of way; had put
heavy forces on parts Of the road most
| difficult of construction, and. was pre-
pared, most apparently, topush forward
this enterprise-second to none which
could have benefited the City of Wheel
ing. But unfortunate delays were inter
posed, and this enterprise now slumbers
In such q state that no one can say
when it will be resuscitated. And who
is to blame for this ? Some may say
the City Council. I do not say so,
though perhaps it is not wholly free
from blame, and in this that to protect
the interests Of the city it did delay ac-
ton in the reconstruction of this road,
until there was such q change in the
conditions of labor and Of capital IS to
prevent the large charges Of capital
which was necessary to carry on so
great q work.
Then came the Southwest Pennsyl-
vania road. 1t came all at once, I'M
heralded and unknown, and is yet un-
known. But it bore all the marks of
solid enterprise. And thosewho know
most about it say that it Is solid, and
backed by more gold and government
bonds them any kindred work in the
whole county. And why has II stopp-
ed its operationss Only one OF two
causes can be assigned for this:-Thst