Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-01
B., z. &C. r r.
Annual Meeting Of the StockhoId-
ers, Yesterday.
The First Meeting Under the New Order Of
Things--SmB.& &S.W. and Three Zanes-
vile Men elected-Desedption Of
the Road and It's Prospects.
A MARROW GAUGE THROUGH OHIO.

representative lell BSllalre dt lU y CLOCK
yesterday morning, to attend a meeting ei
that road and also OF the "extencon" pro
jected from Woedsfeld to Zanesyille by
way OF Caldwell Among those on the
train We noticed Col. NJ. Churchill, ot
GAINESVILLE, President of the Ohio Iron Mill
and also OF the extension" John lIoge
Esq, of Schultz 4 Co., 'Star Soap" 2anes
vile, James Herdman, at the head of s
lumber firm and glass company
at GAINESVILLE and Colonel Turner
a civil engineer. in charge of the extension
Besides these were Shanklin Thornberry
Esq, OF Bellaire, c. y. Allen, OF the Demo
crat, L. s. Woodbridge, OF the Tribune, and
Arthur Walling of the c. & Z. office,
There were no interruptions on the way,
and the II miles between the terminal
points OF the road were travelled in just
two hours-lightning speed, when it is
considered how it has TO be made. There
is nothing novel aboAt the road at all until
the road begins toSaScend the grade and
wind about the hills and hollows this side
=.
summit of young mountain that CON-
mands prospect bounded only br the
horizon in every direction.
From Jacobsburg the descent commences
and one passes through one of the widest
stretches Of rural scenery between the
mouN tain systems. Rocky Fork must GER
tainly be phenomnallyi beautiful in the
summer season when the rocky projections
from the rugged hillside are made attrac-
tive and less threatening by covering OF
verdure and the presence OF ilowers which
abound in wild profusion. There is n no.
ticeable absence of good timber along the
route of the road. and what there is
being wantonly destroyed as rapidly rs
possible. The country seems, however, To
be we'll farmed, and the farm houses and
buildings have an exterior of fcomfort, and
in some instances even Of pretension.
Along the line OF Rock Lick We noticed
uuite q number OF wOrkmcn engaged in
0uarryirg limestone. which aboundS in
that locality. and i readily utilized by
the mills at and near Steubenville for
blast furnace purposes. At Captlna,
nineteen miles from Bellare. there is a
mill in which limestone is crushed and
prepared for iertilizing purposes. Near
this place also is q large and well equipped
shaft where coal j. taken out in moderate
quantities At present although when the
shipping facilities Of the road become
greater this mine will he of almost invau-
able worth, as the coal is OF superior quail
" and inexhaustible in quantity. The
shaft and appointments are the property
OF the syndicate of the road.
After leaving Captina there is little to
vary the monotonouS wildness and beauty
of the scenery until Monroe county is
reached. where the surface changes and ;he
country becomes more rolling and the
land for farming purposes more desirable.
There has apparently been very little
effort made to develop the coal interests
along the line of this road, and they
certainly must he valuable. but with the
extension OF the road the deYelnpment Will
follow. There'ar other coal fields in Ohio
of much greater value, but coal men say
that the hills along the line OF the Bellarc
and Southwestern road will yield up
their wealth Of black diamonds with little
trouble and expense compared with that
involved in the development OF coal in.
terests in other quarters.
The Road Itself
We have spoken thus far OF the re-
sources of the county from which this
road derives its support, and ii might not
he out of the way TO say word or two
about the road bed and rolling stock. The
road was finished to Woodstield in Novem-
Der. 1879, and has been in successful opera
ton ever since. The main spring Of the
whole concern has been g. l.. Mooney Esq,
who succeeded Mr.. +. G.. Morgan rs Presi-
dent. Mr.. Mooney found the whole con-
Germ in a state of chaotic confusion, the
stockholders discouraged, the subscrip-
tionS coming in slowly, only eleven miles
Of track laid and the whole thing in that
slip-shod condition that comes OF indecis-
ion. He had no practical knowledge OF
railroad projects whatever but brought
TO his assistance good sense, tinan-
cial abilities Of very high order and
and an executive ability rarely met with.
The prospects OF the road at once began to
brighten, and when he and others who had
hopeful confidence in the ultimate sue
cess, lent their own personal means TO its
accomplishment. Its success was assured.
and its speedy completion to Woodsfield
followed, since that time President
Mooney has labored unScariedly for the
success of his road, and he is now confident
that the completion OF the road to Ianes-
vile is surety of the near future.
The road has three splendid engines, small
but powerful, several passenger and bag
gage cars. fifteen OF twenty flats, number
of freight cars and eight or tel hand cars.
Much OF the distance between Hel.
laire and Woodsfield has been well
ballasted. and at present there is large
force of men at work all along the line put
ting the road in good order. There are
numerous trestles and bridges on the road,
some OF them anything but safe in appear
ance. but there are very few accidents, and
the road has good reputation.
There are several good depot buildings at
various points, but whether they are the
property of the company or not We did not
learn.
A. woodsReId.
Arriving at Woodsfield Captain Cochran
took the party TO Doonan's Hotel for din
rer and as soon a. the meal was dispatched
the stockholders meeting was called at the
office of the company at the depot.
There were not over fifteen or twenty
stockholders present. all told. Mr.. J. w.
Daugherty presided and Mr.. Hoeffier acted
as secretary. Three judges and two clerks
were then appointed and the balloting be-
gan.
The following named gentlemen were
nominated. or rather their names were
read off as candidates for election: James
Herdman. Col. VI. Churchill and John
Hoge. ZanesyilIe: s. l.. Mooney. W. ".
Armstrong. T. A. Welch, A. H. Caldwell.
c. Weber and W. T. Morris. all OF the Bell
aire & southwestern company.
The balloting began and in short time
1855 shares were voted, or sl2s,2 OF the
stock.
The meeting of the stockholders then
adjourned. and the Board was organized by
the election of Co4. Mooney as President OF
the company, and Mr. NJ. Hoeftier as secre.
tary. The offices Of the company will OF
course remain as formerly. or until the
completion TO GAINESVILLE. when some
| changes may be made. The reporter was
| compelled to leave before the Directors
| had completed their work, and OF cUurse
cannot give their full proceedings.
the EXTENSION.
Col. Mooney says that the road is nov
| being graded as far IS Caldwell With all
| the yigor that the condition OF the weather
| will allow. and that the contrasts for grad
| ing are out July ist. He thinks that train'
| Will be running next fall clear through Il
| Caldwell from Bellaire.
| Mr. John Hoge. Of Zanesville. one oil th'
| briyhteyt business men We have met In
long time, is very enthusiastic over the pros
pects OF the road. He informed US that tn
| riph, Of way between Caldwell and Aanes
! vile was being acquired very rapidly
together with liberal subscriptions. In
road will develop belt of country hithel
4 a. lna,>od ;pancassihle rich in Agriculture