Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-12-15
The River Railroad-A New MartinsviIIe and
CIarksburg R. R. Projected by Steub.
enyille Parties Big Scheme
Some One "0n The Make"
A PROSPEROUS TOWN AND PEOPLE.
Special CORRESPONDENCE nth, P,oi,,,r


the progress of the county. These outlaws
kept upa continuous reign of terror and
committed many depredations. The peo.
pie tried every lawful means to break up
the gang, but did not succeed until Judge
Lynch took the matter in hand and effect
ually put a stop to further 1depredations
the entire gang. The fate of John Jen-
nipgs, the leader of the G ang, was hard
and terrible one. About thirty lynchers
went to Johns house one night and in a
room, in the presence Of his wife and chill
dren, literally shot him full of bullet holes.
1t was terrible punishment, but
Johns Gang
showed no M ercy robbing, etc. Many peo.
pie at the time were inclined TO censure
the lynchers severely for killing Jennings,
but after the lapse OF many years, and in
view of all the circumstances that led TO
that act, we do not see how they could
have done otherwise and preserved security
for life and property in this comfy. II
lynching can be justified that act was GER
tainly justitiable. All good citizeds will
condemn lynch law, yet in many instances
they will say that it was right. The officers
y
county ought TO see that the laws for the
suppression of crime are faithfully exc
Cuted, then there would be no necessity for
resorting to lynch law. The people OF any
community, almost, no matter how heinous
the offense are 10th to call on Judge lynch
when they feel that the perpetrators will
be lawfully punished. We sincerely trust
that the citizens of Wetzel may never again
feel justified In resorting to
Lynch Law.
The lynching of Jennings produced a
very healthy state of affairs in Wetzcl. Ii
restored order aud security for life and
property, and we doubt if there is q more
law-adiding set of people in any county in
the State than is to be found in Wetzel.
As soon as this gang was broken up II
marked q new era in the history of Wetzel,
the county began to TO thrive rapidly, her
lands increased in value and were in de-
mand. The lands here are in many parts
hilly. yet they are rich and productive.
Although emigration to this county is con-
stantly going on, yet there is room for
many hundrens of families. II she in
cTeases the next decade in proportion to
the last her population will be largely in.
creased, and she will rank favorably. with
her sister counties. The people along the
valley generally are looking forward with
great deal of pleasure to the compile
tiOn
The Ohio River Railroad,
as it will bring them in daily cOmmunica-
ton with the outside world and mark
new era in the social and business relations
OF the people. They feel very grateful to
the projectors for the untiring energy they
have exerted in behalf of tins enterprise,
and We doubt not chat when the people
have realized the benefits they will ever
feel grateful. II is TO this class of men that
West Virginia must look for the develop
ment Of the States bOundless resources,
mineral and otherwise. There is another
railroad scheme creating some little talk in
this county, but we do not think the
parties in charge have made so very much
headway as vet. Some parties from
Steubenvllle, Ohio, we believe they are
store. keepers up there, came down here and
actually proposed to build railroad from
New Martinsville along the valley Of
Fishing creek to Clarksburg. This has
been long cherished object of of the peo-
pie of Fishing creek. These parties from
Steubenville claim, as We are informed,
that they have
sIs,OOO,O zoe OF Money,
OF course this is about the exact amount
possessed by the average Ohio man. The
people do not seem TO take kindly % the
proposition of these knights Of the yard
stick. They think it very kind, however,
in these strangers who, we are informed. DO
not own a foot of land in Wetzel perhaps,
except one, to manifest such an interest IN
the future welfare OF this county. The
people are curious 10 know why these
knights should leave their business, yes,
actually leave their business, and come
down here and assist the people OF Fishing
Creek in their struggles through life. IL Is
well known that there is 81 the head OF Fish
ing Creek large vein Of coal, the quality
we think has yet to be tested. These par.
ties have secured charter for railroad
and make substantially the following pro-
position to the people of Fishing Creek:
"Giye us the free right Of way and a lien
on the mineral and timber lands along the
line and we will build the road" They de-
sire to bind the people, but fail to eytnce
any desire whatever to bind themselves.
The lien undoubtedly is the
Dead Fly I'm the Ointment"
We had an opportunity to inspect one OF
these leases and must confess that 1t IS the
best one-sided legal document we have
ever seen, This lease extends for fifty
years, but in case the railroad is not COM
menced in five or ten years then the gran
tees can terminate the lease by giving the
other party notice, if the other party can
be found. After the completion OF the
road then the grantees are 10 remove one
acre of coal and one acre OF timber annually,
and pay therefor five dollars per acre as
removed. Two railroads built up Fishing
Creek under such terms and the people
would be fully prepared 10 march over
the hills to the poor house. There are
some in their an Liety TO get railroad who
have signed this lease, but there are many,
we understand, who refuse 10 do so, and
probably they are right There are many
propositions from
Railroad Adventures
in brokers' Offices in New York and else
where, and il may be that this enterprise
will be no exception in finding its way to
one of them. We are told that q fair and
legitimate proposition looking toward
building a railroad up Fishing Creek would
be responded TO with great unanimity on
the part Of the people: Many persons here
think that the proposition OF the parties,
II accented. might have q tendency TO re.
tard instead of promoting the speedy and
ultimate building OF the road. The aver
age Ohio man certainly is good Samari-
tan, and he evidently likes 10 get hold OF
a good thing when he can, and when he
does get hold he has never been known %
LET loose. Ii is good deal like the old
man trsining the pup, when the pup got q
good hold the old man began TO scream, the
bow hallooed: Hold on, dad, hold on, ii
may be hurtin' you, bat it's the maxim OF
the pup" So it may be wifh the people OF
Fishing Creek, when those fellows get
good hold, it may be hurting the Mohawks,
but it will be the making of the ubiquitous
Ohio man.
The People ofwest Virginia
want to encourage all legitimate PROPOSE.
tions for developing the resources OF the
State, but they ought 10 be careful and not
lump into the arms OF strangers before they
know anything about them.
II appears that Silas Merrill, President o.
the county court OF this county, and J. 4
Hart, editor of the Messenger, are having
little side show all to themselves lt seem,
that for some time past Hart has been crit
icisine Merrill rather severely through hi
paper, and Merrill comes back at Hart bJ
publishing a card in the Democrat as Al
advertisement in which he denounces Har
very severely and makes some very ugiI
and serious charges against him. Hart ha
threatened to bring a slander suit, and il i
supposed that this is what Merrill denie
l:I a. A. N,rv ns-ancrata Thrnuqn0l