Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-19
STATUS OF THE WHEELING, PAR
KERSBURG AND CHARLESTON H
r. PROJECT.


STATUS OF THE WHEELING. PAR
KERSBURG AND CHARLESTON H
II. PROJECT.
THE REGISTER made the statement,
Il few days ago, that sufficient amount
Of money had been subscribed, and IS
now ready, to construct and equip the
railroad between Wheeling and Par
kersLurg, and that the capitalists are
only waiting for the right of way, to
put the road under contract.
That is the status 50 far as the money
10 build the road is concerned. The
syndicate from which this money is TO
I've obtained has now waited over a year
for the fulfillmcnt of that part of the
OriginaTpropOsitiOn depending upon the
company, the free right Of way. That
part of the contract is not only unful-
filled at this time, but so far Is we can
learn, there is no present prospect OF
very speedy conclusion of the matter.
There Is no doubt but the right of way
will ultimately be procured, and we do
not mean to intimate that the home
company are indifferent or neglected. of
the work of settling and securing it, but
il is unfortunate, we think, that upon
the opening of spring, and the money
10 build the road being already sub
scribed and waiting, that any part OF
the working season of the year should
he lost on the work of construction by
reason of the right of way being un-
settled.
We have no information rs to what
has been done or is doing on the route
below Parkersburg, but the work of the
commissioners who were appointed to
procure the right of way in the four
counties Of Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler and
Peasants has been highly satisfactory
and successful.
They have within these four counties,
made over 100 contracts for the right of
way, through the most important terri
tory on the route, through the finest
farms and bottom lands on the river,
and the entire expense will probably not
reach the price of one Of the smallest
farms. The people are said to have
manifested a most liberal spirit, and
especially has this been the ease in the
county of Tyler, where one citizen gave
the free right of way through three val
liable farms, and has rendered enough
ground for depot site, should the COM
pany desire it. And yet, the citizen in
question was originally an opponent Of
the road and declared he would grant it
no fayOrS.
That part of the route where the
rights of way are yet unsettled is chiefly
on the narrow strips on the river bank,
owned by men who have only house
and garden spot hemmed in between
the river and the bluff, and which, in
each case, must all be taken for the pur-
poses of the road. 1t cannot be expect
ed that these persons should surrender
their little all without compensation.
The franchises which the company
have obtained are immensely valuable.
Most of these bottom lands are worth
from So to over Shopper acre, beside the
fencing, and rs We have already said,
nearly all has been 50 far free dOna-
ton to the company. 1t is probable
that the entire cost of the right of way,
when finally settled between Mounds
VILE and Parkersburg, will not exceed
twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars.
Nothing, however, has yet been done
toward settling the right of way be-
tween this city and Moundsville. Two
routes have been suryeyed-One on the
narrows between the b. Il o. road and
the river, and the other east Of the hill.
No doubt good deal of time and talk
will have TO be expended over these
eleven miles of the route.
Altogether, the work that has been
done upon settling the right of way be-
tween this city and Parkersburg is very
satisfactory in its results. But we insist
that no time should be lost in. cOmplet-
ing it. The commissioners have proba-
bly, gone as far as they can without
action of the company, though we are
not informed as to the scope of their
authority. We presume the company
will have to act upon such parts Of the
route a. cannot be secured without COM
pensation. We think it highly import
ant, il not a vital matter to the success
Of the road, that no further delay
ut least unavoidable delay-shOuld
occur in concluding the right
of way. With the utmost effort
and activity on the part of the COM
Pany, there must be considerable time
vet consumed in condemnation pro-
ceedings and other work necessary to
closing it up. Some money will have
TO be raised TO meet the cost of the
rights that have not been donated, and
all these matters will take time. The
road ought to be under contract now.
The season for active operations is slip
ping away, and unless the work of con-
structiOn is begun very soon, but little
can be done toward the building Ofthe
road before the winter season is upon
us. Would it not be we'll for the Board
of Directors to get together at once,
make their estimates Of the cost of such
PARTS of the route ascannot be had with
out purchase, provide for the necessary
payments, and have the entire matter
closed up?
MIR. WILSON. ON THE TARIFF.