Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-01-14
A RAILROAD RACE
For the Great Coal Fields of West
Virginia.
Vanderbilt and the P. R. R. Conductors
Line of the ROute-The Morgan
town, CIarksburg and Fair
mont Road.

UNIoSrowN, Pa, January ia new
step is at last announced in Vanderbilt's 8
railroad movements in Western Pennsylya-
mia. The southern extension of the Pitts
burgh and Lake Erie road, known as the
Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Toughio-
gheny, branches off from the Monongahela
river at McKeesport and follows up the
Yough. 1t has for some time been sus-
pected that Vanderbilt's ultimate objective
point in thus invading Western Pennsyl-
vania was to get on south into the unde-
veloped coal and ore beds OF Virginia. The
rapid opening up OF the coke interests here
made it desirable, however, for him to get
into Westmoreland and Fayette counties as
early as possible, and hence from McKees'
port he DETECTED from his southern line
and made tie shortest cut into the Con-
nellsviIle region by coming up the Yough.
This leads up on the west side of that river
into the heart Of Fayette county, and in
sures him a share of the coke traffic. The
road will soon be completed and a third
formidable rival will then compete with
the Southwest and the Baltimore and Ohio.
The Route TO the South.
Having thus tapped this county it is an
nounced that the main line will now be
pushed on from McKeesport south. Nearly
a year ago q CORPS Of Vanderbilt engineers
surveyed route along up the Monongahe-
Ia river through Southern Fayette county,
passing into West Virginia near
the month of Cheat river. Some
months afterwards the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company sent corps OF engi-
30
southwest via Browns and Cats runs TO
the Monongahela river, thence to the State
line. They have just completed their
work. and after they strike the river the
two routes run along almost side by side.
For instance, in Geneva the Vanderbilt
line follows the street parallel with the
river, while the Pennsylvania line runs be-
tween that and the rivers edge.
The Pennsylvania Engineers
in their survey have manifested great
anxiety to find out the nature and extent
of the work done by the Vanderbilt corps.
Both were headed directly for the State
line, where the proposed West Virginia
and Pennsylvania road will strike, and
hence each one eagerly watches the move
ments of the other. Since the Vanderbilt
survey was finished nothing further
has done in Fayette county save
that the work of completing
the Youghiogheny branch has been going
rapidly forward. Now that it is under
headway the report comes that the Monon-
gahela line will be constructed at an early
day. Parties are now securing the right OF
way, boarding houses are being erected,
and by the time the spring weather per-
mits everything will be ready for active
work. The road is located as far as Cheat
river and the intention is to extend it on
TO tie Virginia iron, timber and coal
fields, and finally to connect with one OF
the southern systems OF roads.
The W eat Virginia and Pennsylvania.
While the appearances point to race as
to which Of the above two roads will reach
the Virginia line first, another effort is be-
iHg made in MonOngalia county, w. Va, In
the interest of the proposed West Virginia
and Pennsylvania, which is to extend
from Clarksburg via. FairmOnt and Nor
ganIown 10 the State line. The progress
of this road has been delayed by the ina
bility of the citizens of the above county
to agree upon a plan which would please
all sections well enough TO carry at gem
eral election. Two propositions have al
ready been submitted by the County Com
missioners, one of which was defeated and
the other withdrawn for fear OF defeat. At
a meeting held in Morgantown last week
representative citizens from different parts
of the country agreed upon plan which
they think will carry. In accordance with
their action the County Commissioners OF
Monongalia county have ordered special
election to be held on February IL, 1888,
on a proposition to vote 800, 900 to the pro-
posed West Virginia and PENNSYLVANIA road,
and $50, 600 for a narrow gauge road lead
ing from Morgantown west to Blocksyille.
II this plan carries by the requisite three
fourths vote, the construction OF the roads
will go on at once. as Marion and harrl-
son Counties have already voted S25OO0o to
the former road.