The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-02
THE MARGINAL ROAD
ANp rns PROPOSED UNION BRIDGE.
A co,r..po.a.nr. idea. ot.A. Advantage. Of tn.
FORMER over the Latter, aud the Reasons
which Would Lead TO Its COu'true'
LONESOME Pertinent Ideas

To the Editor Of the IntellIgeHceE.
sm:-In your paper few mornings since
you urged upon our capitalists the building
Of railroad bridge as the most profitable Ell.
terprise In which they could engage for the
promotion Of the city's and their own inter-
ests, and as the key TO the solution Of the
difficulties under which our mills and fur
nhces labor in competing with other cities
engaged In like business. ~ this So7 Would
the building OF bridge give them relief
from any OF their disadvantages, under
which they are placed for want Of equal rail
road facilities with other cities? For exaul'
ole. would Wheeling obtain coke Ut the same
price as Pittsburgh gets III ~..r.
Il Ia A we'll known fact that the cost OF coke
Der car 10 WneeliRg Is double that paid in
Pittsburgh. The coke fields, rs now open,
are controlled by the Pennsylyauy and b. q
o. companies, and through them only can
coke be obtained. A part OF the Councils;
willie territory Is owned aud will be opened
by persons who are interested IN the south
Pennsylvania Company, and one Object, Of
the building OF this road Is Tor tie purpose
OF bringing the coke into market.
The Pennsylvania and Baltimore ONO
companies have an agreement which promo
It's either company from carrying COKE 70
Wheeling for less than Is now paid. Fhe
south Pennsylyauia Company will make Il
contract to carry coke TO Wheeling at the
same rate per mile ~ which coke may be de-
liyered In Pittsburgh, provided our people
will give that company any encouragement
TO bring It's road to Wheeling. A rep
resentatlye Of tho South Pennsylvania Com
pany visited Wheeling few mouths ago,
and after careful examination Of the Apr
proaches 10 the several mills and blast fur
naces, made the statement: 'lt way ,iS
provided 10 the several mills and furnaces In
this city, so that our company can have an
equal show with the two companies which
now operate roads here, to compete for the
trade, ia all probability our road will be
built here but II this is not, or can not be-
done, then TO dead certainty the road will
be built 10 Pittsburgh" 49,,
Pittsburgh iron men are 50 determined 10
leave no stone unturned to cripple Wheeling
Us rival that for months past they. have bad
a committee in New York using every
influence they can to induce the South
Pennsylvania Company not to come to
WheeIing-The South Pennsylvania Com
pany intends building one branch OF their
road 10 Pittsburgh whether 1t builds here or
not, and that city will have the advantages
OIL tne EOhu 10 hElFalOI thu euAe3 i'au.e eALN
Baltimore & Ohio roads. Pittsburgh
iron NTH are shrewd enough 10
zee the heavy blow which will be given TO
our iron interests II they can keep Wheeling
under the control OF the Pennsylvania and
Baltimore & Ohio companies.
70 make In more certain that Wheeling
shall not get any benefit from the building OF
the South Pennsylvania road, number Of
Pittsburgh iron men have secured charter
for a company in Pennsylvania and West
Virginia 10 build road from Suters, on the
Yourhiogheny, to the mouth OF Charters
Greek, to connect With the L. & + and thus
reach Pittsburgh. A branch from Ridge.
yille,in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania to
pAss over 10 Gross Greek, down Gross CreeE
10 the OAio, and down the river TO Wheeling
parallel with the Pittsburgh, Wheeling &
Kentucky. Their: object is TO induce The
South Pennsylvania Company TO build It's
road from Harrisburg TO Suffers, and then
join their road and use It's tracks To reach
Pittsburgh and Wheeling.
II this were done the cost OF coke to Wheel
iug over the South Pennsylvania and this
road would be under the control OF Pittsburgh
iron men, and 1t IL safe 10 assert the present
price would be fully maintained.
In summing up the matter II seems 10
6tAIQ LllA Why oHty inhk " eAS SO4e
acids not controlled by the Pennsy and
Baltimore Il Ohio companies, Is owned by
parties who are rivals II these companies,
and intend building railroad in opposition
TO them, TO one or more termini on the Ohio
river. Wheeling must have cheaper coke,
and 1t Is only through the proposed road she
can possibly obtalR it. The road can and
will b built hero II 1t can reach our mills
and furnaces on the same terms the Penn
sylyania and Baltimore & Ooio companies
now do.
Now, will the building oil q bridge accom-
plisn these things?
There is but one thing to be done and that
Ii for our citizens 10 build or assist in build
Ing road In our city which will reach the
several mills and furnaces here. The city
can furnish the right Of way over most Of the
route. An offer has been made oil the iron
and ties for the road bed, and II the parties
in Wheeling who are most directly inteiested
can be induced TO furnish small sum oil
money the road eau be built:
One OF our mills would be benefited 70
the amount Of $780, 600 per year II coke could
be had here at Pittsburgh rates; another TO
the amount OF $50 900 per year, aud tue 9TH
ers In like proportion. ltwould not require
one.balf tie amount which the mills and
tuflnceh WOuId Save III lsh -
A marginal road which would reach all OF
them.
Will 1t be done?
lit Is, the South Pennsylvania Road will
come here. Hit is not done, II wont, and
Wheeling will lose her last and only chance
OF relief from the Infamous tyranny under
which she now is-the tyranny OF two COM
pauies which pretend to be sworn foes. but
manage to be friends long enough TO pluck
Wheeling on all occasions. -.
The bridge you advocate, with It's ap.
prosches, would cost 81 600 200, and not give
Wheeling coke one cent cheaper. A mar
ginal road would cost. at the extreme out
side limit, less than 100000, aud secure
Wheeling coke at Pittsburgh prices.
Which Is the best for Wheeling?
DO you think there Is any earthly proba..
will ever be built here ? or does 1t not seem
more probable that our good opinion Of our
rs u manufacturing city will