Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-03
WANT THE MONEY.
Why Don't Ohio County Pay Her
Subscription
To the Ohio River Railroad 7-Mr. Peterson
Asks the Board Of Commissioners
General Proceedings Of the
County Custodians.

The only feature Of the regular session
of the Board of County Commissioners
Yesterday was q little statement made by
Mr.. w. F. Peterson in relation to the with
holding of the $4,000 subscription to the
capital stock Of the Ohio Valley Railroad
Company. At the last meeting the Board,
apparently on the rumor that the company
had entered or was about to enter into an
agreement with the B. & o. r. X. Company
for the use of the tracks Of the latter be
tween Moundsville and Bellaire, withheld
the payment Of the money until some
guarantee had been given that such was
not the case. This action induced Mr..
Peterson 10 appear before the Board to set
masters right. Having obtained permission
to address the Board, he referred TO this &C.
ton and stamped it as hasty and i'll advised.
Had Colonel White or myself been con-
suited" he said, this action had never
been taken. The rumoI was entirely ground
less, and never had such an arrangement
been contemplated. L was present when
the articles Of agreement between the D. K.
K. Z. Co. and the PewIkey Go. were
signed and no such promise was mentioned
and now this restriction of the Board
should be removed. We are now actively
at work, have commenced the bridge across
Big creek, at Moundsyille and are remov-
ing all material from Benwood to Mounds
vile for the active construction OF the
road. The action of this Board was an inn
putation of the good faith Of the o. K. K.
Co., and /, as q citizen of this county,
would be the last to wish a single depart
ure, by the county, from the agreement 1t
has entered into and | want 10 see that
agreement carried out in all faith. The
county is put in q position at once unen-
viable to itself and unfriendly to the con-
pany. The company has now paid out
some $4,000 between Moundsyille and
Benwood for rights of way and that was
not tor show. So that the action Of the
Board was hasty and was based on idle
and untouuded rumors. l was. perfectly
surprised and so were Others. We our
selves would fight the b. Il D.. were such
a proposition 10 arise
Commerford-YOu will have to fight
them anyhow.
Peterson-Sot at all, sir.
Commerford-Down at the narrows?
Feterson-No sir, We have made an agree
ment with them, since the action of the
Board, that entirely adjusts that matter,
and now we ask that the money be paid
over upon the receipt Of the certificates Of
stock.
Mr.. Commerford did not see in what the
action had been hasty. They were
here TO protect the county's interest and
transact its business, and it was their duty
to see that the county did not put its foot
in the matter. II this company would
give Wheeling an independent thorough
fare, he was satisfied, but wanted no more
deals with the b. y o., and he thought
the business at the Narrows looked sus
p~icious.
Mr.. Peterson explained that the pile
driver had been taken to the Narrows as an
experiment, TO learn whether that place
could be cribbed or trestled, and when the
piles were found to be practicable, the
driver was taken away.
Mr.. Comerford though the action OF the
Board correct aud worthy Of exonera.
ton.
Mr.. Boring delved into the history of the
county's transactions with railroads. He
was disposed 10 be liberal. he said, but he
thought care and elaboration essential.
We have been batiled too often and should
look before we leap. He her cited several
examples, mentioning the c. & p. and the
NJ. X c. roads.
Mr.. Woods said a few words in defense OF
the Boards action. Their attitude had al
ways been friendly TO the road and all
they wanted was to be sure.
Capt. Prince then offered a resolution
providing for the payment OF the money
as sOon as the company guaranteed 10 build
Its own line as mentioned. This was
adopted and the matter is now in the very
same position as before.