Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-20
OUR RAILROAD OPPORTUNITIES
CLOSED,

There is no fact bearing upon the fu-
ture business interests of this city more
patent than that, before many years, the
present terminal facilities for the rail-
roads entering the city will be INSULT
eient and unequal to the demands upon
them.
The point at the mouth of the creek
where the depots Of the B. & o. and P.
W. 4 Ky. roads are located, is already
q crowded, contracted and inconven.
lent place for the increasing business OF
the roads. In a few weeks or months,
two additional roads must do their
shipping at this point. The B. & D.
will be running through trains over the
Hempfield division and the Ohio river
road will be coming in at the same
point. Thus we will have four roads
doing their shipping upon an area that
has been inconveniently small for the
accommodation of two.
This eramped condition will prove a
serious drawback both to the railroad
companies and to the business cOmmu-
nifty. II will in time become a source
Of complaint to shippers, and Of dissat-
isfaction to the companies themselves,
so that relief from it will eventually be
sOugttin one direction or another. II
may result in transferring the shipping
point Of one or more of these roads be-
yond the city limits. 1t is possible,
doubtless, to enlarge and improve the
accomm odatiOns at the mouth of the
creek so that it might serve as q ter
minal point for these roads for some
years 10 come. a union depot cover.
ing all the vacant territory at that point
and the creek as well, would greatly
improve the facilities for all the present
roads, although all the track space
above and below is now occupied, and
could not be readily increased.
The fact remains, however, that the
railroad terminal facilities of this city
are already exhausted, or more than oc-
cupied, until a new outlet is made.
There Is nothing left for any other
road. II we have any ambition or pros
pect for other roads, il is effectually de-
feated by this lack of terminal facilities.
This is not new problem in our city
affairs. 1t has been presented in all its
aspects by those Of our citizens who
have long recognized its Importance to
the future growth and prosperity of the
city. When Mr.. SAYREo of the South
west Pennsylvania visited the city last
winter his experienced eye took in the
situation at a glance and he dwelt upon
this want of terminal facilities a. the
most diseouraging fact to any railroad
enterprise that might be seeking this
point.
Nevertheless we continue to postpone
and neglect this pressing need except
when it is forced upon our cOnsidera-
ton by the fact that We have lost an
opportunity for a new railroad by the
discouraging matter in question. It
was only a short time ago that the city
council took hold of this problem with
an apparent disposition to settle it
finally and satisfactorily. A commits
sion vas appointed to consider and re-
port upon the most feasible plan. A
small amount of money was placed at
their disposal for that purpose. And
that was the last the public has heard
of it. 1t is presumed that the matter
has been deferred until some other rail-
road enterprise has gone around the
city because of the difficulties in the
way of getting in.