Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-09
the RAILROAD QUESTION.
The Committee Will Recommend
Council to Reject


The railroad committee reposed with q
dull thud on the petition to change the route
of the Baltimore and Ohio road from under
the Market street bridge to the grade Of the
street. The present indications are that
this negative action viii carry with it subj
Gent weight to deter Council from again
opening what was regarded as sealed book.
it will be remembered that Council passed
an ordinance, which was duly and formally
accepted by the B. & o. road, granting the
company the right to construct double
track along the south bank of Wheeling
creek, passing under the Market street
bridge. At the last meeting Of Council q
petition was presented asking the passage
of a second ordinance amending the first by
compelling the B. & o. to cross Market
street at grade. The paper was referred to
the railroad committee, which last night
agreed TO return it to Council with the rec
ommendation Il be rejected.
4 prominent member of Council said yes
terday: when the B. 4 o. road came In
with its proposition, / was opposed to the
route vi der the bridge, ut now that the city
has virtually signed and sealed contract
with the company | am decidedly opposed
to ruthlessly violating it. Such a course
unless asked by the company. would be I'D,
solutely indefensible and could never lend
myseli to it" 49,
why was the petition sprungT
"The petition may be all right-pertectly
honest and sincere. The property holders
at the north end of the bridge may be right
about damage to their property but think
they are prematurely alarmed. There was
a great deal of the same talk when the
Hempfeld connection on Sixteenth street
was made, but you may BEE the result. at
any event, the tunnel route under the bridge
with all the drawbacks mentioned, would DO
infinitely preferable to having the
track on the street grade. In that
| case the damage would be irrepar-
rable. 1t would almost amount to an $50
lation of one portion of the city from the
other. ASH understand it, this will be the
B. & O. through line; you know how many
daily trains each way that means and just
think of the interruption of travel it would
nccessitate. All semblance Of regularity Of
street cars would be broken up and 1t IS my
belief travel between the north and south
sides of the city would be almost completely
broken up"
DO you suppose the B. L D. is with the
movers in this petitionY
II cannot speak with certainty on that
point but | should say not Major Boiling,
! The company's engineer, agreed so readily
10 the route under the bridge that felt sure
it was acceptable. The fact is no company
would care about crossing the street at
Grade in that fashion. 1t is sure to bring
accidents, and accidents mean damage
suits, in which corporation is beaten IN
nine cases out Of ten.
1T is said the B. & o, intends erecting a
passenger depot at the east side Of Main
street, and wants its track up so as to bring
it on a level with the depot floor.
IL don't believe a word of it. The b. X
o., if it puts up depot at all, will build ii
on the vest side OF Main and to my mind it
will be between Twentieth street and the
creek. The location is good one, and q
union depot there may yet result
We are straying from the subject. DO
you think council will change the route|
Not at all The reference to the railroad
committee was merely a recognition of the
right OF the people to petition. Ultimately
the petition will be rejected and the present
ordinance will stand
A welLknown Main street merchant had
Leard this conversation and when the
7 Councilman had departed, he said to the
: REGISTER man.
Il don't know and one can never tell, but
it strikes me it would be a singular stutllti'
ca,ion for Council, after having virtually
made an agreement with the b. x o. to
now 60 to work and deliberately violate it.
However, with smile, mo one can tell
What Council won't do