Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-10
RAILWAY AFFAIRS.
4 Local Contest Involving Import
ant interests in Ohio.
The MUskingum County People Fighting the
Lease fthe Muskingum County
Narrow Gauge.

ZANRsvrLLE, O., March 9.-The taxpayers
of Maskingum county $4,000 population)
have employed legal talent, and this week
bill will be introduced into the General
Assembly at Columbus to force the sale OF
the MuskiDgum County marrow gauge
Road. The cause of this step is on Noyem.
Der %, 1888, the Black Diamond people
vented the line. but On December 4 were
informed by +. II. SJuthard, secretary OF
the Bellaire, GAINESVILLE and Cincinnati
Company, that his line had leased it. On
February 90, however, the lease was exc
cuted and delivered to the Bellaire, Zanes-
vile and Cincinnati Company. Then
the taxpayers in majority, seeing the
crookedness of railroad trustees in report
ing the line leased December 4, when it
was not had the case investigated, finding
that the railroad trustees OF Muskingum
county were directors or stockholders in
the Bel!aire, GAINESVILLE and Cincinnati Rail
way Company, and the lease, according to
the laws of Ohio, was null and void, they
having no right to make contract with
themselves. The Bellaire, GAINESVILLE and
Cincinnati Railway Company did not pay
their January, (lSSi) interest, $4,000, and
their having floating debt of $500, 900, be-
sides being months behind in their pay to
employees, could not be of service to the
country in having the MuSkingum County
marrow guage) Road.
The Road is Built Between
Zsnesyllle and McCopnellsvilIe, with right
of extension to Marietta, Ohio, and the
taxpayers assert that the Bellaire, ZAnss
vi! and Cincinnati Railroad Company
only desire the narrow gauge that, by
claiming il will extend the line 10 Marietta
it can draw 100000 from the construction
fuud To psy $50, 900 past due January and
E5U,UOU Que July l, 1884. They have opened
var on the Bellsire, Zanesviile and Cinciu-
natl Railroad Company, and ere this week
-IGs tie road will be in their hands again
rEe rosd, If sold. will be purchased by the
Black Diamond Company at actual cost
By losing t the Bellaire, GAINESVILLE and
Cincinnati Railroad Company will be shut
out of Zsnesville. Their line nov termi
oates at Salt Creek mine miles from Zanes
vil'el while it will give the Black Diamond
people entire control OF the Muskingu N
Valley. as it follows the west bank OF the
Mn, kirgum river from GAINESVILLE tc
Mfrietts.
The work of constructing
The Black Diamond System
OF railroads, embracing AIS miles, will
commence on April lst. The United
S;stes general contracting company Of New
Jersey will build the entire line and mus'
complete 100 miles, aud a. much more as
possible, during the year 1894. This sy
stem Of lines takes in nearly all the impor
tant points in Ohio The surveys are
made end work will proceed under the
management of President and General
Manager Albert E. Boone and Chief En-
sineer Colonel Edward Greene. The
company have purchased 25,000 acres o
coal lands. The line will be built so as tC
be two (, ct above high water mark Of 1884
and the competition of all trunk lines
The following are its officers: President
and general msnsger, Albert f Boone
vice president George N. Jewett (sou Of
Hugh J. Jewett); treasurer, Charles An
drews; chief engineer, Colonel Edwsrd A
Greene.