Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-12
IMPORTANT CHANGES
Consequent to the 3. & o. Through
Route.
Wheeling on the Main Stem and Connected
Directly With the Coke Fields
New Depot Ideas.

There has been great deal oil talk, per-
sonal and in print Of the great prepsra-
tons the Baltimore and Ohio road is max
ing to push the Connellsville connection and
thoroughly equip the new line. This means
q great deal for Wheeling, as will be seen,
for in the B. & o. lies Wheelrngs only
present opportunity of getting on the through
line of a trunk railroad Of all the great
through traffic on this great railway artery,
Wheeling gets not a solitary benefit. 1t is
useless at this time to revert to those mel
ancholy blunders which account for this
state of affairs, for Wheeling must not stand
with its face to the wall thinking ofthe past
but must look to the future. We are on
switch OF the B. & o. and switch of the
Pan Handle and Wheeling can call herself
the terminus of only two local roads. When
the B. L o. completes the ConnellSville ex-
tension, this will be changed. The main
line will be diverted from the present track
through West Virginia and grass will grow
on that route as far as through travel was
COuceIueu. nc lluC " bAS S@oe "AAA
lie through Wheeling and Washington,
making straight cut, east and west through
the Pennsylvania coal and coke fields, with
a laternal branch from West Virginia,
through MonongaEa county, to feed the
Pittsburg mills.
The first step in this direction was the
Pittsburg connection with the Hempheld and
a single months experience showed the
immense possibilities of the line. The ton
mage from the west was so great that the
HempGeld was utterly unable to acconmo-
date it and hundreds OF tons OF PittSburg
freight were sent there by the B. Il 0. via
Cumberland and the Connellsyille branch.
The certainty of through line was made
doubly sure by the experiment and 1t Is
now only a matter of months until the cars
are running through Wheeling to New
York via Washington without change. BY
this change Wheeling will reap benefits ad-
ditional to those of through passenger trathc
in the direct connection with the coke
fields. This want has been felt for years.
For years it was the dream OF Wheeling
men, with far seeing shrewdness and small
capital, to construct road, with exclusive
ly Wheeling capital, to the coke regions, for
the purpose of placing US at least on an
equality with Pittsburg. The saving alone,
in rates on coke, would more than pay the
interest on the bonds necessary to build the
road. But now the B. l. 0. is to forge the
connecting link and the promise has been
made and the understanding given that
Wheeling mills would reap the benefits in
reduced coke freights. This may not hap
pen, but with increased facilities and live
com petition, it is among the reasonable
probabilities.
With Wheeling on the main stem of the
Baltimore and Ohio several important local
changes will be necessary and the air is full
of talk concerning them. The company is
buying property and rights of way IN lively
style and will push its road changes with
lively hand when once it begins. A new
depot is among the necessities, and there is
considerable speculation as to its probable
location. 1t will not be practicable to run
passenger trains into the present bridge
depot and then back down to the curve up
the creek, and the new station will undoubt-
edly be on the new creek line. When Me-.
Keyser was here, three years ago, negotiat'
ing for what is known as the tunnel route,
he said:
"As soon as the track for the new route
is laid fine passenger depot will be erected,
and / promise you it shall be an ornament
to Wheeling" =.
Yesterday afternoon the writer had al
interview with gentleman well versed in
B. & D. affairs on the subject OF a new
depot. He said:
1T is not generally known, but the B. Il o;
has a three mopths option on the planning mill
property of Holiday. The price to be pad
is S2O,j0O, Mr.. Holiday to take all the ma
chiuery. The company is also negotiating
for considerable property on the west side OF
Main street, between Twenty-frst street and
the creek. 1t proposes making conSidera-
bic change and new depot will be among
! them"
Where will it be?'
IL think it will be at Holidays mill site
with the entrance on Market and Twentieth
streets. The track will be considerably de-
pressed at that place and will necessitate q
TWO story building. The lower floor will be
on a level with the track, and the second
story, level with the street, will be devoted
to ticket offices and waiting rooms. The
depot will be moderR one, conducted or
the metropolitan plan.
Go TO the 5 and loo Store, ll22 MAR