Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-01-30
FUNNY PHASES OF THE PRESENT soon
How a Rich but Long Neglected Section
VIII be Developed Politically To-
dustriousIy and Otherwise
By the Laying Of Rails.
Special 10 the ReqtstT.

bination that has ever inquired on the poarus
in this neck Of the woods.
Think Of 1t!
For years past-say fifteen or tusus5-
the Monongahela river has been running
in the same channel, to and from the same
points OF the compass, washing the same
territory and passing the same towns that
il does now.
But nobody wanted to build a railroad
along that river! Nobody would think OF
such thing! Especially would nobody
pay money toward it. No railroad COM
pany would deign to talk about that route
mo, indeed!
Well, we had concluded that this part OF
the States public heritage was doomed to
perpetual isolation and obscurity. We
had thought life not worth living gand given
ND 10 die Some of US were longing for
the "Grim Monster"
But What Do We See?
Two of the leading railroad lines OF the
country, the great Baltimore and Ohio and
Pennsylvania Central are suddenly locked
in death struggle, SO 10 speak, IN their
esgeTness TO have road down the banks oi
this badly snIbbed river, and each appa-
rently willing to die rather than that the
other should get there first.
That is the First Pointer.
Now for the second: Up at the head OF
the line, to wit, at the fair town of Clarks-
burg, it is reported that the whole popula-
ton, men, women and children, turn out
tour times day, at the hours correspond.
ing with the passing OF trains along the
L. & o., range themselves along the line Oh
the railroad and make faces" at the b.
o. Company as represented in the passing
trains; the men shaking their fists and The
women screaming after the tram, and all
shouting in chorus, I'VE will have compe.
tition." You shan't have the route
to Morgantown,. yos old monopolist and
extortioner you"
That's q Funny Pointer.
But coming on down the line to Fair
mont we have another phase Of the situa-
tion. 1t is said that all the male popula-
ton have shed their coats and go about the
streets in the act of rolling up their sleeves
with a chip on each shoulder, the partisans
of the B. & o. looking for ". Va. & Pa.
man and the latter looking for the other
fellow. Every now and then some big fel.
low on corner jumps up, cracks his heels
together and crows like rooster which is
promptly answered by competing rooster
from another corner. And thus 1t goes
visitors supposirg, when seeing the whole
population in their shirt sleeves, that
every body is employed building the much
talked. of railroad-5ut they are only swear
ing that somebody shan't build railroad.
That's a Puyilistic POtsster.
Now we come on down the river to Nor
gantown, and here she whole population
are, (tiguratively speaking) out on the
house. tops, climbing poles, and roosting in
the highest trees, all looking out for the
locomotive and hallowing and shouting to
every engineer or chair. carrier they see to
inquire when she's coming?' and How
soon II she be herew and "Which'll come
first?" Some of them who can't find a
high point OF observation have seated them.
selves along side of the small stakes which
the engineers have driven along the route
away look, for the frs! glimpse of the en-
gine.
What IL the Outcome
of all this rumpus to be? you ask. 1t
means that within the nsxt twelve months
these two great lines will each have a line
traversing the banks OF the Monongahela
river, penetrating the State, developing the
great natural resources OF this valley and
transforming this hitherto backward and
isolated end of the State into busy, popu-
lous and prosperous mart OF trade and
making it boom with business and the
hum of hundreds of profitable manufsc.
lures.
MorgantOwn will thus be locsted at the
head of slack water navigation having
communication direct with Pittsburgh,
with two important lines OF railroad and
perhaps third, the midland, penetrating
the rich resources OF the river valley and
the mountain base. This is not mere spec
ulation but, at this point in the game
locks like an accomplished fact The B &
o. company has authorized and directed
Mr.. Spencer, its Vice President, to build its
road, has placed the necessary means at his
disposal, and is proceeding with business.
like dispatch 70 copsummate the work.
The West Virginia and Pennsylvania Com
pany has also obtained from the Pennsyl.
vanis Central certain pledges OF assistance
that are substantially sufficient in the
views of the projectors, to warrant them in
putting the road under contract as soon "a
the preliminaries are settled. Neither
bluffed or bulldozed or bamboozled or
beaten out OF its purpose, but is scramb-
ling and scheming for every advantage in
the right OF way and even buying the land
outright where there is anything to be
gained by it.
a Political Pointer.
But what significance can the building
Of railroad, or even two railroads, through
this section Of the State, have, and what
special interest has the balance Of the State
in it? Twill tell you.
Hitherto the State has been big at one
end. All the growing in wealth and popu-
tion has been in the southern end Of the
State. The multiplication of railroads in
the Kanawha valley has so increased the
power of that section that it has COMPARE.
lively deprecated this, and put this end OF
the State at q disadvantage. 1t is now com
mon to say that the Third district holds
the balance Of power. They come into our
State Conventions claiming everything,
and they get about all they claim. They
enforce their demands through the argu
mept that you can't get along without
U.S. They put forward their men for the
offices and the demand must be met or
''the stronghold of the party will 60 back
on you" Every year it has been gBo1fnR
more evident that the northern districts OF
the State must occupy and be content with
back seat in the political councils Of the
State.
what Railroads win Do.
Railroads will change this. Railroads
will revolutiouize the political situation.
10 few yesrs these enterprises now ma
turing in this section will establish better
balance between the two ends Of the State.
Tie Second District especially will loom
up Its population will be speedily null
uplied and its political pSwer and ion
portsnce correspondingly augmented. Il
will compel q "fsir divide" II will
strengthen the fnr,ificst;ons of the dom
insnt party. 1t will turR some OF these
old Republican counties upside doEa. Tor
where rsilrosds 90 Democratic msj Jrittes
follow ss kind Of logical coDssannaee
The locomotive is the great ctviiizsr aud
hence the railroad and Democsscy ~ hand
in hspd. Look cut for the locomotive aud
the reyolutions
FoR scrotula, syphiliie disorders, thin
and wstssy bleod, s.uggisn liver (Iadi
Gated BY poor digesSonh weak kidnsy:
(indicased by both pAsAl and urinary ca
tarrh, ratasrssH. eyelids, etc. \ use Dr.. Guy
sotts Yellow Dock and sarsapa,illa. L