Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-07-26
wHEELINe's BAck-sET.

tslimmering Rival Trunk Lines Looking
After Their own interests
Wheeling gets up 80 many railroad pro
iects to the square mile IS any city OF her
size in the country. She is q favorable
point for railroad kings and spectators to
talk about. Her people are enierprising
and her manufacturers want all the roads
they can get. Hence the dual conditions
make il easy for railrsad syndicate, who
give any reasonable show OF honest purpose
to get the community interested IN rail-
road project.
Pretty much everyone recollects the rack
ct that was raised a year or more ago about
the great through east and west line, all
steel, double track, air line railway, for pas
sepger traffic only &c. &c, that was going
to be built. The Vanierbilts and the New
York Central were backing it. From Har-
risburg to Wheeling it was known as
the South Pennsylvania Railway: There
was to be a magnificent railroad bridge
spanning the Ohio at this point. Sparri g
and contemplating between the friends OF
the enterprise and the Baltimore L Ohio Of
ieials were constantly ringing in the public
ear, for which should have this aud that
privilege to enter tIp city. Belt railroads,
iunnelipg Wheeling hill, and for that matter
dumping the hill into the creek and making
the reclaimed ground pay all the expenses,
were matters talked Of and discussed as OF
the very hkeliest occurrence. Surveys were
made. in Ohio and Green counties, railroad
companies were chartered, and, according
to one prominent and liberal citizen, you
would have thought sheol had broken loose
and Wheeling was going to be the focus OIL
al the r. g in the country.
Well, there is no South Pennsylvania
Railroad yet, nor is there going to be- 1t
is as dead in its shell to-day as the mackerel
that was put in pickle and barreled year
ago.
The scheme was born Of hate and re-
venge and ought to have been doomed at
The start. But railroad magnates with
boundless wealth and resources behind
them, when they wish to accomplish bad
object impose upon the innocence aud Gre
dulity of plain, honest people who are not
familiar with their scheming and are only
looking forward to the immediate improve
ment of their lands, or hoping for readier
and better outlet to the markets OF the
world.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was mad at some Pitts
burg people and the Pennsylvania Central
railroad. They had got the best of him in
one or two questionable and large railroad
deals. He proceeded at once to get even
The South Penn was his plan. 1t tapped
The rich sources Of revenue from which the
Pennsylvania Central and its systems were
largely fed. The most elaborate surveys
we're made, lands bought, intermediate and
subordinate companies organized to control
the local subscriptions and build up favors-
Die sentiment, and finally syndicate was
organized which stuck full 100000 OF
actual cash in the enterprise with the de-
tsrmined purpose of building the road.
The next scene On the RAILROAD panorama
was the aroused fears of the Pennsylvania
Central. 1t didn't take it long to see the
destruction in store if some means were not
properly taken TO counteract this game OF
kill dog, kill devil An opportunity was not
long wanting. The West Shore railroad,
running from New York to Buffalo, aud the
Now York Centrsrs direct rival, was going
to the dogs financially. Because of the
competition war between the two roads there
vas no money in either. Freight and pas
sengers were transported for almost song
1t was simply question of the longest
purse. Hence the Western Shore stock be-
anne almost worthless and its bonds way
below par. The Pennsylvania Central got
control and in q tsiukEng was in shape
to dictate to Vanderbilt 1t could
yitber galvinize the West Shore
into life enoughto worry the New York Gen.
raj or il could let it lie and rot, as a local
road.
Presto change! This past week the Met
yopolitan papers have been teeming with the
details of the big deal between the New
York Central and the Pennsylvania Central
Railroads, whereby the New York Central
controls the Western Shore and the Pennsyl.
vsnia Central controls the South Pennsyl,
vania. In other words the two small fish
have been gobbled upby the two big fish,
there will be no mora fighting each other
by these two collussi, aud the stockholders,
5oudholders and all others interested in the
Western Shore and the South Penusyl
vanis having burnt their thumbs to the tune
OF fortunes OF less, CAL uOH hl luSlE iclS-
ure stick them in their mouths and suck out
the fire.
In this article the REGIsTER has given
only one phase of the great deal as told to
it BY Wheeling gentleman we'll versed in
the movements of these great roads. There
are side issues in it that take great scope
and effect other trunk roads. AS for in
stance: 1t alleged these two roads have
made an alliance to keep the B. & o. out OF
Philadelphia and New York, and before
she gels into those cities the years will be
many and the millions to be expended in
sighting for every foot of way will be more
than one can count on his fingers and toes
What a sight it is to see indeed But
hat does not begin to compare with the as
,onishing capacity these great and wealthy
corporations can develop for corrupiug leg
slstive and all other bodies siugly and col
cctively in order that they may legsize and
Oush forward and complete their mscaina'
tions.
LITERARY NOTES