Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-10
RAILROAD GOSSIP.
B~eIIalrs's Talk Of a Union Marginal
Road
That wiz Nip the Proposed Bridge at
Wheeling --PrObabIy a Myth---The
Rumored Purchase Of the
Ohio Valley Road,

1oy9 ek0 80
telegram from Bellaire, containing the In
formation that considerable talk was being
heard of a short line railroad from Bellaire
to Martins Ferry, which "a to be used as
a sort Of union line. The same telegram
aflerward appeared in the Bellaire INDIE
pendent, with q few comments, from q Bel
laire standpoint and q general boost" Of
the project. The writer of the dispatch and
author of the boost are doubtless one and
the same person and equally doubtless the
plan would be entirely acceptable to the
people living along the Belmont county
river front, as he said. At the conclusion
Of the dispatch, like the barb on the tail Of
the proverbial snake, was the assertion that
this scheme would probably do away with
the bridge from Wheeling to Martins Ferry
and divert the Cannonball and Wheeling
and Lake Erie lines to Bellsire. This is
PRETTY YEAR NONSENSE
for many reasons, very cogent, but no
doubt unknown to the railroad magnate at
Bellaire. Tie Mt. Vern n, Coshocton and
Wheeling railroad company must cross the
river on an iron and stone bridge and have
its cars actually running into this city to
get the $4,000 subscribed BY Ohio coun-
ty. This upsets the Bellaire idea com
pletely. Then there is the Harrisburg q
Western road wants an outlet to the west,
which can only be had by means of q
bridge. The latter is bound to come and
is made absolutely necessary by the several
roads which must find their western con-
n~ections by means of it. The Bellsire idea
Of q short line may be a good thing, but
like our belt, in marginal road, may amount
to nothing. Oft, the Independent says:
THE BELLAIRE IDEA.
1t is agreeably surprising to find with
what general appreciation is met the project
of a short line railroad along the river front
from this city to Martins Ferry. Every
body recognizes in it the invaluable worth
it would be to this city, and some of the
manufacturers heartily commend the idea.
Should the B. & o. Railroad Company take
hold OF this project-and that company has
been talking for years about an extension
up the river-we feel quite sure that it
would be substantially encouraged by this
city and the manufacturers in the
towns above US. The plan is prac-
ticable, but it needs a head, a
lea der, and the B. & o. Company, it would
seem, is the proper source to look to now to
start the ball rolling. That it would event
uslly pay largely for the investment is SO
plain that argument on that score seems
useless. That it would be worth thousands
upon thousands of dollars to this city is
equally true, and it would cement together
the three principal towns of this county in a
bond of one common interest, and make the
whole eastern portion of Belmont county a
solid city and a formidable competitor With
the larger cities in the State. This
section would then be the leading
part of Eastern Ohio, and it is
hardly an exsggeration that the advan.
tages and prominence thus attained would
even ~overshadow the now seeming promi.
nence of Wheeling over our enterpising
city. The matter is worth talking about,
Keep it up, and there is hardly q doubt but
that such a road will he built some day, and
when Bellaire is made the center for all the
roads now leading toward the Ohio river,
and already partly built, we will indeed have
q beautiful city that viii attract attention
everywhere.
THE WHEELING IDEA.
When the B. & o. through connections
are made, and this. city becomes the middle
station between the East and West, it will
make a vast difference to Wheeling. lr
that event Bellaire will very badly need
som ething in the shape of a short line.
STILL TALKING. q
That Bellaire mar is still talk ng. He
sends the Enquirer the following: A rumor
his been circulated, and it was published in
some papers, to the effect that the Balti.
more and Ohio Railroad Company was ne
go,iating for the purchase of the Ohio Valley
from Marietta to this city, and it was given
out that the Baltimore and Ohio haG been
FOR years seeking al outlet up the river
front as far north as Martins Ferry, and
was to use the Ohio Valley as a lever in Sc.
curing the right to build that branch, which
would give that company success 10 the
manufactures at Bridgeport, Etnaville, and
the Ferry. There is no truth whatever in the
reported negotiations for the purchase Of
the Ohio Valley road, as your correspon-
dent learns from a Baltimore and Ohio Of
fetal who would know if there was such a
cove ent. But, as to the branch along the
rivers front as far north as Martins Ferry
there is some talk, and the Baltimore and
Ohio Company WILL no doubt, some day
build the branch as spoken Of in the En-
quirer of the It'll. inst. The freight traffic
in the towns named would pay the com
pany, and If the other roads now partially
built to the river use the line to come to
this city the transfer on the Baltimore and
Ohio line would be a big item to that com
pany, and a greater item for this city.
Thus does the railroad scheme suggested
on the 7th inst, travel toward something
tangible.