Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-17
THE RIVAL ROADS.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING ON THE OHIO SIDE
OF THE RIVER.
Both The South Pennsylvania and Ohio, and The
Wheeling and Lake Ere dead in Earnest
and Throwing Dirt for all they are Worth.

Wheeling and Lake Enc "Dsad IN Earnest
and Throwing Dirt for all they are Worth.
Railroad matters on the other side OF the
river are becoming very interesting, and
it now begins to look as il instead OF the
one lopg-hoped-for road direct to the lake,
we may have two, and possibly more.
The South Pennsylvania and Ohio and
the Wheeling and Lake Erie are both
straining every nerve to gain point Of
advantage, and inspire confidence among
the people. Both roads are putting
up the good, hard money, and are asking
no particular favors from any one. 1t Is
not the old-time scheme which is in opera
ton, but something entirely new and
novel to the people over the river.
Heretofore, q railway boom meant
hired boomer, who took the
town by storm, promised great deal more
than any rational man could expect, and
in turn for these promises asked the citi-
Gems to turn out their pockets. This new
boom comes in the form of cash paid for
deeds for rights of way, condemnation
suits and real italian laborers. This
latest boom looks 90 much more healthy
that it can hardly be recognized rs even
distant relative to the old kind.
The Wheeling and Lake Erie and the
Southern Pennsylvania and Ohio nave
both discovered that Wheeling Is good
town, that Martins Ferry is a promising
place. and that road from Bowerston
through good country and splendid coal
fields will be good thing. In conse-
ouence of this discovery and an effort on
the part of both concerns to get the road,
and the comparative benefits which an
exclusive line will give; there is quite .
hot fiyht on hands as to which road Will
get it's work in first and in the best style.
The South Peunsylvanis and Ohio made
complete survey OF the route, sometime
since and at once commenced operations at
a point few miles this side of Bowerston,
on the end of hill, Immediately on the
inside of where the Panhandle tracks
make q short curve round the point.
Messrs. Paige and Carey were given the
contract for building the entire road, and
at once put large force Of men to work at
the point named. The 8. P. & o. by TAX
ing the first width of right Of way inside
the Panhandle tracks at this point, gain
ed quite an advantage by forcing any
other road which cared to come by the
same route to cut away about one hun
dred feet of hill, and that principally solid
rock. Tho Wheeling and Lake Ere at
once took the next right Of way ioside the
S., P. & O., and at once put Messrs, Smith
and Ripley to work making the cut.
Both forces are now actively engaged on
the two cuts, but the s. 2. & 0. has a
decided advantage by getting the outside
right of way.
The s. P. so has condemnation suits
against some half dozen people along their
line between Martins Ferry and Port
land, on trial before the probate Court at
st. Clairsville. Yesterday the court Is
sued an order for the, condemnation pro-
ceedings to proceed, and the road will be
placed in possession Of the way 1t desires
in few days. They have made complete
surveys of the line and are In splen.
did shape to get to work at
once. They promise to put then
contractors to work between Martins
Ferry and Portland as soon as the condem-
nation suits are settled.
It was reported yesterday that the s. r
& o. had On injunction against the W. q
l.. Z. continuing work ut the point NEAR
Conversion, where the trouble about the
right of way exists, as mentioned above
Mr.. o. R. Wood, secretary ofthe company,
stated last night that this was entirely
incorrect. Concerning the financial abili
ty of the s. P. & O., the following from
the Boston Herald of July 18th, is OF In
terest:
Cleveland and Canton preferred rose
2E to 30s and common 2 to The rise
was on the successful placing of 81 ,0O0, OO(
of the new So with Messrs. Irving A. Evan'
& Co. and Messrs. s. V. White q Co. Tht
bonds will probably be finally sold in Der
lin. But the bankers take them as above
and the company receives the proceeds aDt
will contract for the rails to widen thu
gauge to the standard at once. The Cleve
land and Canton road will be of standard
gauge by September 1. The company has
now sold 81, 300, 600 Of the ~, DOC, COO o.
bonds authorized. The unsold balanc,
will probably be sufficient to take up al
of the old bonds and notes. leaving thu
company with no debt but 81, OOO, 600 o.
and the road has earned the interest OF
that amount as a narrow gauge property
This road is the Blood road and its Pres
ident, H. A. Blood. is President of thu
South Pennsylvania and Ohio railway
which is now moving actively to construc
their line from Martins Ferry to Bowers
ton to tap the several roads stopping Their
and in that vicinity.
The Wheeling and Lake Erie are equally
active, and if anything is showing NOR
signs of life than the s. p. & o. They
have their right Of way men at worl
all along the line, and an engineering
force under Chief Engineer Will
son, is now within two mile
of Portland. On Saturday evening
gang of fifty Italians engaged to worl
for Messrs. Grout and Daily, sub-oontrac
tors under Smith and Ripley, on the W
& L. c., arrived at Portland Station
They were taken in charge by William
Hodgens and driven to Conley's, abou
twelve miles west of the river nea,
, Adeua, where they will be put to work a
soon rs the tools arrive from New York
The tools were started on last Wednesda.
by Union Line freight, and should be her
to-day. The Italians will be housed in larg
old house near Conley's. ''Dr." Wright
, another sub-contractor who has thre,
miles of the rOad this side of Piney Fork
has rented an old mill kno En IS Bark
hurst's mill, in which he will house tw
, hundred Italians, whom, he says, will 81
rive in few days to work on the W. 4 L
E. Manager woodford, Of the W. & L. E.
claims to hsve an uninterrupted right o
way from Conversion to Piney Fork, abou
eight miles from the river.
A Movement to Reclaim Stock.
, Special Telegram 10 Tie Rsosar.
HoPEDALE, O., July 16.-Steps are be
ing taken to reclaim the amount Of stocl
paid to the Wheeling and Lake Erie Raj
road Company, some time ago, and damag
to farms il the present management divert
/ the line from the original route. tn
amounts claimed would reach, with intel
,, est 100000. 1t would also vitiste a
|, subscription and contracts from Hopedal
! to Navarro, Stark county, o., If the rout