Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-10
JACKSON'S RICHES
WILL BIZ OPENED UP RY fHB NEW
RAILROAD.
An Important Feeder Of he Ohio River Line
Put In 0psradun-Brisf History Of
the Ripley and Mil Creek
Valley Road.

Special Telegram 10 TIE Register.
PARKERsBURG, December 9.-To-mor-
row the first train will be run upon the
Ripley & Mill Greek Valley Railroad,
under the management of the Ohio River
company. This branch will be an impor.
tant feeder of the o. R. road, and is an
other proof OF thst company's well known
enterprise.
1t connects with the Ohio River Railroad
at Millwood, point As miles below Par
kersburg, and runs from there along the
valley of Big Mill Greek 10 Jackson c. H.,
adistancs Of 13 miles. .
The company, which is local orgsniza-
tion controlling the road, was incorporated
in January 1856. The work of grading
was begun in the summer Of 1886, and the
enterprise was carried on by means Of
subscriptions to the capital stock by
the citizsns along the line of the
road, until the bonds of Ripley and
Washington districts could be prccared,
these districts having voted subscriptions
to the capital stock of the company, paya-
bic in the bonds Of the districts, when the
road was graded. The amount Of money
obtained from this source was thirty thous-
and dollars, OF which amount twenty. five
thousand was from Ripley district. This
amount enabled the company 10 proc sed
with the timber work, and purchasing
ties, &c, but was not sufficient to pay for
the rails and other material necessary for
the completion Of the road. Af6er trying
in different ways to obtain the required
funds to finish the work, and not meeting
with success, the company came to the Ohio
River r. R. people, who having an inter
est in the enterprise, on account OF its be-
ing a connecting link, entered into con.
tract with the Mill Creek Compsny, Auguft
9th, 1888, whereby the Ohio River r X.
Company guaranteed the payment of fifty
thousand dollars of the Mill Creek Com.
pany's bonds, which guarantee enabled
the Mill Creek Company to dispose of the
bonds TO Eastern parties and thus get
money to finish the road.
~ "no ebO VI B'lai lutcullUl VI TUG Mlll
Creek Company that its road should be
three feet-gague, aud the location and
grading was made in accordance with that
plan, but in the contract made with the
Ohio River Railroad Co. it was stipulated
that the gsgue should be standard, and
therefor the changes were made in the
roadbed, etc, after August 9th, 1883, for
that purpose.
Tracklsying was completed to Jackson
G. H., October 1st, and several trains were
run TO the Jackson county fair held at that
place. The road, however, was unbal-
lasted and owing to bad weather
and other reasons, but little was
done until November 9th, when the
Board of Directors appointed Col. Gtorge
Thompson General Manager, who imme-
diately put force Of men at work to get
the road in shape for operation, which re.
suit has been accomplished and regular
trains will bsgin running December 10th
The trains will leave Jackson O. II. in the
morning aud make two round trips daily
except Sunday. 1t will connect with OHIO
River trains Nos. 2 and 7 in the morning
and with No. and local trains in the
afternoon.
The Superintendent of the Railway
Mail Service has had q conference with
Col. Thompson, and the necessary arrange
ments will bs made whereby the road will
within a short time carry the mail.