The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-30
A GREAT SCHEME.
Ample Terminal Railroad FaciI'
tiles for Wheeling,
A cHAPLINE HILL TUNNEL
The Veil Lifted aud a Mystery Re-
ycalCd-The Meaning of Certain
Real Estate Purchases-Gird,
ling uswIth a Belt OF Steel,

All sorts OF rumors have been current
in connection with the recent purchases
OF ground on the South Side, The fact
that most Of the transfers have been
made to Mr., F, ], Hearue Of the River
side Iron Company, gave rise to the be-
lief that some extensive new departure
is contemplated by Mr., Hearpe's COM
pany, 1t Is understood that the River
side is seriously considering the erection,
at IN early day, Of steel sheet mil, and
some have supposed the land purchases
to be connected with this enterprise, II
is unnecessary to say thatthe two things
are in no way connected, To the pur-
chasea made by Mr., Hearne are to be
added those made by Col. Thos, O'Brien,
the latter including twenty'four lots at
the mouth OF Caldwells Run, alta cost
OF $1,000, This property was bought
from the executor Of the Handlan estate,
and embraces the old homestead. Pa
pers for the transfer were completed yes
terday, 49,,
The real purchaser Of all this ground
| ia The Union Bridge and Terminal Rail-
way Company, although MeSsrs. Hearne
and 0'Brien decline TO admit the TACT
or to make any explanation, This 10 IN
keeping with the Company's desiLe TO
throw as much secrecy as possible about
its movements until 1t shall have &C.
Ouired more that 1t wants and shall be
ready to reveal it's plans more fully,
These land purchases are a neces'
sary part OF the mostComprehensIye rail-
road scheme ever contemplated in con-
nection with Wheeling, Tie long'talked'
Of baltimore & Ohio improvements
are tnConsiderahle IN comparison with
this project, The aim Of the capitalists
Interested Is to entrenCh themselves In
Wheeling with such q terminal System
as will command full share oil the
freight traffic,
II was seen by the shrewd men In the
enterprise that now is the time to secure
such liabilities as, strangely. enough, tue
railroads on the ground have neglected
to acquire. The scheme goes beyond
the expected requirements Of the near
future having In view not only the
growth OF Wheeling's industries and
general business, but an easy way for
through connections east and west. In
pursuance OF this intent the Union
Bridge and Terminal Railway Company
has secured not only the ground above
spoken 81, but all a the Peninsula ex'
Cept about five acres on which the hriGk
yard Is situated, and has extended us
land holdings 10 the eastern end Of the
H6mpGeld Tunnel. This provides the
eastern outlet as originally desired.
Later tho company became impressed
with the idea that Its interests would be
guarded and promoted by providing Tor
another eastern outlet, and this is the
chief significance Of the recent pur'
Ghages
II has been noted that these purchases
run alone the base Of Chapline hill Rld on
Caldwell's run, terminating at tho mouth
OF that stream. 1t Ia the intention to
follow OaIdYels run eastward to con.
Venlent point, drive o tunnel through
Chapline hill and come out at Elm
Grove. This will be costly work, but the
men who have shot the daylight through
one hill that stood In the way OF this on.
terprise are not discouraged at the cost
OF piercing another. From CaldwelPs
run The road will eTtepd pprthward
along The east bank OF Wheeling creek
through tho North Wheeling tunnel
10 the union bridge. Southwark II will
follow the general course OF the run to
It's mouth, connecting with the Balti.
more 4 Ohio and the Ohio River road,
with this latter completing the cir
cult OF the city and at last providing the
long dreamed OF belt railroad.
This plan takes in existing manutac'
turing establishments and the eligible
sites on which new plants may be found
cd, II Is not know how soon the work
Of tunneling Chaplino hill will begin,
but It Is thought that the contract will BIZ
made shortly after the coming meeting
Of the STOCKHOLDERS, at which SOME im.
portant changes In the Board Of Directors
are expected. As an indication Of the
determined vigor with which this com.
pany Is pushing It's project all along the
line, II Is interesting TO know that In
Martins Ferry alone 1t has expended
$4,000 for real estate. The expendi.
lures for similar purposes In Wheeling
will, Of course, aggregate very much
more. The one thing plainly shown
thus far In this enterprise is that there
Is no scarcity Of money 10 push 1t to COM
pletion on a solid and comprehensive
basis,