Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-17
THE BRAxrON EXTENSION
OF the West Virginia and Pittsburg Rail-
road-An Interesting Trip.

A REGISTER representative. together
with several others, left Weston one
day last week for 4 trip TO the END oil
the track on the BraXton extension OF
West Virginia and PittSburg Railroad.
The air was quite frosty, there was
some ice on the water, the ground was
frozen, and as there was no coach or
caboose on the train, room in the CAP OF
the engine was very acceptable. The
fireman very cordially gave up his seat,
and it was held down by John Sheats,
b. Il o. car tracer; r. T. Wallis, COM
mercial traveller, and the REGISTER
man, till the train reached the Camp,
about three-and-a- miles north OF
huntsville.
Clay Leonard, an old railroader, is
general foreman on the extension, and
after he boarded the engine, few
miles above Weston, it seemed that
there was nothing in his power that he
did not do to interest and accommodate
the passengers on board.
Every point Of special interest along
the line is familiar 10 him, and 1t affords
him great pleasure TO tell historic anec-
dOteS associated with them.
When the train reached Oil creek, he
made known that fact to the crowd, and
when asked why it should be called Oil
creek, said: 'Well, old Mr.. &. j. Ar
mold, one of the pioneers of the country,
who, perhaps, knows more about 1t than
anyone else, told me z few days ago that
Il long time ago some Indians were
camped near the head of the stream,
and while there killed a number OF bear
and rendered the oil out in troughs,
watts, Sc, 20 keep il till they could trade
il for things they wanted. When they
had good supply of oil thus stored
some whites attacked them. broke up
the camp and found the oil out in the
stream. Ever afterward it was known
as ''Oil creek"
The train soon rounded curve, bring
ing into full view high, rugged cliff Of
rocks, continuing in an almost unbrokcn
line around the hillside for nearly 4
mile Mr.. Leonard called attention to
this, and said that from one point on that
cliff, old Mr.. Arnold had killed, all told,
more than hundred deer.
Soon the "tive-car camp, at Rifles
siding, was reached, and there being
some freight to unload there, Mr.. Leon
ard showed the scribe through the camp
cars, to give him an idea of how they
live. The kitchen, dining room and
sleeping apartments were clean, neat
and in perfect order. The tables were
supplied with plenty of frst-class,
wholesome food. Mrs. Ryan controls
the camp, which belongs to the COM
pany. This camp is about mile north
Of Confluence, or nineteen miles from
Weston.
About mile and n half below Con-
fuence is the ''Seven-car camp run by
Mrs. Deems. Here the party with Mr..
Leonard took dinner, of the same fare
as the laborerS and from the amount
eaten. but one conclusion can be derived,
and that is, they enjoyed ii.
After dinner, the Il. n 0. man, MIR.
Leonard, a track hand, and the news
paper man got on hand car and went
to the end of the track, which at that
time was within about mile and Il
quarter of Burnsville. Here one squad
of men were placing ties, another pac-
ing rails, and others were dri ling
sslkcS. From Il half to three quarters
of mile of track is put down in this
way each day.
Alter watching the work for half an
hour, the party again mounted the hand
car and started back. The track being
uneven, made the ride little dam
gerous, but as the hand ear only jump
ed the track once, the party all felt
thankful.
When the train was ready to start
back TO Weston. there were two ladies
TO go, and so the room in the cab was
given To them. The y. Il O. man, the
drummer and the scribe took passage
in an empty i. Il O. box car, where
they had to keep up 4 pretty lively
dance all the way TO Weston to keep
from freezingl However, they were all
pleased with their trip.