Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-11-16
ENGINEER ABBOTT,
Of the Wheeling Bridge and Terminal Rail
way Company,
TALKSOF LOCAL TERMlNALPLANS'
An Interview Which Should be Carefully
Considered.
,xrur,nrnmn A m ON ~ IN
THE CITY'S INTERESTS AT STAKE

II is the privilege of the REGISTER THIS
morning to lay before the citizens OF
Wheeling an interview with Mr.. Job Ao-
bott Chief Engineer of the Wheeling
Bridge and Terminal Railway Company, IN
the course of which Mr.. Abbott makes a
somewhat detailed explanation OF the very
extensive plans of the Company he repre-
sents regarding the passenger and freight
depots and general terminal facilities to be
located north OF Wheeling creek and east OF
Market street. Many indefinite and hap
hazard references have heretofore appeared
in the local press regarding these terminal
plans. but nothing very definite has been
printed. partly for the reason that the Com
pany itself, for reasons growing out OF real
estate litigation, has not been in position
to saw definitely Just what it would be en-
abled to dc. Happily these difficulties have
very largely been removed, and there is no
| longer a question as 10 the construction OF
| the works
| But this information, important as it is,
| is but incident to another matter, IN which
the entire business interests OF this city
are involved, and the consideration OF
which should well engage the attention OF
those DESTROYS OF enlarglng, III the oroaoesl
and most enduring manner, the business
facilities of the city of Wheeling. The
whole question of improved railroad tacili-
ties. the demand for which called the
Wheeling Bridge and Terminal Company
| into existence, is opened up, and the facts
and arguments presented by Engineer Alb
bolt. coming as they do from one so high in
matters pertaining TO railroad engineering,
and from a person who has made minute
study of the topography of Wheeling, dur
| ing two or three years past, would seem 10
merit the most careful consideration, from
the authorities and citizens alike.
| A few days ago, when there appeared in
| a city paper an interview in which new
| line for the B. & o. road up the creek
valley was detailed, REGISTER reporter
preached the subject to President Cochran
of the Terminal Company. That gentle
man said he did not care 10 talk upon the
subject at present, but suggested that En-
gineer Abbott, who was in town, might be
willing TO express his views. Mr.. Abbott
was seen yesterday, and the reporter
opened the matter up by asking:
MIR. Abbott, have you read the report
regarding proposed route Tor the b. q y.
through this city.'
| ~ have read the article, and have been
more than astonished at the scheme there
developed, both on account of the source
from which it came, as being suggestion
from the city, and the effect of such a route
on the future interests of the city and of
our Company. Had it come as sugges-
| ton from the B. * o. Railroad Company,
| il would be quite Ineligible, but l cannot
understand why the city could select such
| a route"
''How would this route injure the inter-
ests of your Company, and the city OF
Wheeling.n
| "By practically running the plans of this
Company for comprehensive Union Sta
tion-plans which it is now about carrying
out-and making it impossible for any
neutral terminal company to provide faclli-
ties for the passenger and local freight
business of this growing city available for
all present and future railways coming to
the city, which is an essential feature for
| its continued growth"
| "What plans for union terminal facili-
ties have been determined on by your Com
pany, and how would they be effected by
| the suggested route:"
Our Company had decided to acquire
the property and frontage along the north
bank of Wheeling Greek, from Market
street TO Wood street, together with the
W
and Nineteenth streets, and Chapline and
| Eighteenth street, u part of the northwest
corner OF Nineteenth and Chapline streets,
the Camden Oil company's lot at the cor
ner of Nineteenth and Eoff streets,
the south half of the block at the
southwest corner of Nineteenth and Wood
streets, the property of the Norway Tack
Company, and the lots necessary to
straighten the north line of the Tack Com
| fnhat- f1cOn0caA friVa
| the city a street along the north line of the
Tack Company's property, and along the
southwest corner of Eoff and Nineteenth
streets, and TO ask the city to give them
the right to the streets along the creek
bank from Market to Wood street, all of
which will fully appear from an ordinance
and map which viii shortly be presented
TO the City Council for their action. The
Company have already bought and paid for
all this property that could be had without
condemnation, and have commenced pro-
ceedings to secure the balance, and as soon
as they can secure possession, they propose
to build double track steel bridge over
Wheeling creek from near the east end of
Whitaker's galvaniZing mill 10 Warren'S
oil stOrehOuse, and to build solid trestle
along the north bank of the creek from
Market 10 Wood street, to be event
ually replaced by solid masonry wall sim
liar TO that now being rebuilt in front OF
Whitaker's mill. A large two-stOry pass
euger station, with covered platforms,
would be built on the present Tack Co.'s
property, local freight house would be
built on the present Camden Oil Co.'S
ground. and engine and car houses would
be placed on the lands near Wood street,
with double track along the entire creek
frontage, and the necessary yard tracks
and sidings for the thorough equipment of
the grounds. All Ohio railway trains COM
ing south on the Terminal Co.'S line from
the Peninsula, would run head on into the
Union station; if going south would back
out over Wheeling creek bridge, and pass
down through Chapline Hill tunnel. North
bound trains from the Ohio River, B. * o.
Railway, or any lines joining the Terminal
system ON the south would back
over the Wheeling creek bridge to
the Union station, and run north
head on out over the peninsula Trains
from Ohio or other railways having their
Terminus at the Union station, would back
out of Union station when emptied, into
the train yard at Wood street, where the
engines could be turned and the trains
made up for their outward trips. Should
the Baltimore Il Ohio railway desire to use
the Union station, they could come in
through Chapline Hill tunnel over the line
being built by the Terminal Co., to connect
with the B. x o. railway near the La Belle
Iron Works at Thirty-secOnd and McCul-