Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-01
THE COKE. PROBLEM
THIS Is WHAT THE NEW STATE LINE RAIL
R0iD HINGES on
A Meeting Held Yesterday at The Chamber Of
Commerce The Project Thoroughly Outlined.
How the Manufacturers Look at
the New Scheme.

n
mentioned i'm Yesterdays REGISTER as
being iu town, had conference yester-
day morning at 10 o'clock with the
members of the Chamber Of Commerce.
Several of the gentlemen present ON
Monday evening were obliged to return
home 90 meet business engagements,
although enough remained 10 fully eX-
plain and outline the project. The
meeting was called 90 order by Presi-
dent Quarter. the members of the
Chamber present being MeSsrs. Quar-
rier. Speidel, McGregor, O'Brien, Lo-
ring, Hart. BrandfaSs, Campbell, Mayor
Seabright. Loos, LANCE, G.. ID. Hubbard,
buchanan. Wise, Hess, BOdley, Farrell
and Rolf.
Upon calling the meeting to order,
President Quarter introduced Charles
Meyran. of Pittsburg, who explained in
brief thc object of the meeting, and out
lined iu few words what had been
done. and what they proposed 20 do.
Mr.. Mcyran said he did not feel so con-
vcrsant with AN the details of the affair
as did his friend, Mr.. A. b. Paul. who
had given the proposed scheme his al
most undivided attention.
Mr. Paul then took the floor and pro-
ceeded to give synopsis of what had
been done. llc recalled TO the minds OF
his hearers other railroad projects which
he was Interested in and even advanced
t0 the citizens of Wheeling almost a
quarter of a century ago. Mr.. Paul
simply Introduced the opening statement
Co show that the railroad topic was no
stranger 90 him. in fact he had been en-
gagged in this line of work nearly all his
life. Mr. Paul explained that the road
was To Doe built from Wheeling 10 Pitts
burg. via WcllSburg and CauonS-
burg. Al Library, II miles from
PittSburg, there would i'm all probabili-
ty Dee branch line 20 the MonOugahela
river. thence to the coke regions. IN
fact the survey of the branch road had
already been made 90 the MOnOngahcla
river. Ina figuring on this branch road
some opposition was met with in the
start from another road that had begun
tO think of operating there, but Mr.. Paul
stated that after q little struggle the
road now in view gained the day, and
were now without any competition
whatever. Mr.. Paul also said that some
difficulty was OccaSiOned iu trying 70
effect favorable legislation IN PennSyl-
yauia. as the laws iu regard % railroad
building in that State are very Strln-
gent. We had 90 have $1,000 sub
scribed. and ten per cent paid
in before the Governor would
sign the charter. Ia regard TO the dis
lance of the coke fields, Mr.. Paul said
chat from Library To- the edge of the
field was about 40 miles, while TO the
Couucllsville region was some - miles.
All they asked of the Wheeling people
was To- donate them $1,000 mile for the
distance from Wcllsburg 90 Wheeling,
and the right of way. The road would
boz % great benefit 90 Wheeling. as it
would give them a chance for the local
traffic of Washington county, Pa, and
also q short line % PittSburg and a con-
vcnieut route To- the ConnellSyille coke
regions The line would Doe go miles be-
tween Wheeling and PittSburg-' miles
shorter than the Il. * o., and miles
shorter ON one survey and five ON am
other. than the Pennsylvania line 10
would Dee the shortest connection be-
tween the East and West, and would
opcu up an entirely new field 90 Wheel
ing. 10 would bc q competing line with
thc PENNSYLVANIA 90 WellSbUrg, which
would cause manufacturers 20 locate ON
this side OF the river Instead of the ONO
side
At this point Mayor Seabright Sug-
rested that G. r.. Hart give thom some
information ON the project in view OF the
fact that he had been one OF the lucor-
ooratorS of the original company. Mr..
Hart replied that hc was never more
than mildly connected with the enter
prise. He had assisted somewhat in the
organization of the enterprise at the
start. but so far as the practical and de-
tailed workings of the road were con-
cerucd he knew nothing.
President Quarter observed that per
hans the chief interest iu the new road
to Wheeling citizens, inaSmuch as there
were many iron aud steel manufacturers
here. would Doe iu the coke regions, and
thought 10 would bc well TO get as much
light ou this particular part of the en-
tcrpri~c as possible. &. ID. Hubbard
took quite am interest iu the matter of
tine coke supply. and asked % number OF
questions concerning 10. IL the new
road was going To- enable as TO get coke
here no cheaper rates hc was heartily IN
favor of il.
A question was asked If the gentle
men Interested in the road proposed TO
obligate themselves 90 build the branch
road. Mr.. Mcyran replied i'm the affirm
atiyc. hut subsequently, qualified his re-
marks somewhat. as all the necessary
information concerning the branch was
not yet ready 90 Dee made public. lie
said even the plans of the main road
had been kept quiet for the past yeaI
or more. lest some other company might
thwart their scheme.
MIR. Paul said had hc thought II
necessary 90 have the surveys OF the
branch to the coke fields brought here
they could have done SO. although II
would take cart 20 bring thom. W,
supposed You would only be interested
in the road between here aud Wells
burg. as only such plans were brought
but the matter of road between
these points was completely ovcrShad
owed no the meeting in thc interest thai
WAS developed over the coke regions.
The matter of communication with the
coke regions became the absorbing
topic of discussion.
A. W. Campbell said me didn't belicv,
thc new road would bee worth much
without am independent route to the
coke fields. So far as the local trade
was concerned 70 was of comparatively
little concern. as his experience hac
shown that on road between two ter
mini of unequal size the drift of the
traffic would De- in favor of the larger
and iu this ease quite as much, If not
more. travel would Doe Ia the direction
of Pittsburg rather than Wheeling II
was the history OF every enterprise.
Mr.. Paul observed that with a few more
railroads coming into town Wheeling
might ere long be- the biggest end.
Mr.. Paul said they would like u
raise quite convenient sum of money
here. but that he was not asking any
one to put dollar into the scheme until
the irons were laid. or rather until the
road is completed. and YOU can put that
clause into your subscription If You ST
desire.
10 was moved that committee OF five.
most of whom should DE manufacturers
directly concerned. Doe appointed by the
President 20 meet Mr. Mcyrau and his
associates az some convenient date 10 talk
the matter over. Tho motion was car
ricd. aud President Quarter APP
pointed ON that committee A. W. Camp
bcu. j. y. Vance. Thomas O'Rrien,
10. r Hubbard and y. +. Whit