The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-25
WEST VIRGINIA CENTRAL
Reaching Out for More Busi-
ness and Facilities.
A LINE TO TIDEWATER.
Western SIaryIand'S President OBJ
lects to Losing His Job--.His Ar
gumcnts Against the Deal.
Some Other Combinations.


Virginia Central has laid out plan Of
campsjpn looking to the extension OF its
svslem and very large increase in
facilities for handling it's business. One
oftbe general features OF It's plan con.
templates an extension Of importance on
the West Virginia end into rich coal
and timber region. Another feature is
a determined effort to reach the long
nouyht independent aud direct outlet to
tidswater, in the success Of which effort
West Virginia is deeply interested. A
third feature OF the West Virginia Gem
trails policy of progress has in view ex-
peditious entry into Pitbburgh, for
which in the bsginning it was supposed
to be heading.
MOVING IN THREE DIRECTIONS.
The extension in West Virginia in.
clutes three probable directions, one
sou.bvard 10 connect with the Chesa.
neate & Ohio, ono westward, passing
thTonvh BuCkbannon and coming out
m tbe Ohio river, and third to carry
the line northWard-from E!kins, the
rresent wCstern terminus, to the Graf
ton 4: G1eenbrier, convert that road into
n standard gauge, and thence TO Pitts.
bnrch by the Baltimore 4 Ohio's Nor
ySntown branch. Or, Pittsburgh may
h reached by the long talked OF line
from Ciarksburg TO that city COVE tne
west side OF the Monongahela river.
The extensive purchase OF coal lands on
that side OF the river by Messrs. Davis
and Elkins seemed to settle the West
'Virpinia's line to pit.sbuEgh. There
weIe serious conferences with Messrs.
Towndes, Wilson, Gof and Others in.
terested in that project, but as
vet no agreement has been reached
and negotiations are said to be OF, 81:
though this is by no means definite and
final. Meanwhile the West Virginia
Central made overtures to the Baltimore
4 Ohio for the acquisition OF the Grafton
& Greenbrier and for the use OF the b.
4 o. system through MorRantown 10
Pittsburgh, line whichs requires only
the short link TO be built to Faitchance,
which work the Baltimore & Ohio has
already begun. It was understood that
the West Virginia Central and Baltimore
( Ohio would settle the, matter this
week, and the expectation has been tnas
the deal would be made. PerhaFs 1t has
been made, but the public Is notadVised
thereof.
While these plans have been under
consideration, the West Virginia Cen
tTal has been at work on the Western |
MARYLAND, which it desires 10 use to the |
seaboard. The Chief Enginess OF the
West Virginia Central has been at work
with a corps OF engineers running line
for an independent road to Baltimore: A
director Of the road recently said that |
the Western Maryland was not essential.
wEsrEsS MAKYLAND's PRESIDENT oRJEcTs.
This arrangement also has been re'
gurded as virtually effected, but a Ba!ti-
more dispatch throws some doubt on
it. This interesting dispatch says:
"several conferences have been held be-
tween prominent officials OF the West
Virginia Central and the Western Mary
land Railroads the last few days, which,
notwithstanding the denials Of the par
ties directly interested, indicate some
eort Of a deal. President Hood, Of the
Western Maryland, will make q fight
avai qst the West Virginia Central, or the
Penn. vlyania, getting entire control oi
his road by buying the city's interes. III N
il. The WI t>Steyn Maryland is IN an aIll'
auce with the BaltiHore q Ohio and tne
Reading, BY VIII ich arr2uGement the TWO
latter roads are 10 use the Cumoerlanu
Valley branch Of the Western hafs'
land lor a short connection across tue
Cumberland Valley. President Hood, /
in aniuterview, said:
Should tho West Virginia Central
Railroad he able to satisfactorily arrange
with the Baltimore & Ohio for the hand.
ling OF its business between Cumberland
aud Cherry Run, which section OF the
Baltimore 4 Ohio is iavorably situated,
with its continuous descending grades,
the Western Maryland with tho Cherry
Run connection would be in position TO
handle the West Virginia Central's ousi-
ness to Baltimore or other points 90 ad.
Vantageously As though an independent
roGd were built from Cumberland 10
Williamsport, Md. This, without the
expenditure by the West Virginia Cen:
tral Of say $3,0OOOO0 for eighty miles OF
new line through heavy noun:
famous country, and gay SS,0O0,OOO
for the purchase OF the Western Mary.
lvnd, which together would seem to be |
a big load to be assumed by hundred.
mile railroad, which has coat $4,000, COO
to S3O00,OO0. assume that the s. ,bOO,::
900 OF stock OF the West Virginia Central
Company was not actually subscribed,
but exchanged for the coal lands aud
other real estate OF the company, and 80
was not used in connection with the
Tailroad proper. The alleged inability
Of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad TO han
die tho West Virginia Central's business
has been urged as the chief reason why
the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal should be
turned over to the West Virginia Zen:
trGl. II might then construct railroad
to Washington with a connection at
TilliRmpport with tho Western Mary
land for Baltimore. The section OF the
Baltimore &a0hiO in question, Cumber'
land To Cherry Run, ia practically with
out limit as 10 capacity for such busi'
ness.
THINKS HE SMELLS A MOUSE.
EIehuenL hOuu ueCAAAed tH"S sHS
Western Maryland deserves a better fate
than to be summarily sold out to the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company "or its
CatspaW," the West Virginia Central,
iBHmating plainly that the Peunsyl-
Vania is behind the scheme to buy tue
Western Maryland. Now the question
ofleasing the road is being talked Of and
the proposition is to pay four per cent.
on the Indebtedness OF about 81 500, 600
While tbs total Indebtedness Of the
Western Maryland TO the city 10 about
$1,000. coo, q large part OF this is accumu-
lated interest. II a sale OF the city's In.
terest was contemplated the city would
haveto continue its responsibility Tor
cha payments Of tho bonds which II has
SndorSed, as it is hardly likely that any
Of the holders would be willing to sur
render suoh good securities or allow the
responsibility for tho payment oi the
principal and interest 10 be transferred
from so desirable debtor as the city
government"
In addition to the Baltimore & Ohio,
which 1t strikes ut Piedmont, the West
So, .zaNhar rya,N mt.