Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-21
A LIVELY SESSION.
1con,,,ned from Second Page

| COlltt1lue0 from SGCOHu UUe.J
they found this man Cochran (whom
they had previously befriended In this
matter) in the field with his new
associates, Paige, Carey & Co. and
VIM. A. Lynch, confronting them with
rights of way, contracts taken in the
name of the South Penn and Ohio roads
under the aforesaid friendly license,
thus denying and defying the Wheeling
and Lake Erie to build railroad on
this Bowerston and Wheeling survey
made by, for and in the interest of this
Wheeling and Lake Erie Company, for
which they had previously expended
about 100000. Constant efforts were
made TO build railroad from Wheeling
! to Bowerston, but all were failures.
In the springtime of 's7 Sidney Dillon,
Col. Taylor and others OF New York ac-
quired control of the Wheeling and
Lake Erie, and during the same sum-
mer caused surveys to be made over the
Wheeling Bowerston route. The re-
suit showed that the old line was
shorter, cheaper and in every way the
most desirable route. Cochran and
were so informed.
During the year 81, R. II. Cochran
acquired from Rean Barnes, OF New
York, the bridge franchise at Wheeling,
for which he paid $1,000, disposing of
one-third interest in the bridge fran
chise to Page, Carey & Co. and VIM. A.
Lynch for $4,000. Then these new
bridge parties came together, pro-
posed the new bridge, and with
the assurance Of new road to
Bowerston, Ohio county voted them
$500, 900. Now the springtime of 'SS
had come, and no money yet In sight TO
build either bridge or road. But the
Wheeling and Lake Erie road was in
the field on the new road to Bowerston.
Something must be done. R. H. Coch-
ran served various notices on the Wheel
ing and Lake Erie officials, and d. r.
Page, of New York, sent. money to be
distributed TO farmers for right OF way.
The orders were that the Wheeling and
Lake Erie must be blocked and shut
out.
Finally on my suggestion representa-
tives of the two companies agreed to
meet in New York to settle differences.
Nothing could be agreed upon, however,
snide agreement with II. A. Blood for
the building of this BOwerston-Wheel-
ing road. A force of men were then put
to work on the road The Wheeling &
Lake Erie Co. then came to the front in
full force, surveyed a line outside of and
parallel with the right of way of the
South Penn and Ohio road. The bridge
management then transfers force in grad
ing and right of way to the Short Creek
Valley near the Ohio River and along
the river front between Portland
and Martins Ferry. In this
movement the bridge management
most effectually blocked the Wheeling
& Lake Erie, forcing the latter COM
pany down Short creek to the low
lands at Warrenton, north Of Short
creek, from which point 1t was an easy
matter to build to Steubenville. They
did so build. The Wheeling & Lake
Erie purposed only to build it's road
from Bowerston to Wheeling, and had
1t not been intercepted, harassed and
blocked by this bridge management, il
doubtless would have completed its
road to Wheeling early in the year 1890.
Further, had the Wheeling & Lake
Erie not been blocked by this bridge
management it would have built it's
road as aforesaid and via line to your
city above high water. even the flood OF
1884.
The LIABILITY or your county depends
on the good or bad faith OF this bridge
With the present status
of affairs the last subscription is GER
tainly not due or payable. The result
of this bridge management has been TO
divert an important road from your city,
thus depriving your people OF rich ana
permanent trade. The fact that the
Wheeling Bridge and Terminal Com
pany asks the last 100000 because
that railroad company they fought so
bitterly has reached the tracks Of the
Terminal Company by mere switch Is
preposterous, for l can say to you that
| have it authentic that the w. & Il. Il.
have no arrangements as yet with the
Terminal Company for traffic, or the use
of their bridge or terminals.
Because these people have been profit
gate in the expenditure OF money in
your midst does not entitle them to
your sympathies at your cost, for the
bridge scheme was inaugurated to make
money, and it has been doomed for all
there was in it. Think of the state
ment going forth that six different rail-
roads were to cross it, and the great
mammoth union depot that has been
shown around on paper. On these state
ments the lands and large blocks OF
stock have been sold at full
prices, and doubtless the original
monied projectors in this scheme
have been amply reimbursed.
Within a year l was shown letter
from Vice President Farrls in which he
stated that large stock had been sold
for 10 per cent premium and within
seven months got authentic informa-
ton Of the purchase Of large block of
stock at sac. This l presume is con-
struction stock, for I think the con-
struction company, and the company
proper have not got to bed together yet.
r. H. Cochran did not secure dollar
toward the bridge fund. His presences
TO the East was poison to the efforts,
and he was sent West and ordered to
stay there during the time money was
being obtained. The original bridge
management has already got $4,000
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