The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-04

lions Of feet Of fine timber and under
laid by millions upon millions Of tons
of coal, knew that great fortunes we're
buried there and predicted that the
future developer who would penetrate
1t with railroad would more:than real
lie the widest dreams concerning the
possibilities of the country. The history
Of the past decade, during which the
West Virginia Central railroad Has
been constructed through the forests
and over the mountains, has demon=
strated that these prophecies were not
based upon wild Imagination, but upon
the fact that wonderful riches we're
there to be developed. g
BEGINNING OF THE ROAD.
When the syndicate comprising the
West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Rail-
way Company, at the head ofwhich were
ext United States Senator Henry 6. Davis,
Hons. S. B. Elkins, James 6. Biaine,
Arthur P. German, Thomas F, Bayard,
and other distinguished gentlemen, con-
ceiyed the idea of tapping the big
Vein" in the upper Potomac coal re-
gion, twas the intention simply to con-
struct coal and lumber road along the
north branch OF the Potomac river to
market the product. 1t was for this
purpose that the first twelve miles Of
road were built. But, in the Language Of
Major E. w. s. Moore, Secretary OF the
company, in recent newspaper article,
when the wilderness was penetrated,
1t was found that the Elk Garden re-
gion, as it was named, was but begin.
ming Of the coal measures and forests OF
merchantable timber beyond, and the
road has been extended, from time TO
time, until it now covers distance OF
1870 miles, counting its operated line
from West Virginia Junction to Cum
berland, known as the Piedmont d
Cumberland railway"
The road andits several short branches
penetrates the rich region referred TO
above, and is now being extended In
two directions. One extension is being
constructed seven miles to Beverly W..
Va, the county seat OF Randolph county,
and the gateway to a magnificent agri.
cultural valley, two orthree miles broad
and fifty miles in length. The land 10
very fertile and is destined to become
one Of the garden spots OF the state.
The other extension is,about eighteen
miles to Belington, also in Randolph
county. This is perhaps the most I'M
portant, as it opens up the famous
Roaring Creek coal field, OF which nlen-
ton will be made hereafter. From
Belington the road will either connect
with the Baltimore 4 Ohio, via the
Grafton & Greenbrier, ut Grafton or
with contemplated road to conilec.
ton with the Pennsylvania system OF
the State line in Monongalia county,
OUTLETS 10 THE MARKETS.
It is not definitely decided which o.
these connections will be made, Dnl
which ever course is adopted 1t WI
give the West Virginia Central an Out
let to Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicag99. st
Louis and all the markets Of the Vest
Northwest and Southwest, in addlaoi
to that which it already has at Cumper
land: By reference 10 the map SNOW
ing the railway systems of northerl
West Virginia, in this issue OF the I, ~ !!
rELMaENcRR, the magnitude OF this
project will DO readily comprehended
Besides this, route is now beng suf ~
veyed southwark to connection Nlti
the Chesapeake 4 Ohio and NortoK
Western railroads, which will open "
q territory rich in mineral resources ye
undeveloped. When all these cennec
tons are made the West Virginia Yen