Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-04-02
THE RAILROADS.
THE LATEST IMPORTATION OF CITY AND
STATE LINES
Construction Nsws-Businsss PrOspects-Talk Of
New Neutrality-suspicious. from
the DspOts and 0ficss-B. 60.
Improvements.

The remarks Of Mr.. Charles T. Mayer
upon his election as president Of the
Baltimore and Ohio for the sixth time,
made before the board Of directors on
December Of, 1898, have been presented
in a pamphlet. He reviews the work OF
his administration and in condensed
statement shows that total of SIS, 096,-
452 had been expended. including ST.
900, 900 in betterments, S9,739, los in
real estate and construction, s., l62, OBJ
10 paw off bonded indebtedness, S44S, 635
in cash payments to sinking funds, and
on account of purchase Of the Pitts
burg and Connelisvllle road, and
STAG, 6s1 for reduction of current obi
cations. The only new capital the COM
pany received during this period, IA adj
dition to the net earnings during t1e
non-dividend period Of the present ad-
ministration, was the proceeds OF the
so, 966 shares of new capital stock sold
in 1892. President Mayer enumerates a
number of improvements which should
be made along the line OF the road,
among them the following: The reduc-
ton OF the Thomas and White grades
on the Wheeling, Pittsburg and Balti-
more railroad, upon which division in
time large coal traffic will be developed.
The construction of a new line through
Wheeling, w. Va, with a proper passen-
ger station in that city, and the increase
of local freight facilities. Some double
tracking, by long sidings on the main
line, between Grafton and Fairmont, on
the Petersburg branch, between Graf
ton and ParkerSourg, and on the Pitts
burg division east OF Connellsvlile.
The construction OF passenger and
freight terminal at Fairmont in con-
nection with the newly acquired land
referred TO at that place. The con-
struction OF the yard and shops at Cum
berland, Md. A change in the align
ment Just east of Cumberland, Md, by
removing or reducing the so-called
seven curves.
1t seems that so far as discrimination
in freight can effect that result the rail-
roads have determined 10 shut the coal
OF this region out Of the lake trade.
Last wear a difforential rate Of IS cents
per ton against Us and in favor OF the
Pittsburg region was established by the
railroads. This ditferental was then
five cents per ton too high, and the cost
of mining and producing coal in the
Pittsburg mines did not exceed per ton
over its cost in this region, but since
that time conditions have changed very
much in favor OF the Pttsburg opera
tors. They then paid 70 cents per ton
for screened coal. They now only pay
65 cents, which is equivalent to less
than 40 cents per ton for run OF mines.
But the railroads refused 10 take these
matters into consideration, and ad-
vanced the rate pa cents per ton from
this region, while leaving the Pittsburg
rate unchanged. So our operators now
have a discrimination Of 17]3 cents per
ton in freight against them. This puts
them in hard lines for the coming
season. We do not know whether or
not they will attempt to do business.
They can't hope to make any profit. In
fact it does not seem possible TO do bust
ness under these conditions except at a
loss. -Fdirmont Indcr.
The Pittsburg, Virginia and Charles
ton road will not be extended mp the
Monongahela river above Brownsville
this year. This statement is made
authoritively by Hon. j. X. Ewing, Of
Uniontown, one OF the stockholders oil
the company. He says the extension
was abandoned for this year for two
reasons, the first OF which is the dull
times aud the fact that the company
does not want TO extend under their Ole
charter. They now have obtained 8
charter under the name Of the Pitts
burg, Brownsville and State Line Rail
road, and as such the new line Will be
known. Next spring is the time set fol
the extension. At the same time the
Southwest branch, which now has Its
terminus at FajrChance, will be pushed
on through to New Geneva, where II
will intercept the river road. This SteI
! backwards disappoints many coal lane
owners in Southern Fayette county and
in West Virginia who have been wait
ing anxiously for the development o.
their vast coal territory.
The contracts for the grading and
masonry for the new line OF the Cleve'
land, Lorain and Wheeling between
Mallet Crack and Cleveland, have beer
awarded to the following contractors
viz: Secs. l to : inclusive, WernerburG
Bros, Pittsburg, Pa; Secs. TO 81 In
elusive. Fergerson Contracting Co., Sey
mour, Ind; Secs. % 10 % inclusive, a