Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-17
STIFLING ENTERPRISE.
The Old Game of Handicapping Those Wh'
Would Help Wheeling.


Would Help Wheeling.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-Is Wheeling so nearly up-to-date.
so well-equipped with modern enter
prises. so well provided with means OF
transportation, so overwhelmed with bus
mess activity and push, and go-aheadi-
tiveness, that the time has come TO head
off men anxious for an opportunity to in
augurate new Improvements? =
one would infer that to be the situation.
from what is going on at present, in this
community. and I desire to direct pubic
attention to the existing facts.
Five years ago the Wheeling and Elm
Grove Railway Company, Il purely local
corporation, the stock of which is owned
in this community, and which from
small beginning has grown TO be means
OF communication of decided Importance
10 Wheeling and its Ohio county suburbs.
laid out a plan to extend and improve its
line principally within the limits Of the
city. 1t had plans drawn outlining this
idea. and presented a petition and ordin-
ance to Council. No sooner had this been
done than the signal was given for an
attack upon the measure. Two separate
interests. neither of which ever for n mo-
ment contemplated laying down foot OF
track within the city not then in exist
ence, sent ordinances and petitions to
Council asking for franchises, promised,
generally and specifically, to do wonderful
things, stirred up that element which is
always ready TO sign any petition. for or
against anything under the SUM and
waged n warfare which resulted in killing
the Wheeling and Elm Grove ordinance.
Did these dog-in-the-mangers build the
railway lines they said they would build
If given a chance? Not foot Of them.
They never intended to do anything but.
kill the enterprise of the Wheeling and
Elm Grove Railway Company, and that
done, they subsided, and Wheeling has
continued without any of the contem-
plated improvements TO this day.
About the first of the present year. the
Wheeling and Elm Grove Railway Com
pany determined to make another attempt
to extend. improve and revolutionize its
system Of transportation. and for three
months engineers in the employ Of the
Company have been working hard at sur
veys, drafting plans. making estimates,
etc. for the Improvement. a week ago
these plans, etc. were practically COM
pleted, and last Tuesday night an ordIn-
ance, with an accompanying petition. was
sent to Council. specifically telling what
the Company had in view.
Witness the same old result. Suddenly.
we are informed that another Railway
-t,1
indlstinct and indefinite substance-with-
out charter. capital stock, definite plans.
head or tails in the field, and that it
proposes to perform some more wonders.
Petitions are being circulated against the
Wheeling and Elm Grove Railway Com
pany rumors are being industriousy
1oated, assertions are being made on the
corners Of the streets. and the old cam
paign Of five years ago has been galvanized
into life.
All this IS very tiresome Had the
Wheeling and Elm Grove Railroad COM
pany been given a chance five years ago.
the people of Wheeling and vicinity would
long ago have had an improved sys-
TEN of transportation between tho city
and the region east. The Company was
knocked out. and we are just whore we
were before. Notwithstanding abundant
promises by other people. Now, the local
Company. abundantly able TO perform
whatever it sets out 10 do, IS again asking
for n chance to make public improve
ment of much merit and again the oppo-
sition ghost stalks forth. the spirit OF
old-fogyism IS being raised. and the cry
is heard that Wheeling IS so well off In all
the essentials Of modern life that she
needs nothing more. and that the grave
yard stiffness OF certain portions OF tho
city must not be disturbed.
Let Council and its Committees look
into this matter in the light OF recent his
tory. to which I have cited the reader
and then do what the authorities Of any
other progressive American city would
do-glve the Wheeling and Elm Grove a
reasonable and just franchise. exact a
proper time limit for the commencement
and completion Of the work. and leave tho
rest TO enterprise and capital.
PROGRESS.