The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-11-26
The Short Line.

this paper has been to the Short
Line. Time and again we have
told the story of the value 1T
would be 10 county and city. and
asked that it be encouraged IN
every legitimate way. We still
hold the same opinion. We not
only want it to be a sure 90. but
want to see other improvements
moving along. We want the new
street and the new bridge and the
new B. d o. station.
All these will give employment
to labor and stimulate the growth
of the city. We regret that there
appear to be serious complica-
lions arising that may tend to
retard some of the enterprises we
have mentioned.
1t seems that some one has
done some effective and decidedly
clever lying about the state of
affairs as it actually existed. 1t
is not true that the Council OPP.
posed the Short Line'a petition
to come through the town. 1t is
not true that the men composing
the bridge company were OPP
posed to the railroad entering
the town and locating depot
near the centre OF town or near
where they now propose to locate
1t. The council and the bridge
people are in favor of the rail-
road-want it to be completed
want it to come into town-but
they claimed that when it was
just as easy for them to come in
and not destroy the homes of our
citizens and damage our streets
they ought to come that way. 1t
was not a question of keeping
them out of town but merely a
question of a few feet this way
or that way. Again the council
wisely held that some kind of
a compromise ought to be made
between the town and the rail-
road so that the street could be
elevated where it approached
the bridge and allow the trains
to pass under, thereby avoiding
adeath trap on one of our streets
that will be used probably more
than any other. 1t would seem
to most people that the Short
Line should be satisfied with this
arrangement, Surveys were
made proving that such grade
was practicable in every way and
the council after carefully con-
sidering the question granted
the Short Line right of way
giving them almost the same
route they took in the night,
avoiding grade crossings and do
ing much less damage to private
property and the new public
school building. The citizens of
the town had voted liberal sub
scription to the railroad and the
enterprise had the encourage
ment of nearly all our people.
One would think that the rail
road could in turn feel some in-
terest IN the public welfare and
convenience.
Some time ago the Baltimore
& Ohio R. r. Co. began the erec-
ton of buildings for a new de-
pot upon a site that was secured
by them several years ago. 1t
was what the town had long con-
tended for, and the new location,
being near the business portion
of the city, with buildings that
could be reached without cross
ing tracks, impressed our peo-
pie favorably. 1t meant public
comfort, safety and progress.
Just what Clarksburg people
could point to with pride: Bat
it SO happened that the Presi-
dent of the Short Line owned
much of the property near the
old depot, and change in the
location might result in lowering
the value of his property. He
must, if possible, prevent this.
The convenience of the public
was not to be considered when a
little damage to private property
was apparent. And so every de-