Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-29

the dense and often primeval forest. 1t
Go Nature in her widest mood. Inc
scenery of the Ohio River is vastly ar
ferept vet none the less of absorbing IN
terest Often the hills rise precipitous al
most from the waters edge. and there are
stratches rivaling the Hudson or ING
Rhine. Again, the valley broadehs anu
tho hills almost disappear until from the
car window one can see for many niles
into Ohio or back into West Virginia, ana
the country appears strangely open TO be
ca close 10 the foothills Of the Alleghenies.
A. +,,,es the river sways from side to side
I'm sweeping curves. causing the railway
line TO travel through half or more OF
circle within n short distance, and again
it shoots away in long stretches "hl4e
tho track. following its bank, runs Tor
mile after mile without curve over
country as level as q floor. At one point
there is not a DETECTION Of fraction OF
degree from an absolutely straight me
for seven miles, and the rails can be 1oi-
lowed with the eye from the rear Oh the
observatory car until they meet and van
ish in the distance, and one stretch oil
eleven miles has but single slight curve
Not many railroads do better than that
in this regard even in prairie country.
From the car window one sees an ever
interesting landscape unfolded before nm
"A varied picture of hill and valley, forest
and cultivated field. while the ever-present
river-now near. now half-hidden from
view as the tack swings from the bank
hack to the base of the hills or runs
through the centre of the wide and cultl-
waited bottom land-adds a constant charm
10 an attractive scene. To the stranger
this trip along The Ohio valley IS a delight
full experience, and it has but to become
more generally known to cause wide
spread and constant demand for through
tickets reading via Ohio River Rail-
road"
TO this fortunate condition must this
road come at last, with a continuation OF
the present policy of the Company IN
making improvements and betterments
and increasing the comforts and ccnVeh-
fences of its patrons and it requires but
glance ahead to see this pioneer railway.
laid down on a line originally blasted
from the solid rock or perched upon long
lines of trestles, fully transformed INTO
solid road-bed equipped with luxurious
trains. and enjoying the patronage. not
of the people of West-VirGinia and Of the
river counties Of Ohio alone but forming
a link in q through service of the first i'm
portance and expanding and growing with
the increase Of population, business, man
ufacturing ard wealth. ALREADY great
things have come from a comparatively
small beginning Enterprise. and push
and determination have wrought little less
than wonders. The time was not so long
ago. when 10 have predicted that a Pull
man parlcr car would speed through PIT.
Pleasant or Sstersvile on its way TO
Pittsburg would have been to invite ridi-
cule or something more unpleasant. Now
it can be seen every day, and no longer
oxcites more than passing glance. It is
but a short step from the fact to the
future. ard it needs but a touch of the
wand of progress and prosperity to bring
about all that has been here outlined
To go ITO the details of what the Ohio
River Railroad mas done for the counties
and communities through which it passes
would be to write a volume Of formidable
size. Even the briefest summary is beyond
the space of a newspaper article A Won
derful change has been wrought at almost
every hamlet, while the villages have eX-
panded into towns, and the towns into
thriving little cities. Paved streets have
taken the place Of mud roads; electric
light of no lights a all: handsome modern
business blocks of stone and brick stand
where vacant lots were but a few years
ago. while water works fire departments,
uniformed police forces. daily papers,
theatres, churches. schools. manufacture
ing plants and all the varied evidences of
wealth. prosperity and progress attest the
great influence and lasting benefits of rail-
road communication. More progress has
been made in the past ten years than in
the preceding hundred and still the pace
is well maintained ard there is a general
determination TO hold fast to that which
is good and to persevere in the upbuildnG
of this entire section of the State. 1t was
for this that the Ohio River Railroad
came into the word, and nobly and well
has it performed its part thus far in its
career of usefulness.
w. c. BEANS.