The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-14
STREET RAILWAY QUESTION
A Correspondent Argues Against Fro
posed Competition -'TIlS Hhesling Com


A Correspondents Argues Against Fro
posed C0mpslitlOn -,rIlO IEhesling Con''
pany's side.
To the Editor OF the IntellIgcncer
sIR:-Through your valuable columns
wish to call the attention OF the pub
lie TO the opportunity that is now pre-
scented, in the petition OF the Wheeling
Railway Company for permission to ez-
tend It's route TO the eastern limits OF
the city, to obtain cheap and oonYens
lent transportation between East
Wheeling, which territory has hereto
fore been practically inaccessible, ms TAR
as means of transportation are COM
cerned. and the various wards OF the
city. Including BenwoOd and the terri-
tory adjacent thereto.
The prime object TO be considered by
the city fathers In granting street rail-
way franchises should be to obtain the
cheapest and most convenient means OF
transportation between all points Of the
city with the least possible obtruetion
TO the streets. and wherever possible.
different routes should be accommoda-
ted on the same tracks. tb1s lesscnlnE,
In great degree. the obstruction TO
other travel. OF all the applicants for
franchises the Wheeling company is the
only one able to offer these combined
facilities. touching. a. II does, all the
points OF the city. The offer that II
now makes OF giving a transfer TO and
from the proposed East Wheeling route
and that Of its present city hne IL one
OF incalcuiable value to the citizens OF
Wheeling and the council has now with.
In Its grasp this golden opportunity OF
Fatf Utnhlir
which, under other circumstances, pos
slbly could never have been accom-
pllshcd.
The writer is not financially Interest,"
ed In the Wheeling Railway Company.
but he Is interested In the welfare and
prosperity of the city. and sees in tho
present status OF AFFAIRS now confront-
Ing the community a possibility where
by an Irretrievable and everlasting
wrong may be inflicted upon the puhlle
should council award this East Wheel
lnE franchise TO an applicant with spec.
ulative intentions, and invisible means
OF complying with Its agreements. or to
another one which does not In good
faith intend TO fulhll them.
Aside from the various concessions
offered by each applicant for this franz
chise the petition OF the Wheeling com.
pAny Is the only one presenting the
proper spirit of sincerity. II proposes
10 commence the work Of construction
within sixty days and to complete the
same at once. What II has done for the
city Of Wheeling and Its present method
OF doing business are sufficient guaran-
tees OF its ability to carry this PROPOSE
ton into effect.
While a monopoly in any line Of busi-
ness is not generally conceded AS being
conductive to the general welfare Of the
community, we cannot lose sight OF the
fact that single street railway operat-
ing in city OF our size without compe-
tltion can best AFFORD to fulfill the re-
quiremsnts OF the public as to Transport
tntion and produce that excellence OF
service which Is so much desired.
The casual observer and uuthinkinE
mind usually welcomes these new street
railway schemes with the idea OF OBJ
tanning cheap fares. but the thoughtful
citizen sees in their existence the Gle
ments productive OF the very opposite
results.
Where the travel il insufficient TO JUS
tify mora than one line. as in this case,
Invariably the consequence arising from
competition is either poor and INSULT.
Client service. higher fares, reduction Of
the wages OF employees or bankruptcy
OF one or both roads.
Surely neither Of these results is de-
sired by our citizens. and the council
should make no awards without mature
consideration Of the questions at issue.
The city is indebted 10 the Wheeling
Railway Company in great measure
for the excellent system that II has eS-
thblished here and in no better way can
IL show Its appreciation OF this fact and
insure for the citizens continuance
and extension OF the service now being
rendered than By fostering and protect
InE its interests against this seductive
and treacherou5 element OF competi-
ticn. CITIZEN"
Wheeling Nav n