Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-06-06
THE RAILWAY FRANCHISES.

| To the Editor or the hesls'e''
Sir.-You had an article from Ut
izen" who is so sure that the Elm
Grove pan is not the best for the peo-
nile as 10 deny the honesty of people
who think it is, and one from Another
Citizen who rightly objects to such an
assumption.
There can be no doubt that the rail-
road franchise question is very I'M
portant one for the people, and one IN
which they ought TO take an interest
now. before it is too late. If any mis-
| take is being made it may now be cor
rected. If any wrong is being done II
ought to be resisted Above all, the
people and the Council ought not to be
deceived or entrapped into blind dis
regard of the merits of the cooperative
plan proposed by the Wheeling Rail-
wav Company, and which seems TO
have the approval Of the Suburban
Company. Why is that plan opposed
by the Wheeling and Elm Grove Rail
wav Company? If it is good for the
people why should Council reject it to
grant an inferior route and gauge?
The Wheeling and Elm Grove Com
pany's route has Water street as us oD-
iective point Why? Is it not chleny
to cultivate and accommodate sunday
excursions. Whatever the intention
NAV be, the effect will be to make
convenient transfer from steamboats,
and depots to the park. What interest
have our people in the trafllc OF THAT
sort that should make them grant
route especially adapted to 1t?
The Wheeling Railway Company Of
fers TO the Elm Grove Company the
use of it's Market street track through
the best part of the city if the Council
but says the word. That route may not
accommodate excursions as wei as the
route the Elm Grove Company asks
for. but what interests have our people
in those excursions? Are they not
mere of a curse than an advantage!
There was no sense in allowing our
selves TO be so blinded by prejudice as
not 10 see the merits OF the Wheellns
Railway COmpany's offer, and there 10
no reason to doubt that 1t is mace III
good faith 1t is made TO either OF lne
other communicate whichever one the
Coincil NAV select. Certainly the very
best thing that could be done by the
Council would be to grant one addition
al track eastward through the city tor
the use of all street railway tratnc IN
that direction. The Wheeling Rail
wav Company's offer is such that II the
Council should allow it TO build that
track. either of the other two compan-
les designated by Council may use 1t
as a part of a loop system and get INTO
the heart of the city over the Wheeling
company's Market street route from
Sixteenth street to Eleventh street.
There is nothing impracticable about
the Joint use by different companies OIL
the same single track for runhlhs
cars in one direction. You DO not nave
to go further away than AetnaVllle 10
see the cars of two rival companies
run over the tracks of both, evidently
to the advantage of both.
If the Elm Grove Company Will come
TO the gauge established as the street
car standard. and which has become the
wagon standard here, and should De
granted the franchise on that OASIS,
the Wheeling company being granted
the right to build the line it asks lor'
the Elm Grove company would need no
new track. or almost none, this side OF
the Peninsula. 1t could bring all OF
its regular through cars IN on olA-
teenth street to Market, up Market 10
Eleventh. and then eastwarly by EleV-
entb Cbapline. Fifteenth and McCoi-
1och streets connecting at the endot NC
Colloch with any double track or loop
system further eastward which it may
be able to secure.
If Another Citizen" is charmed by
tbe cheap fare that the Elm Grove
Company thinks it can afford to give
after building and maintaining a large
amount of additional trackage in the
CITY. what must he think Of the econo
mic possibilities if that Company can
by changing the gauge OF It's present
track carry it's passengers In on SIX
teenth street and have them carried 10
anv point on the Market street loop
above mentioned, and out by way OF
Fifteenth and McCulloch streets, pay
inc only for the use of the excess OF
trackage and power furnished by the
Wheeling Railway Company? Can the
Elm Grove Companynot give us as cheap
or cheaper rates for such better facill-
tieso Then. too, shall we wholly dis
regard the benefit to our citizens OF
having the Wheeling Railway Company
also use the same inside loop and give
the free transfer which it offers us
Benwood and North Wheeling route?
1t is to be hoped that the citizens
generally will look carefully and I'M
partially into the merits of this most
important subject and hold up the
hands of all Councilmen in doing what
is right. and guard by all means
against the effect of any unfair conduct
if there be any unfair conduct in this
matter. nv
We have % patterns in room lots OF
Fine Paper all to go at 15c.
CRANES' 26 Twelfth street.