Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-29

muludI. Inc prosperity OF every city
in these days depends upon its buiness
facilities. Those who have occasion to
ship freight over railway lines In re-
cent years very well know that dur
ling the past few years increased
freight facilities have been given,
otherwise Wheeling could not compete
with her sister cities. What I mean
| is, that instead of its taking five, six or
seven days to bring goods from New
York, they are now laid down here on
the second day out, same as in Pitts
burg or other competing cities. This
may seem simple matter to you, but
tell you the railroads have expended
much money to provide these facili-
ties, and if Wheeling is to keep pace
with her sister cities she must afford
the railroads the best facilities at COM
mand; otherwise, your business inter-
ests will be worsted in competition
with those of other cities For exam
pie, one industry may have a pressing
order for a rural customer, and If that
customer finds that he cannot receive
the goods promptly from Wheeling.
but can from Pittsburg, or Cincinnati,
or Parkersburg, or Huntington, or some
other city in competition with Wheel
| ing, he gives his next order to one OF
| those cities, and the result is that
| Wheeling loses the business. Business
men appreciate this. You gentlemen,
! in not being in transportation business.
may fail to appreciate that lack CT
| transportation facilities is of the great
est Importance 1t is of the utmost i'm
portance that such facilities should be
| of the best Whatever is to the In
terest of the business community is TO
| the interest of the railroads, and wise
| versa Without cooperation, in these
days of keen competition, every city
must look out for its laurels, and |, be-
ing located here, and having as much
interest in the city as any one, feel
that we must put forth our best en-
deavors to keep pace with the world.
The misunderstanding about this mat
ter I will not refer to further, al
though I have had it in my mind. |
have been approached in the matter
by several gentlemen, and all have been
surprised to find out that the railroad
is not asking for an inch of ground out
side of it's present limits. 1t has been
said we desired to go 2S.6 feet OUT
side our present limits, which is not
true. The Pennsylvania Railway Com
papy is self-respecting and law abid-
ing, and is not asking anything. What
we own we own by right, and when
the government made the harbor lines
instructions came very promptly from
our Chief Engineer to allow no in
fringement upon them. The public
had made a dumping ground of the
place outside our freight depot for
years. and it was with great difficulty
we could enforce the orders. We even
asked the Board of Public Works to
put I'D signs, and yet We had trouble
in keeping people from dumping in
the old place. This Jumping without
our permission Or consent has made
base of a fill very much wider than
the one we need, as proposed, and it
would take a very slight fill to give us
a solid track and do away with the
present planhs on piling and give us
facilities such as are needed by the
business men of Wheeling, and winch,
If obtained, would be conducive to our
general prosperity.
Mr.. White-If the impression has
gone abroad that the Company de-
sired additional ground, the Company
certainly cannot claim that 1t orig
mated with any officer OF the city
What the public may say the ofncefS
of the city are not responsible 1or.
When any important matter comes be-
fore the public, there is often mlsun-
Outstanding. My report to Councll
does not contain anything OF that ma
ture.
MIR. Braden-I believe the impress
sion originated with the newspapers.
tNote-lhe impression did not orig
mate with the newspapers, but was
the distinct statement or rivermen and
others present at the session OF the
Board OF Engineers.)
Mr.. White was about to add that
I'm substance Mr. Braden's remarks
were correct. | have no doubt there
has been a misunderstanding But
wish to say word in reference to
railroads and the interests OF the
community. Certainly railroads are
good thing, and, as Mr.. Speidel has
said, it would be a good thing If we
had a railroad to Connellsville. At the
same time | take exception to Mr..
Braden's remark that the interests Of
the city and railroads is Identical. On
the contrary, when railroad matters
come UP, there is nearly always a big
fight, and conflicting interests appear.
What the community wishes is an ad-
justment of things which will promote
the general welfare. | take 1t that
| this community Is not antagonistic to
| the Pennsylvania railroad. The ques-
| ton is, do they need this ground more
| than does any other interest. | believe
| l can show they can get along without
. it. I know that the Company simply
wants to hold on to what it has, but
also know that the government en-
| gineers feel that at that point the har-
| Dor line should be further east than
| it is, and rivermen would like to see
| the wharf extended to the south. The
| railroad Company has plenty of vacant
| space further south, and they can use
f! it. The harbor lines were fixed by
| men who have no interest in the mat
! ter, and who owe no allegiance to any
| one but the general government If it
was only question of shipping facil-
| tiles, the grant should be made. But
| there is ground nearer the mouth of
| the creek-city property-which could
| be occupied, and | see no reason why
| it could not be done now, and all in
terests conserved. | don't believe there
| is any public antagonism to the Penn