Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-08-12
HARBOR LINES CONTROVERSY.
The p W. 3 Ky. Railroads Side of the
Question Claims That 1t Eas Been Mis-

observation-disclosures That 1t Eas Been Mis-
represented.
The following statement is submit
ted by a prominent business man,
with request that the Register give
1t publicity:
THE opposition which has develop
ed in the City of Wheeling to the
change CT harbor line asked for by
the P. w. & K Railroad has caused
certain erroneous impressions which
should be corrected, in order that the
business interests CT the City may
not be jeopardized by hasty action OF
Council.
Previous to 1872 the only railroad
outlet for Wheeling business was the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Realiz-
ing the importance Of competition,
move was made by citizens OF
Wheeling which resulted in the con-
struction Of the P. w. & K. Railroad.
1t is owned largely by citizens CT
Wheeling, the County Of Ohio being
large stakeholder. On completion
an agreement was entered into with
the P c. & st. L. Railway Company,
(now the P c. c. & St. L., to equip
and operate the road for the p. W. &
K Railroad Company. Under this
agreement all the net earnings of the
road are turned over to the p w. &
K. Railway Company, the P. c. c. &
St. L. Railway Company getting no
part thereof, but relying for its profit
in the .iras-- ~ ttffsta- earnings ON
its own line from business originating
on the P. w & X. The profits accru-
ing to the P. w. & K. go chiefly to the
citizens OF Wheeling and to the treas
ury Of Ohio County.
Owing to the formation OF the
country, the only entrance into Wheel
ing from the north was along the
river front, and there was no ground
accessible for station purposes and ter
minal facilities For this reason, rec
ognizing the read as a local enter
prise and the direct benefit to the
business interests of Wheeling, the
City Council, by ordinance, granted
certain portions of the public landing
for station purposes.
Recently, the War Department.
through its engineer officers, and I'M
Ger authority CT law, established GER
tain harbor lines on the Ohio river at
and in the vicinity of Wheeling. The
line so established passed through
the driveway on the west side Of the
freight Office. and the engineer Off
Ger in charge served notice on the p.
W. & K Railroad that all that part
of the driveway and the track outside
Of the line established is an eIcroach
ment, and prohibiting any repairs that
would perpetuate it. AS this structure
is on piles, and is now in need of ex-
tensive repairs. this action would de-
stroy the freight facilities of the P
W. & K railroad.
"To avert this danger, the Railroad
Company asked the War Department
for such modification Of the harbor line
as would not interfere with the con-
tinuance Of these facilities. Council
has been asked to take action in the
matter of granting this request. What
action by Council would conserve the
best interests OF the City?
"In the first place. no material in
terest Of the City is threatened. 1t
has been said that to fiji up the pres
ent trestle viii obstruct the flow and
raise the flood CT the river above
The relatively small amount OF filing
cannot have any appreciable effect
upon the food height, and, therefore.
the City's interests are not threatened
from that cause.
"It has been said that the Eli at the
freight house will divert the current
at food stages, and increase the cut
ting which now takes place on the lew
er end OF the island. The present
cutting is caused by the current strik-
ing the bank below the mouth OF
Wheeling Creek and being turned alb
ruptly across the river A fill at the
freight house would partially defect
the current before it strikes the river
bank below the creek, and send IL
straighter down the next reach OF the
channel. thus serving to protect the
lower end ct the island instead Of in
Turing il This makes it to the inter-
est Of all concerned IN the lower part
OF the island to favor instead Of OF
pose the change in the harbor line.
Tho City granted the right to use
the wharf IA the 6rst instance 70 -