Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-14

Yesterday afternoon the promoters of
the proposed electric railway from Bell
aire to ST. Clairsyille met at the Wind
sor Hotel in the first named town and
discussed matters pertinent to the pro-
ject. After the meeting one OF the gen
tlemen in attendance remarked that
those who look upon the enterprise as
purely speculative movement Win
no real determination behind it to
materialize the plans, will soon have
to concede their mistake. OF course,
there are a number of contingencies
that must be decided favorably in order
to make the railway an assured fact,
but within the next few weeks all pre-
liminaries will have been settled one
way or another, and then the enter
prise will proceed upon firmer basis.
One of the contingencies which was
taken up by the promoters yesterday
was the chances for securing a fran
chise along the National pike. J. b.
McMechan, of st. Clairsville, who has
been looking after this phase of the
work, reported that the County Com
missioners have been seen and have
consented to grant the right of way,
provided the consent of adjacent prop
erty owners can be secured. The lat
ter, so far as seen, are pretty generally
favorable to the road, especially those
residing west of st. Clairsville. 1t may
be stated that when the formal appll-
cation is made to the commissioners at
their August meeting, right of way
from a point near Arricks, five miles
west of Bridgeport, on west to the
county line will be asked for.
1t is the intention if the road is
built to embed the ties as is done on
city streets, and lay the tracks on the
side of the pike which would best Sc
cure the safety of teams travelling on
the road. In other words, the tracks
will follow the declivitous side of the
pike.
The original route lay along McMechen's
Creek, west of Bellaire. to Neff's, and
thence to Kings run, striking the pike at
a point between Arrick's and James Stew
arts farm residence. 1t was thought at
the meeting yesterday, however that this
will be changed. From Neff's the road
may follow the McGregor Ridge past AL
lens and the High Ridge school house, in
tersecting the pike at the Arrick farm.
This route, it is said, opens up several fine
locations for suburban residences and
villas, which would not be the case if
Kings Run were followed.
The preliminary surveys have not been
made yet and will not be until the right of
way question is disposed of The road
would pass through populous and fertile
farming district and the land owners are
quick to see the advantage it would be to
them commercially, and the stimuous it
would give to property financially, and are
enthusiastic over the prospects. 1t has
been suggested that the power house may
be located in the neighborhood of Neff's
five miles west of Belaire as a good site
is to be obtained there and water and
coal are convenient.
An argument for having the road inter
sect the pike directly at the top of the
big Hill is found in the fact that a
branch from there to connect with the b.
B. & NJ f. line at Wheeling creek would
be project which would be contaminated
in the future.
AS intimated above feature of the en-
terprise which is not overlooked by the
promoters is the fact that the line would
open up some very desirable suburban To-
calities for residence purposes. AS the
river front becomes more crowded the ten
dency is to go back into the country for
home sites and this road would present
great opportunities in this particular. with
half-hour car service worltmen and bust
ness men could have homes five or even
ten miles out of the city and DC enabled
20 go back and forth with comfort, speed
and small expense