Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-01
AFTER WESTERN maryland.
West Virginia Central Interests Would
Like to Get the Road.
SENATOR ELKINS, THOMAS B..
DAVIS AND OTHERS IN BALTI-
MORE LOOKING AFTER AN M
PORTANT DEAL-OTHER BUSI-
NESS AND INDUSTRIAL NEWS.

NESS AND INDUSTRIAL NEWS.
The Baltimore Sun of yesterday had
the following
Ex-senator Stephen B. Elkins is ex-
pected in Baltimore to-day. Mr.. Thorn
as b. Davis reached the city yesterday
and was last night in conference with
his brother, ex-senator Henry g.. Da-
Wis. Mr.. r. C. Kerens, of ST. Louis, is
in New York. These gentlemen con-
stitute the Big Four which controls
the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg
railroad, and immense coal and timber
interests along the route of that road
The coming to Baltimore of Mr.. Elkins
will make three of the four in this city,
while the other member. Mr.. Kerens,
is in New York, within easy reach.
Ex-senator Davis admitted last night
that his presence in the city was to
watch the development in the Western
Maryland railroad situation 1t is now
believed by those best informed on the
subject that the New York syndicate
will have competitor in the West Vir-
ginia Central when the question of SELL
ing the city's interests in the Western
Maryland comes up. Ex-senator Davis,
when asked last night if the West Vir-
ginia Central had abandoned its idea
of securing the Western Maryland
railroad, replied that it had neither
abandoned nor taken up the subject
When Mr. Elkins arrives it is thought
that some understanding as to the po-
sition to be taken by the West Virginia
Central on the subject OF the Maryland
railroad will be taken up, and re-
mark made last night by ex-senator
Davis that the city's interests in the
property would not go for nothing,
strengthens the belief that he and his
associates are getting ready to make
an offer for the property. He stated
that there was nothing now that he
could say on the subject Of the proposed
sale, but, speaking of his own road, he
seid that it penetrated a country Of
great mineral and timber wealth which
was fast being developed.
Our territory is steadily growing"
he said land Baltimore should be in
a position to participate in the COM
mercial development which comes with
developing the natural resources of that
territory. A direct connection with
Baltimore would prove of great value
to the business interests of this city
and open territory to it's trade that is
yearly growing in Importance. Balti-
more would furnish an outlet for the
coal and lumber of our section and
there would be reciprocal relations
that would benefit both the city of Bal
timore and the territory along the line
of the West Virginia Central. Our in
tention, when the offer was made in
was to build a connection from Cumber-
land to Williamsport joining the tracks
of the West Virginia Central and the
Western Maryland railroad. Surveys
were made through the country on the
Maryland side of the Potomac river.
Mr. c.. H. Latrobe, the well-known en-
gineer of Baltimore, made report on
the proposed route. Public sentiment
at the time was, however, opposed to
the sale of the citys interests in the
Western Maryland and the proposed
connection was not carried out"
One of the counsel for the New York
syndicate, headed by Mr. John 1. Wa
terbury, president of the Manhattan
Trust Company which has been inves-
tigating the Western Maryland rail-
road with the view of making an offer
for it, was in Baltimore yesterday. His
visit was to gather data relative to some
points developed by the attorneys who
have been examining the legal status
of the mortgages and agreements of the
Western Maryland railroad. He had a
conference with Col Charles Marshall
counsel for the Western Maryland rail-
road, and the requisite information will
be sent to New York to-day
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL.