Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-27


/ Cleveland capital, through an agent,
H. E. Willard, of that city, is leasing
coal lands in Jefferson county, Ohio,
with the intention of developing that
section of the State. For some few
months past Mr. Willard has been
leasing in the section bordering di-
rectly on the Piney Fork Valley,
through .Hopedale, north by west of
Dillonvale, and at present has secured
block of six thousand acres. 1t
looks very much as if the project was
a go.
Among others in the Piney Fork
valley, lands have been leased from
Lemuel Hooker, William Barcus, John
Barcus, Jacob Barcus, Abraham c.
Noble estate, Charles B. Noble, w. H.
Noble, James NJ Noble, Charles S.
Noble, Anderson c. Noble, James Kit
cart estate, John Domain, the Elliott
farm, the Written farm, the Schafer
farm and Colonel L. w. Sutherland.
If the deal carries it will necessitate
railroad facilities. The residents of.
that section are jubilant over the pro-
posed boom. This brings to the front
again the famous railroad war in that
section about fifteen years ago, when
the Wheeling & Lake Erie was put
through.
Matters at that time were very much
mixed. Judge Robert H. Cochran, of
Martins Ferry, was at the head of a
movement to connect the Monongahela
valley coal regions with the lakes, af
fording an excellent market for the
production. 1t was the original inten-
ton to afford this outlet at several
lake points by a number Of different
roads. The South Penn road made
several surveys, one UP Little Wheel
ing creek, another up Big Wheeling
creek and third through Marshall
county to the Monongahela valley.
This road was to connect with the
Wheeling & Harrisville at this point.
Thence by the Conversion road, con-
Meeting at that point with what is
known as the Valley Railroad, leading
UP Piney Fork valley and coming out
with several lake points as western
terminus.
It is along the line of the old survey
for the Valley road that the coal lands
are situated. A great many farmers
took stock in the road and great
deal of surveying and bed grading was
done Thousands of dollars were ex-
pended.
Just at this time the Wheeling &
Lake Erie road was put through. The
w. & L. E. right of way and the VAL
ley survey. line conceded for some
distance along Short creek valley, back
of Warren, and it was at this point
that the famous railroad fight occur
red. For days rival gangs of men
forward and back on each other I'M
til finally the matter was taken into
the courts and the Wheeling & Lake
Tries won. The W. & L. E. was put
through, and as there was no other
practical line to the lakes, the pro-
ject was dropped. Farmers who had
put their money into the rival line,
some of them their all, lost every dol
lar expended, and the result is they
have been handicapped ever since. So
it is little wonder that they are elated,
since at last there seems that there
will be some return.
With most of the roadbed COM
pleted over the line that it will be
necessary to connect the section with
the Wheeling & Lake Erie, the cost of
building the road will be comparative
ly small. 1t will necessitate the build
ing of but a very small short line,
which will afford an excellent outlet.
1t is on this account that those d.
rectly interested have every reason to
believe that the affair will be carried
through The country is rich in coal
and only needs capital to develop it.
Should the deal prove a substantial
one, it will not only benefit that sec
ton of Jefferson county, Ohio, but this
city as we'll.
ONT VryTEY T0NnED