The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-09

d w. va. Railroad, says contrib
utor.
To the Editor of the Intelllgenccr.
SIR:-Quite a number of articles have
appeared in the city papers recently,
appealing TO the voters of Ohio county
to vote for the proposed donation of
s5coCOO. Of: public funds to the Union
town, Waynesburg & West Virginia
railroad. All OF these articles, or near
ly all OF them, are entirely the out
growth of some selfish interest. To the
average voter. the farmer mechanic.
merchant, or working man who has
not been employed and does not expect
to be employed by this new venture in
railroad circles, and who has not been
paid and does not expect to be paid fo-
his vote and influence In Its behalf,
there seems to lie no satisfactory rea-
son for this bountiful gift TO such a.
unworthy and undeserving corporation.
What Is there In It's character or make
up to entitlc II TO such generous and
distinguished consideration? 1t was
organized by adventurous and greedy
non-resIdcnts for purely speculative
purposes. Its promoters came volun-
tarily and unbiddan into our commu-
nifty for the purpose CO subscribing their
own selfish ends and promptly signal
izc their entrance by an extraordinary
Ii no; indeed. an impudent demand up.
on the county authorities. OF course
they propose to benefit the community.
bu. that Is only an Indirect benefit, and
even that is to be conferred only in or.
der thatttheY nay frst reap. a large d..
rect btucat themselves II the propOsi-.
,ion weft- to- 6iithoriE4 the, county Of
Ohio tonnes; $500, $40 in the first mort
gage bonds Of the railroad company.
something might then be said in favor.
Of It. FOR then the county might have
some show Of getting something out of
It. But 4 the Investment is TO be made
in the form of 4 stock subscription II
might Just rs well be made a direct
gift The road is sure to be mortgaged
and bonded land Ohio countys sub
scriptIon, II made, will be used TO en-
able the. promoters to sell the bonds).
and like all other enterprises OF this
character, II will be sold sooner or later
under the mortgage executed TO secure
the bonds, and the proceeds of the sale
VIII go to the bond-holdcrs and the
stockholders will get absolutely moth
ing. Just rs happened In the recent
sale OF the Wheeling Bridge 6; TermI-
nal railroad. in which Ohio county lost
$500. COO. This has been the almost uni
versal fate of all such enterprises. The
only exception which the writer can call
to mind is the p, w. & Ky railroad,
and history would have repeated Itself
In that instance II the project had not
bccn In the hands OF our own citizens,
instead of outside Adventures, and
those citizens had not been fortunate
enough to secure the aid or the Penn
sylvanla system. which Is managed and
controlled b. experienced and prac.
teal railroadcTs, instead OF mere spccu-
lat!vc Adventures. These spectators
expect to reap rich reward from their
schemes and 1t Is but just and fair that
they should raise the money for the
project without calling upon ohiO
county for such n munhcent gift. The
Trades Assembly has the right view OF
this subject and the stand which Il has
taken upon the matter is wise and
just one and should be. and no doubt
Will be. consistently maintained
throughout the entire contest.
PUBLIC INTEREST.