Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-07
Sentiment Is GROWING.
A STUDY OF THE QUESTION
BY People Who Are Interested in the
I Growth and Progress of Wheeling.
More Representative Citizens Ex-
press Themselves Favorable to
the Subscription by Ohio County
to the Capital stock Of the Road.


In proportion as the proposition Of
the projectors of the Uniontown.
Waynesburg and West Virginia rail-
road to Ohio county, is studied and
understood, the opposition TO the ordi-
nance which is to be submitted to
popular vote on the 18th inst. is dis
appearing. Citizens who first ex-
pressed themselves in opposition to the
ordinance are now free tosadmit that
they were not familiar with its pro-
visions, or had not given ample study
to the advantages to the city
to be derived from the construc-
ton and operation of the proposed
railroad. 1t is a significant fact that
wherever there have been any changes
IN sentiment, they have been favorable
to the ordinance.
The Register this morning presents
the views of more representative citi-
zens who heartily endorse the PROPOSE
ton TO subscribe $500, 600 to the CAPT.
tai stock OF the company.
Mr.. George E. House, of House &
Hermann, proprietors of the big de-
partment store, says:
If Wheeling is to wear the metro
politan airs which she assumes, and
is TO be an industrial center, the citi-
zens OF Ohio county cannot afford to
discourage railroad enterprises. The
need for road over the route which is
to be followed by the Uniontown,
Waynesburg and West Virginia Com
pany, has long been apparent. 1t will
afford the people of several densely
populated counties, the opportunity
which they are eager to avail them
selves of, to trade with Wheeling mer-
chants, and to find a suitable distrib-
uting point for their products. The
advantages to manufacturers cannot be
oyerestimated, and / take 1t that when
the manufacturers are benefited, their
employees share in the good things. l
cannot understand any good reason for
opposition to the ordinance by a
workingman.
Il think the merchants and manu-
facturers, who are vitality interested in
the building of the road, should take
steps to enlighten their employees as
to the provisions Of the ordinance, and
urge them to vote on the 18th"
Mr.. PEBBLES Tatum, of the real estate
and brokerage firm of Simpson & Ia
tum, says:
Il am in favor of the ordinance be-
cause it means the operation of rail-
road which will put Wheeling in touch
with an immense population, with all
the advantages to be derived there
from. 1t will be of indisputable value
to manufacturers, and therefore to
their employees, for cheap fuel will en-
able industrial plants to be in opera
ton when they might otherwise be
compelled to close down.
1T will help wholesalers, because it
will give them a new market.
1T will benefit retailers, because the
passengers who come to Wheeling will
do their shopping here, or portion
of it.
IF it helps all these classes, and
think no person will dispute the fact,
will benefit beyond a doubt, and | can
not understand how any thinking man
can oppose the ratification of the ordi-
nance"
Mr.. Frank Stanton, proprietor of the
OlQ OlIy BOOK store, says.
Il really have not given the matter
sufficient study, but l am certainly ia
vorable to the construction of the road,
and all other new roads, for the reason
that railroads are the most potent fac
tors in the building of cities There
is one provision of the ordinance which
heartily approve. l refer to the
clause which requires the actual build
ing of the road before the county pays
its subscription to the capital stock.
With this safeguard, the construction
of the road is assured, and the ordi-
nance should be ratified,
Mr. ]. Elwood Hughes of the Thomas
Hughes Co., merchant tailors, says:
1T is one of the greatest opportuni-
ties the people of Ohio county have
ever had offered to them. For nearly
quarter of a century we have talked
about the advantage of this road. Now,
responsible people came with their own
money invested, and with a fair prop
osition to Ohio county and it is strange
that any opposition has developed.
believe the road will be built, and
do not believe that the stock subserip-
ton will be equivalent TO gift. The
county is sufficiently safeguarded in
the ordinance, and If the road is never
built the county will not lose a cent.
The people of Greene county, a
wealthy and populous community, now
trade with Pittsburg, because they have
better facilities for reaching that city.
The new road will naturally turn them
to Wheeling, and Wheeling will reap
the benefit. All this is Independent OF
the advantages which are offered to
manufacturers, and incidentally to all
the working people of the community.
We should have the new railroad by
all means"
Mr.. A. H. Wiedebusch, attorney-at-
law, says:
There is not an argument against
the ordinance which cannot be met and
refuted from the standpoint OF public
policy. Every body agrees that the
road will be of incalculable benefit TO
all classes of citizens. Some who OPP
pose it say it is a scheme, principally
because they take a pessimistic view
IF things generally. Ii it is a scheme.
Ohio county cannot be a party TO 1t,
for the county's subscription is not %
be paid until the actual work Of con
struction is done, and two-fifths OF it
is to be reserved until trains are act
ually running over the tracks between
the termini of the road.
THE projectors make fair prop
osition, and the county has a reason