Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-13

On the subject Or Railroad Construc-
ton IN the state Of PennsylvAnin
by "Fair P1ay.a
To the Editor of the Register.
S1r.-Permit attention to be called
through your journal to feature of
the proposed new railroad enterprise
from this city to Uniontown, In the
Connellsville coke field, not ap-
parently generally known or ap-
preciated in this city, and that
is the absolute necessary for the
construction of a railroad from the
State down to the West Virginia State
line. before the new enterprise can
ever reach from Wheeling to the Con-
nellsville field. West Virginia can only
build the West Virginia end of the
road. The West Virginia part OF it
is entirely useless without the Pennsyl-
vania connecting end; in fact, far the
greater portion of the mileage of the
new road must be In the State OF Penn
sylvania.
What are the conditions now sur
rounding the building of railroad in
the State of Pennsylvania? In form
er years, railroads in that State could
receive aid from the State. counties
and cities. This is no longer possible.
The railroad influences that have 50
long dominated that State and its leg
islation, after having received all the
public aid necessary for their purpos-
es, have so influenced the laws of
Pennsylvania that 1t is no longer PER
mitted for county, like the county
of Greene, anxious for railroad facili-
ties, to subscribe to such an entirely
essential work to the county's pro-
gross and the well-being of its peo-
pie, no matter how unanimous the sem
timent may be in its favor. Moreover,
1t Is very difficult to obtain railroad
charter in Pennsylvania and very
expensive proceeding, involving the
payment of large amount tc the
State. Railroad monopoly In Pennsyl-
vania has made the construction of
new railroads extremely III ficulI and
almost impossible. The gentlemen en-
gagged in the construction Of the Union
town, Waynesburg and West Virginia
Railroad have to meet and overcome
these obstacles. They are compelled
to force their way into UniortoWl and
build, at private expense, and with
out one cent Of aid from counties or
towns, over fifty miles of their road
in the State OF Pennsylvania, every
mile of which must be constructed, or
Wheeling viii never have an outlet 10
the coke fields. VIII the people of
Wheeling appreciate that, for .ne first
time in the history of this city and
of any railroad enterprise seeking to
give Wheeling an entrance into the
coke fields, we are offered road in
Pennsylvania, down to tn State line.
by men of sufficient financial ability 10
construct it? Every Other projected
Connellsyille railroad has died, even
before sits birth, because of the fact
that there were no men, or bodies of
men ready and willing to risk their
private fortunes in the construction of
the Pennsylvania end of the road, with
out which the West Virginia end
would be perfectly worthless. II tnIs
county fails to seize this opportunity.
in the life of no one now living Will
SUE an opportunity ever come again.
100000 is a small amount to be sub
scribed to the West Virginia end of
this great enterprise.
Pittsburg, for over thirty years, was
in the hands of railroad monopoly, and
only by the construction of the Pitts
burg & Lake Erie Railroad, connect
ing the city with the New York Cen
trail system, was that great manufact-
uring center relieved from paying
enormous tributes to the same infiu-
ences that are now threatening to
sand bag y -lee-.ng's enterprise. The
vote on the 18th OF July will indicate
whether our manufacturing enterpris-
es are to be subjected to the dominat-
ing influences of railroad monopoly,
or whether this community will break
it down by aiding and fostering legt-
innate and proper competition. Let us
treat ourselves fairly by giving this
new enterprise
FAIR PLAY.