Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-07-01

1
The Sunday Register herewith pre-
sents the views of number of pub
lie spirited citizens who have care
fully studied the Uniontown, Waynes-
burg & West Virginia railroad project
and who heartily endorse the subscrlp-
ton of 100000 by Ohio county to the
capital stock of the company. AS the
time for the election approaches, the
interest in the matter increases, and
all signs now point 10 the ratification
of the ordinance, with many votes to
| spare.
H. c. Richards, Sheriff of Ohio coun-
ty, says:
! Many advantages to city are lost
| by the inattention or Indifference of
the people who would be either direct
ly OF indirectly benefited Nothing is
OF more vital Importance to a manu-
| featuring city than many railroads
I reaching out into all directions, afford
| ing easy. rapid and comparatively
| cheap communication with all parts of
the country, and more especially with
| sections from which are drawn the raw
materials of manufacture.
| Just at this time our people have be-
fore them a proposition from persons
/ willing to invest their capital, if they
are offered sufficient encouragement.
in the way of subscription by the coun-
ty TO the capital stock of the propos-
! ed railroad. The county has a twofold
! purpose in subscribing to the capital
stock of the Uniontown, Waynesburg
& West Virginia Railroad-frst, that
the road may be constructed and op-
Grated, thus bringing our manufactur-
ers in close communication with the
base of supply of raw material. and
second, the same purpose as the ordi-
nary stakeholder would have, the fair
prospect that the enterprise will pay
dividend on the stock, as the 'Pwiky'
railroad has been doing for some years.
Now, if an investor or business man.
after careful examination, is willing to
put his money into this railroad with
the expectancy Of it proving a profit
able investment, it must appear plain
that our own county can we'll afford
to take the same chances, when it is
considered that great benefits will come
to this community from the building and
operation of the road, in increased
manufactures and taxable property Ii
our people should make sure of Secur-
ing this important railroad now is the
time that they should be diligent in
their support of the ordinance which
has been submitted to be voted on July
18th.
"Objections can be found to almost
any proposition, however much merit
it may have, as we always have with
us those who seem to believe that they
are special guardians of the public
veal, and nothing can be wholly good
unless 1t has emanated from them. In
short, if the proposed Uniontown,
Waynesburg & West Virginia railroad
is constructed and operated, it will
open up to this city splendid country
for trade, and permit the bringing ilto
the city of raw material at a much
less rate, thereby putting us in a po-
sition to compete in selling our pro-
ducts in the lowest markets, when nee
essary."
Mr.. Harry Hooking, an employee Of
the Whitaker Iron Works, who has
been life long worker in the iron in
dustry, favOrs the ratification of the or
dinance. He says:
Il am in position to know something
about the amount of fuel consumed in
an iron or steel mill. and | am very
strongly in favor of Ohio county sub
scribing to the stock of the new road
because it will guarantee a rate on coal
and coke as cheap, if not cheaper. than
is paid by the Pittsburg manufacturers.
ic Uho
iron industries and as a workingman
who has spent the best years Of his
life in an iron mill, can readily under
stand that what is beneficial to mill
owners in this respect is also of benefit
to their employees. Labor is certainly
interested to the extent of desiring
manufacturers to have the cheapest raw
material in order that they may be in
position to pay good wages and provide
continuous employment. From a work
ingmans standpoint, l am heartily in
favor of the road.
4here Is another reason why | favor
it. ! think its construction and opera
tion will not only be of general benefit
to the community, but look for Wheel
ing to become a shipping point for
coal to the southern market. This city
VIII nave the advantage over PittSburg
of 100 miles shorter haul, and 100 miles
OF the most dangerous part of the Ohio
river for steamboats,; and besides we
can ship coal here on less Of a rise
than it takes to send it out of Pitts
burg
Ex-Sheriff Lewis Steenrod. who is
thoroughly familiar with the county
and its needs, says:
Il can't understand why any man
who studies the matter can either op-
pose the road or oppose the stock sub
scription which Ohio county is asked
TO make. II is trite saying that rail-
roads make cities, and you can prove
1t by studying any map you NAV find.
Wheeling needs all the railroads she
can get, and l am surprised TO find
any opposition TO the proposed Union
town, Waynesburg & West Virginia
road. 1t means new markets for Job
bers and retailers: it means a material
growth OF the city through the estab
lishment of new industries: il means
substantial increase in the taxable
property of the county; it means that
manufacturers will no longer be handi-
capped by excessive freight rates on