Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-30

the ratlncdIlOn or che ordinance pA-
viding for a subscription ce 100000 70
the capital stock of the Uniontown,
Waynesburg and West Virginia rail-
road. If the subscription carries with
it an increase in taxation, which is
one of the principal arguments OF those
who oppose the ordinance, the burden
will fall heaviest upon those who are
most outspoken in their advocacy OF
the projected road, and their support
of the ordinance. Many small property
owners who talk agains. the subscrip-
ton largely through their lack OF ia
miliartty with the subject, could not
be affected to the extent of quarter
of a dollar in year.
Mr.. F. H. Lange probably pays taxes
on more properly uaan any Cdher indi-
vldual Or firm IN Ohio county. TO a
Register reporter, Mr.. LANCE said yes
ter1ay:
This road will supply want which
has long been felt l regard it as al
most an absolute necessity. l think it
is the duty Of the county to procure it,
manufacturers. IL will place Wheel
ing in direct touch with Greene county,
Pennsylvania, which is thickly popa-
lated, and annually ships products of
the value of S6,000000, a part OF which
would certainly go through Wheeling.
The road will furnish transportation
facilities for big population in the
aggregate, and the passenger traffic is
mn Ne ~
n0ad will be followed by a demand for
houses here, and planning Mills as well
as contractors ana their employees will
have years OF prosperity before them.
In regard to the countys subscrip-
ton, thing it Will be money we'll spent
because Jle moment work is started
that stock has .dlue. The county
can issue bonds 1t a very low rate OF
interest, and FOR that reason / am OPP
posed 10 thC selling CT 'Pewiky' bonds.
have Sufficient confidence in a ma
jorjty Of the Commissioners to feel that
no money will be paid out except on
good security. The ordinance pro-
vides every reasonable safeguard for
the county's investment. Our taxable
value will increase enormously from
the railroad, and other enterprises
mnidl E will bring. The solution of
the question of cheap fuel will attract
manufacturers. Freight is king every
where. Cheap rates on coal and coke
will cause factories to spring up, and
VIII result in an era of prosperity and
aEIustrial advancement such as wheel
ing has never dreamed Of
Another very heavy taxpayer is Mr..
George E. Strfel, of the dry goods
house of Stifel & Co., WHO said to the
reporter:
1 cannot understand how any per-
son who VIII consider the advantages
to be derived from the construction
and operation of the new road, can OPP
pose the subscription by Ohio county.
1t would be hard to overestimate its
benefit TO Wheeling. Every retailer
knows the value Of new railroads and
street car lines. We do as much bus
mess to-day as all the dry goods houses
IN Wheeling did twenty years ago, and
| don't mean to say that we do all the
business. The city has not grown in
onat proportion. The increased trade
mas come because of the better facili-
ties FOR reaching Wheeling. The mer-
chants have all felt the influence of a
new railway or street car line, in the
shape OF very perceptible increase
III their trade. The network of cleo
URIC railway tracks about Wheeling.
and the Chic River railroad have been
great trade ringers. The Terminal
has enabled the Wheeling & Lake Erie
and {. l.. & w. trains to bring shop
pers here, and whatever may be said
about the countys investment in that
road, it is proving, and will continue
to prove of inestnmable value to the
Jobbing and retail merchants.
We don't have any trade to speak
OF from the section which will be op-
ened up, and brought into close touch
with Wheeling by the proposed rail-
road, and | assume THAI the same
thing is true OF cher retail merchants.
We can't have too many railroads. You
can't provide too many ways for
strangers to come to Wheeling.
u have only spoken Of the effect up
on merchants, because | am not famil-
lar wish the situation, but | still re-
memoof discussions among old time
hon and steel manu-. scturers. when
they would say, II we only had as
cheap fuol as Pi.ssburg, and SO on.
The new road viii guarantee as cheap
fuel as PlttsbuTg manufacturers have.
Ii this viii enable Wheeling mills to
run steadier than they might other
wise, | fail TO understand why any
wcrklngman Will oppose the ordinance.
1t IS the best thing mat has been Of
fered to Wheeling in years. Ohio
county could even afford to donate the
sum aske1, but | think The investment
WEI lrcve profitable from dividend
standpoint"
Nj. rred C. H. Schwartfeger, who is
anceher large taxpayer and prudent
business nan, heartily endorsed the
views expressed by Mr.. Stifel.
Mr.. Chas. H. Copp said to the re-
porter:
wheeling is pretty well in touch
with the country round about which
should be tributary to the city. with
the exception CT that rich ana pros
| porous section which viii be opened
/ UP by the proposed new railroad Tie
/ trade is now diverted into other chan
! nels, because Wheeling merchants.
| wholesalers and retailers. nave no
means of reaching IT, Jobbers are
eager for the construction OF the rail-
| road, because it means broadening Of
| their market and il is territory for
which Wheeling ought to be the supply
store.
The road VIII be OF particular val
Ne - manufacturers. because it viii
| place them on an equal basis with