Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-28
TRACTION SCHEMES
ARE COMING GALORE.
WHEELING WILL HE HoNEY-COMB-
ED WITH ELECTRIC RAIL
WAY TRACKS
IF FRANCHISES ARE GIVEN
To All AppIlcant.-The Sentiment of
Merchants IL Favorable to the
Construction of All the New
street Railway Lines That Are
Practice ble-Some Expresaions OF
Opfuiou.


The multiplicity of electric railway
franchise schemes furnishes a striking
proof of the truth of the old adage-
1T never rains but it pours.' Ii may
be true that one or more are agitated
for purely speculative purposes on the
part of promoters. but there are sufii-
cient bona fide projects to justify pre-
diction of remarkable activity in cleo
trio railway construction. and upon
which to base the hope that within
few years Wheeling will be the center
of a network of railways extending in
all directions within a radius of twenty
1--WE miles, making this city easily &C
cessble to all the communities within
that scope of territory.
When there are good things offered,
they never go a-begging, and this is
particularly applicable to railway fran
chises. The City Council will have to
choose In several instances between
two applicants for right of way over
the same thoroughfares. The joint use
OF certain sections of track may be
found to be the only solution to the
problem which is presented, the pecu-
liar typographical conditions In Wheel
ing making any other course next to
impossible.
II Is likely that some street railway
will enter Wheeling from Martins Fer
ry over the Terminal bridge. One
company desires to do this and to reach
the heart of the city by coming down
Coal and Market streets to Tenth. The
Wellsburg company also wants to use
this route No other route is practice
able on account of the present occu-
pancy of Main street by the Wheeling
Traction Company.
Residents along Caldwellis run prob
ably never dreamed of reaching their
homes in street cars until very recent
ly. Now Council has applications for
two franchises along Twenty-n!nth
street to the corporate limits. one from
Henry Schmulbach and others, and the
other from Jos. c. Brady, N. e. Whit
aker and others. The Schmulbach par
ty desires a franchise for a new sys-
TEN through the city, which would en-
ter into competition with the Wheeling
Traction Company; also for the Cald-
wells run extension, with view, 1t Is
understood, to running the line out the
right hand run" to Mozart Park. Mr..
Schmulbaeh is interested in great
many acres of land contiguous to the
Park, a portion of which has already
been divided into building lots. and all
of which would materially appreciate In
value If the electric railway were con-
structed.
The Brady Whitaker project has been
outlined as a scheme for q new road
to Elm Grove, over route which Is
shorter than that Of the w. & L. G..
railway, but which will certainly pre-
sent some difficult engineering prob
lens. There are great many farmers
and others living along the proposed
route, and the construction Of new
road would undoubtedly increase the
population in that section.
On the opposite side of the river rail-
way projects are equally, II not more
numerous, and it is very probable that
a few years will see roads in operation
from st. Clairsville, Cadiz and other
populous districts in eastern Ohio, as
well as line connecting Martins Fer
ry with Brilliant, Mingo and Steuben-
vile on the river front.
An inspection Of the plans of Mr..
Schmulbach and his Associates will
show the railway to be entirely feast
BILE This company also desires to use
Market and Coal streets to approach
it's northern terminus. 1t Is under
stood that the gentlemen have several
plans for extensions which have not
yet been divulged, but which will be
revealed when the ordinance, which is
soon to be prepared, is submitted to
Council 1t is said that at confer
ence held last week, an express, or -
least tacit agreement was reached, by
the terms of which the Ohio Rapid
Transit Company, crossing the Ter
minal bridge, will use the Schmulbach
tracks to the heart of the city, the two
companies building bridge across JON
athan's Ravine to Coal street.
Members of the Wheeling Council
some of them, at least-haye indicated
what their attitude will be on the fran
chise matters. They will safeguard the
city in every way, and will impose such
conditions as were placed upon the w.
G. e. G. company, in order to give the
city some return for the valuable rights
which are given away.
AS to the value of street railways,
there is but one opinion among the
merchants. They all favor as many
traction lines as are practicable. Be-
low are some expressions of opinion:
Mr.. NJ. Sonneborn: I am heartily in
favor of an electric railway up Twenty
ninth street or out any other street that
will open up new residence section
II Wheeling's business increases as we
expect it to, in the next twenty years
the present area between Wheeling hill
and the river will be absorbed for bust
ness purposes and people will be COM
PEELED to seek residences in what are
now our suburbs. Hence the idea of a
new road, or roads, into the Elm Grove
territory, with such feeders as may be
connecting main lines as are for the best
interests of the city, it's trade and its
citizens, meets with my approval.
am not in favor Of giving one road a
monopoly of our streets. We have al
ready given away to many valuable con-
cessions. There are so many now seek
ing franchises, let the city sell them to
those who will pay the most for them
and give our citizens the best accom-
| modations and rates.
| paip0 told that Iipoc from Codi1 on5