Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-18

terprise Under Confederation.
That the Ohio river, along its west
bank, will be paralleled by an electric
trolly line extending from Bellaire to
Allegheny City, is almost a certainty
within few years. Already there are
lines at various points, as between
Bellaire and the upper end of Martins
Ferry, from Steubenville to Mingo,
with a further projection south, this
being very largely a Wheeling enter
prise, and at points farther up the riv-
er there are stretches of electric lines,
with connecting links in view which
when completed will make a continu-
Gus stretch of track, under various
ownerships.
One Of the big gaps to be closed is
between the upper end of Martins Fer
ry and Portland Station and Warren
ton, in Jefferson county, and this pro-
ject has not only been mapped out,
but preliminary work in the direction
Of looking after rights of way, etc,
has been commenced. 1t is believed
that Cincinnati capitalists are behind
,,.e project, and one of their agents is
w. B. Francis, of Martins Ferry, while
other gentlemen are assisting in the
work, have glanced over the route,
looked after the probability of getting
such private property as may be neces-
sary, and generally cleared up the
earlier work necessary in such an en-
terprise.
This projected road would pass
through populous country, including
a number of small but growing towns,
including Burlington, just above Mar
tins Ferry, Raineytown, Yorkville,
Tiltonville and Portland Station, end
ing at Warrenton, an important juno
ton of two railroads, and between
these communities would run through
rich market garden country, whence
Wheeling and suburban towns derive
very large proportion of supplies in
the line of vegetables, poultry, etc.
The road as far as can be learned,
would probably have it's southern
terminus at Centre street, in Martins
Ferry, where the Wheeling Traction
Company's line crosses the old Bur
lington road, and would follow the last
named road to Burlington. There it
would take the county or river road,
and follow it to Glenn's run, pass I'M
der the c. & P. road there, and thence
run to Yorkville, and on up to Port
land Station and Warrenton. How
ever, in order to avoid crossing the c.
& P. tracks twice at Don, or Burling-
ton, it has been under consideration
to keep the line west of the railroad,
SHrting along the edge of the hills,
and cross Glen's run on a bridge to
be erected by the railway people, above
the county road, thus doing away with
two crossings and heavy grades, reach
ing the county road again at the
most convenient point. At Rainey-
town there would be level and good
road all the way north.
Aside from such private property as
may be needed at certain points the
Belmont county commissioners would
have the granting Of the right of way
over most of the distance, as only
about four miles of the route would
lie in Jefferson county.
At Portland Station and Warrenton
the new road would be within a very
short distance of the line projected
from Steubenville south, a portion Of
which has been completed and is in ac-
tive operation, at a profit, and this
small gap closed up, there would be a
continuous line from the lower end
Of Bellaire to the upper end of Steub-
enville, and from that city north
other links in the chain will be laid
down in time, and, it is predicted,
within a short me at that
That a river electric line, on the
Ohio side, would pay is conceded by
all familiar with the country through
which it would pass. There is a con-
tinuous chain of towns and small cities
from Bellaire north, and 1t is said
Cleveland and Pittsburg accommoda-
ton trains between Bellaire and Pitts
burg make as many stops as do SINH
lar trains on the B. & o. between
Wheeling and Washington City. The
territory to be traversed not only CON
tains a large population, but is grow
ing rapidly. and there is abundant
room for a series Of enterprises which
would result in linking these commun-
tiles together by lines of electrical
transportation