The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-08-23
Are to be Made. If Present Ru
mors are True Shorter Route
to Chicago is Planned by
President Loree.
No Through Trains This Way
Unless They 20 over the West
Virginia Short Line toMounds-
VilIe-story Greatly
Doubted.

A very interesting report IN circula-
tion now, and one which ha, the merit
OF plausIbility, is TO the effect that
President Loree, of the Baltimore \
Ohio, has recommended some prodi-
gious changes in the vicinity Of Ben
wood and Moundsville which will pre-
vail there at present.
A new line is to be built direct to
Barne VILE from TIE Ohio river, the
detour, loop and bridge at Bellaire
and Benwood are to be abolished, and
the line between Grafton and Newark
and Chicago shortened some Il to 20
miles. From Moundsyille the present
line follows the river direct 10 Rem
wood, where there is u complete circle
with gradually rising but ueverthe-
less steep grade, reaching the Bellaire
bridge. This old loop is TO be abolish
ed except for local freight trafiic, and
the Benwood bridge may not be 'e-
built. The new line will probably
follow Fish Creek and connect with
the present main line near GAINESVILLE
shortening the distance between Bal.
timore and Chicago to considerable
extent and eliminating a very heavy
grade between the Ohio river and the
upland district Of Ohio
The work that has been started on
the Parkersburg branch has been sus.
pended in accordance with President
Lorees orders, and thlS appears to in
dictate that the route via the new line
from Moundsville is to be made the
direct route from Baltimore, Wash
ington, PIttsburg and Wheeling to
Cincinnati, and that the old Parkers'
burg line is not to be used for through
traffic. The Ohio River railroad and
Short Line, with their easy grades
are to be used for the through trafc
via Moundsville, and the loop and the
old bridge at Benwood and Bellaire will
be used for freight and local traflc
only. Bridgeport people desiring to
make connections with the Baltimore
s. Ohio for Newark and Columbus,
can take Cleveland & PlttSburg trains
to the main line junction. and Wheel
ing patrons can take the Ohio River
now controlled by the Baltimore 8
Ohio, to Moundsvile, and then take
the Baltimore s. Ohio through trains.
Great improvements are being made
at Fairmont, and 1t is said that the
division from Connellsville to Fair
mont will be made part OF the new
main line. The divisions will be d.
vided and they will have one from
Martlnsburg TO Keyser, another from
Keyser to Falrmont and the other
division will extend from Falrmont to
GAINESVILLE. This arrangement would
leave Benwood out entirely, but a
glance at the map will show the phil
osophy OF the idea. The absorption
OF the Ohio River now accomplished
by the Baltimore & Ohio, would place
wheeling and Benwood in just as
good shape as they would be on the
Pittsburg division, and would have
lust as many trains as they have at
present, which would follow more
direct course to Columbus and CIncin-
natl, and the Ohio River Railroad
trains would be anoth IT source of con-
yenience with the Panhandle and
Cleveland 4 Pittsburg co INJECTIONS.
1t is rumored also that the Balti-
more * Ohio Chicago trains from the
main line running via Grafton and
Fairmont, may use the Panhandle
tracks from Columbus to Chicago via
Chicago Junction, as they do at pres
ent. 1t is 1866 miles from Newark to
Chicago via the Baltimore s. Ohio
and only 347 via the Panhandle, and
there is double track line over half
the distance between Newark and
Chicago via the Panhandle with easier
grades.