The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-01-15
PROPOSED new RR
WOULD use COAL
.RUNTDR TERMINAL
Would Come Into City on
Tracks Of the
M. v, 7.

Plans for the extension of the Nor.
gantown C Wheeling railroad into
Fairmont callfor the use of the tracks
of the Monongahela Valley Traction
company from Mannington to Barrack-
vile and thence through the hill by
tunnel to the city to Coai run, Thomas
IL. Barrett. ihe president, told the
Fairmont Chamber Of Commerce last
night at the rooms n21he FairInonl
hotel building, Some of the NJ vt.
line would have to be partially re-
constructed and curves eliminated, but
as It was originally built haul freight
the conversion into railroad would
not be a difficult task. The terminal
of the railroad in the city of Fair
mont would be in the Locust avenue
section of Coal run.
The ultimate plans are for direct
coal carrying route to Pittsburgh and
incidentally a nearer route to this
Great Lakes. This outlet to the lakes
would be connections with the Union
railroad at Montour Junction and
thence over the Bessemer & Lake Erie
railroad to Conneaut, Pa, which he
declared would be the nearest route
to the Gyeat Lakes from this section
and would save tens of thousands OF
dollars in freight charges.
While the immediate objective is a
direct route to Pittsburgh Mr.. Barrett
let it be known that efforts are being
concentrated upon the movement 10
construct the line on to Waynesburg,
Pa. The distance from Fairmont to
Warrington by the proposed route is
IS miles; from Warrington to Blacks
vile, Pa, IS miles; Blacksille to
Waynesburg, 12 miles; Waynesburg
to Bridgeyille, 35 miles. AT Bridge
vile connection is made with the
Pittsburgh and West Virginia (the old
Wabash) railroad. From Bridgeville
to Pittsburgh is 12 miles. The pro-
posed route will be approximately 9S
miles. OF the route the road is built
from Waynesburg to Blacksville and
spur runs from Blacksvilfe to Brave
where the Peoples Natural Gas COM
pdny has the largest gas pumping sta
ton in the world. AS the supply OF
natural gas lessons, Mr.. Barrett is OF
the opinion, artificial gas would be
manufactured and turned into the
same pipes, probably being used in
connection with natural gas. which
readily mixes and gives a good quality
of gas.
The route by the way OF Fairview
probably would be abandoned, which
while it is closer, would require the
expenditure of more money because OF
extensive tunneling which would have
to be resorted to Mr.. Barrett called
attention to the rapid development
of the Morgantown and Wheeling rail-
road, which at present operates, the
Tine between Blacksville and Nor
gantown, and told how 1t developed
more in tonnage than any other rail-
road in similar time. The twenty
mines there have a vapacity of pro-
ducing three million tons of coal a
year, IL cars were obtainable. II
twenty-five per cent. of the present
plans carry it will mean doubling
of the coal tonnage on the Morgantown
and Wheeling railroad he declared.
Former City Commissioner Ira L,
Smith spoke, Of the fuel wealth of
Greene county, Pa, which he said al
the present time has no standard
guage railroad. Various members OF
the chamber spoke favorably of the
proposition.
The chamber welcomed Mr.. Barrett,
a former resident OF Fairmont, back
to the city, he located his offices here
IN the Fleming building recently.