The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer

THE STATE LINE ROAD.
A Word in Favor of the Short Creek Route to Wheeling.

To the Editor of the Intelligencer.

Sir:—Great interest is being manifested in the construction of the State Line railroad by the people of this neighborhood, and also by the citizens of West Liberty and vicinity. Of course, the general desire is that the proposed road should run from Bethany via West Liberty down Short creek to Wheeling instead of from Bethany via Wellsburg to your city. I interviewed a number of the prominent citizens, who live along the route named last week and found them all practically unanimous in favor of the Liberty and Short creek line.

Mr. J. B. Shannon said "that the line named would open up one of the richest and most densely populated farming sections of West Virginia. With the proposed road in operation, thousands of bushels of grain would be sent to market and many rich coal fields would be tapped. In fact, a railroad up Short Creek to Bethany would open inexhaustible coal lands. Another thing: the distance from Bethany to Wheeling by this route would be about the same as from Wheeling to Wellsburg by the other route, thus saving the distance from Bethany to Wellsburg. Then, too, the whole of this Short Creek and Liberty route would open up a country now almost undeveloped, while the route from Bethany to Wellsburg runs through a country already well supplied with railroad facilities. Again: the right of way for the Liberty and Short Creek route could be secured for almost nothing, while the same privilege for the Wellsburg route would cost a large sum of money. If it cost say $35,000 per mile to build the road and the distance by the Liberty and Short Creek line is seven miles shorter, it would save just $245,000, which in addition to the cost of securing the right of way would not be short of $300,000 in favor of the Liberty and Short Creek line."

Mr. M. Waddle thought "that as the county had refused to take the $100,000 stock" asked by the company for the Wellsburg route, it would be well to canvass the chances and advantages of a route from Bethany via Liberty and Short Creek. The right of way, he said, for the proposed road could be secured for very little, and the line would be of inestimable value to Ohio county and to Wheeling. It would develop many new industries. Farmers living along the line would find a market for all their products. Besides the coal interests would be very great. Coal could be put on the cars at Bethany and Short Creek for from 75 to 80 cents per ton, and delivered in Wheeling at a cost not to exceed $1.25 per ton. The road is a necessity and should by all means be built."

Other practical farmers whom I interviewed expressed similar opinions, thus showing that the feeling for the projected road is practically unanimous.

SAM. J. BECK.

Shannon, W. Va., February 12.