Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-01-31
Froa the Winehssier Repa5Eoaa.
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAN.
ROAD COMPANY.

Froa the Winchester RepuSloaa
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAN.
ROAD COMPANY.
Mr. EDiroR-The time has arrived " hen AZ be-
comes the citizens of Western Virginia TO exa-
mime how far the Baltimore and OHIO Railroad
company, which has been endowed with char
tered privileges by this State, has fulfilled the OBJ
Iccis OF It's incorporation. The original charter
oil the company IN ls27 was confirmed by vir-
gina promptly, and 1t the last session of the L.
eisiaiurc upwards Of one million Of dollars was
farther appropriated for the purposes OF the Com
pahy' And we have been advised Nv the late
report OF President McIane that II il the settled
policy of the Beard vi Directors to run their read
one hundred miles farther within the Limits of
ms state, and 10 present other and Increasing
claims on the legislature at It's approaching
session. Under these circumstances il cannot b..
deemed ofhcious freely 10 discuss the policy of
extending farther privileges to n foreign corpora
lion, living beyond the jurisdiction OF the State
and either really or practically irresponsible to
her judicial tribunals. IL II a remarkable fact
that although this corporation has nj three differ
"ht times applied TO the Legislature Of virginia
Tor The and OF her legislation;-frst in ls27 when
the charter aS granted By the State of MARYLAND
was confirmed with a few slight mod lc atoms
secondly, IN 1897, when the sum OF three hum
drcd and two thousand one hundred dollars was
appropriated by the State 10 the uses of the Com
Pany and again IN 1888 when the sum of one
million and hfiy eight thousand four hundred
aud twenty dollars was again appropriated for
iheir benefit yet has tins Company never been
pm, under any Terms which would render IL COM
pulSory ON them TO meet the trade and travel
brought tn the hnc OF their road. Even when
PERMISSION was granted TO IL TO purchase part
oil the Winchester and Potomac Rai-Road the
compulsory obligation in the charter Of this lat
Ter Company 10 carry oil all the trade and travel,
was modified in these worcs-"A nd the said Rail
:" timorc and Ohio Railroad Company shall at
all Tunes afford, at the point where the roads
" OF The respective companies may unite, such
equal and ready transportation furnished gen.
sraiis orer th<ir road" Nay, although Virginia
passed. IN 1897, general law To operate on ali
railroad companies which might thereafter be
chartered IN the State. yet in 1885 when more
Than million NJ dollars was subscribed TO the
baltimore and Ohio Railroad COMPANY, and
The time 10 construct their road, which had near
~ expired under the act Of 1927. was extended
was Tins same Company exempted by express le-
Pislation from The operation Of this general law
except as To one section, which provide for the
transportation of the mail" aud the "taxation
al It's stock, property, and profits" Isayit Is a
remarkable fact, that although thiS Company has
80 often appealed 10 our Legislature for aid and
although every charter Of every railroad CON-
pany IN the state contains CLAUSE compelling
the companies 60 meet all the trade and travel ON
The line of their respective roads. vet has the
Baltlmcre and Ohio RAILROAD Company been
permitted 10 reoslvc and TO hold chartered privi-
icges-'o run over the whole width Of the State
10 seiZc, Occupy. condemn, and appropriate to
Ms own uses, the land Of our citizens-nay, viz
tuaily To tax the whole State by the large appro-
pTlaitonS made for Us bcneiIi-withOut any cor
responding chartered obligation on its part 10 re-
spond 10 the commercial necessities Of the coun-
Try through which II passes II may veil nc
doubted whether this u not extending the hospi-
taliy OF The Old DomInIoa To a suicidal length.
Ia the year 1899, The Baltimore and Ohio Rail
Road Company applied TO Congress for-aid ~
The construction Of lis road to the Ohio. and a
Committee of that body reported favofably 20
the object OF the Company. From That repor-
- tie following extract In examining TIE
" charter Of the 1alI-Iioad Company. the com
" rniice arc aware that the provision prohibiting
any other company OF person from travelling
upon or using any of the roads Of the Compa-
~ Without ITS license seems 10 render II OBJ
- noxious 10 the charge of close monopoly"
This committee subsequently, say. that "fhe in
" tcresi OF the Company will at all times lie best
sul~erVed by consulting that % the people -
" Time and experience will disclose the method
by which the great and paramount interests of
The community can be most ehectuaily SUBJ
" sefvcd. and there can be no doubt that fhe
same patriotic views which prompted tbis un-
deuakng viii lead 70 the adoption Of such r..
% guiaionS a. shall prove best calculated % So
cure safe, cheap, and speedy eommunica-
I" ton"
~, thru. this Company have the power 81 ron.
sifuctDg ~ road from The seaboafd 30 the Ohio
and Of appropuanh- he sot Of this Siate 10 "a,
own use iii u have the exclusive use 81 fhs
road when constructed, aud IS under no charter
81 obligation a. carry all the trade aud naye
which may b. rendered. lift NAV decline surne
and receive others. and selrct between ala
necessary result h0WiDy lfom the atseucr Of any
compulsory obligation "a take ali--lhcn. indeed
The words II the Committee II Congress. i,
81 "cioS- monopoly "a monopoly compared
with which the " Monster shoe features f1rs
shocked ~ large portion Of ihls Union, - a
beauty. Tho "pafrioiism" of The Compau,
WHICH the Committee II Congress trusted woul,
lad 70 TIE adoption % such regulations a. woulg
prove bess calculated % secure q safe, cheap
and speedy cYnnsnnication," would hardly sccu
sufficient guaranty 70 justify the appropriation
q mdliOa q dollars, and she ebdowmcnt d
such exclusive privileges as are almosi odious
go sequcsicung, condcmning. and appiopfiatini
ne land ~ our ciiikcns 70 their use a. a corpo
raiiou Tins patriotism may result IN being
PATRIOTISM which Vili accommodate The trade d
ihs lover end q the foad--lhe trade q Mary
iand.-and leave Virgins 10 reap the fruits 81 he
own shos,-sighied policy. am no Zoe 70 cor
Posanons ~ their places ] think them useful
Necessary. Indispensable; bat have no faith u
tnef paifiotisuA They are without souls, an,
consequently without sympathieS. TheY are 3
snoNn only b. theu chaFters--to b. govern
81 only BY their bond N hey intend 10 40 IA
Hhtch - n1cFaliv ckiieasrrw - sl~~~ A. Ia