Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-04-12

y trdnsitis more important than the cost
IF transportation. .s
The m"jorlty Of the committee assume,
that this railroad II completed to Pits
burg, would become aformii liable compe
tutor To our Pennsylvania canal. and con-
sequenlly, seriously deprccia,o the value
of our public works.
The minority however believe that IL
the correct policy is pursued in The mans
agem,n of our public works-and the
Pennsylva canal is made the cheapest
route 10 the Eastern market, and thus
give II the business to which II Is le5,,>
mately enti,led;: then the canal need ma,
fear the composition ofthe railroad. Ca
nails and railroads are in no proper sense
con- pstitors-,he former il designed for
SLOW and cheap transportation, The latter
tT rapid ind costly transit In Great
Britain. on all the principal lines OF trade
they run side by side. each engaged in its
appropriate trade. anil after years OF COM
petition the canal is found To retain iour-
6iihs of he trade. Ia the Stale Of New
York, whose pubic works are better
managed than in any other State ia the
| Union, she has chartered and has in ac-
tive operation n line of railroads from Al
bany 10 Buffa'o. running tn great extent
along the bank Of the canal. She has
again chartered her New York and Erie
railroad company through the southern
counties Of the State She has permitted
the Great Western railroad company Of
Boston, TO tap hor public works mt A lbany
and vet her canal is not ruined, on tie
contrary its Business is increasing every
,k,. L..
as with individuals. competition Is the life
Of trade; competition cheapens trans or-
ta;ion, this increases tonnage, gives ac,iv-
ity to business, and if we try the experts
meni, the Pennsylvania canal will do
more business nuder the new system than
il ever did under the old. Ohio has pur.
sued the same policy--shc has a State
canal from the Ohio river TO Like Erie
; and yet she has chartered at least two
railroad companies to construct railroads
from the Lake to the river. Maryland
has the Chesapeake and Ohio canal run,
, ming size by side with the Baltimore anc
Ohio railroad. The minority OF you,
committee can therefore see nothing il
the nature OF th:ngs-nor yet in The expe
rience Of other countries or Of oihe
States. To justify this alarm in regard ts
the injury likely to ensne 10 our publ,
works. And ifthere is any place in this
W de world where su:h com, setition shoul,
not be feared, it certainly is a canal ant
railroad connecting the Ohio river will
the markets of The eastern cities. II b,
: healih!ul competition, you make thi
Pennsylvania route the cheapest route
we may have ten times the amount O
> travel and transportation which we nov
: have
We have before spoken OF the amour
. OF agricultural productions oil the Yves,
let us now inquire in regard to Wes,er!
travel. The Mississippi valley now con
, iilcs population Of $500 G0o, and be
tore this road will be completed will con
. tain 10, possibly $4,000 600 Of inhabn
ants. And yet this immense populate
E M. not s,ngle railroad. to connect he
rvry GHg, layer 6HH e SSfiias S"
) the i'i-"'ie States. hasils railroad. An
yet the minority of this COMMITTEES appea
: unwilling TO permit Piilsburg 10 mike
railroad ut her swn cost 10 The Easter,
clues. The west, by means Of its fin,
! niv'gablc rivers, possesses great advan.
: 'ages to travel. Now, can il b cxpec,c,
that men who have been accustomed -,
travel on their rivers ur the rate Of .weot,
miles per hour, will volun arily come Il
point on heir Eastern i,urney--rrou
! which they will have to be joted on ,
turnpike or fioatcd on a canal ut IN. rat,
OF 10 miles per hour. What Then
must be the effect, it we force this railroa,
10 terminate at Wheeling or Parkersburo
: All the Western travel will inevi,ahiy
'ake That route. SeveRi railroads now
projected from the Lakes are only waiine
u see where this terminus i. to bc-,e
connect with it llfhese railroads com.
10 f.usonrg. they will bring passengers
and freight TO the Western end of our ca :.
nal. IL however the terminus is in Vir.
6 ma, oil these railroads mus, centre tbcro.
all The travel and large portion Of the
freight will seek that route To make,
Inc States OF Maryland, Virginia, Ohio.
and Kentucky all Interested i'm this rou,e
VIII al once combine to prevent appropri.
a''ons on the pnri OF the national govern.
ment TO improve The Ohio river abov. IN.
terminus OF this raiifoad. Then indeed
VIII The main artery which feeds your en-
maj be blocked up. Then may tho grass
ne seen 10 grow in The streets of Pit,sauro
a'oo9 the tow path Of your canal and
me small pitiance Of toll VIC mpy receive
WIN scarcely pay the off ;ers along the
''ne OF our public improvements.
D"t the majority of the committee as.
s'ne as the basis Of their report, iba, un.
'ess 'h's permission is given by Pennsv;.
van'n, ms railroad will no, be made %
'ne ONO The min ,rity cannot bclievs
lhn' any man who bns carefully watched
,ne movements Of this company for the
'as' lew years who has seen the pol;cv
adopted Of retaining in the adm;nis,r,,;y,
department Of its afTiirs, the very hiphesI
'aIeEt ut tho country; who inte;liuen,ly
understand IN; difficulties they have en-,
counlered IN reaching Cumberland: who