New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-21
Riabt OF Way In Observation-Disclosures and
Views of the West

! Riabt OF Way In PennsyIvaria-Posirion and
Views of the West
To Tie Editor of The Tribune:
In your last paper there is notice Of the scene
which occurred in our Legislature on the presenta-
zion of the resolutions Of the twenty Counties OF
Western and Southern Pennsylvania Oh the sobjeci
of the Right OF Way. AS i, is Tot, be expect
ed that the nature OF this question be correctly
understood beyond our State, reques; the pubIica-
ton Of the following matter OF information 10
your readers. It is not usual for half million OF
people occupying about twenty Counties, 10 be
greatly excited tcitkout some cause.
We claim the RICH, 10 go 10 market and 70 trade
10 any part OF the United States which may suit our
interest or convenience, whether i, be across the
State line TO NcwYork, TO Maryland, or Virginia
and. standing upon this right, we claim also q
right necessary legislation secure the mos;
venent and advantageous modes OF transport and
travel whether by TurDpkes or Railways. or by
the improvement Of our Rivers. This is denied Us
chiefly through the influence of Philadelphia which
takes the ground that have right 10 go on; OF
the State. if by doing so we may add TO the pros
perity of any city out Of the State although within
the United States We contend that for these pur-
poses State lines are OF no more importance than
County lines that is, they cannot under the Cons:
tuition, form any barriers or impedments to inter
course.
Blu, this is not all. In the particular of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company we place
our claim OF right on express compact. PenEsyiva-
MIA undertook make pensive Canal, benehting
The Middle and many of the Northern Counties at
the common ex pensc which the Southern and most
Of the Western Counties not only derived no lnme-
date benefit from it but were injured by rendering
their turnpike roads ofless vaae than before Now
4 tk 1910.
but 10 reconcile them it was agreed that the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company should be per
mitted TO have terminus at Chsmbersburgh. and
another al Pittsburgh. This was settled by solemn
resolutisn OF The Legislature, and an act IN par
suance Of that resolution was passed, authorizing
the baltimore and Ohio Company TO come into Penn
svlvania- Tnis preceded the passage OF the law
authorizing the construction of the Pennsylvania
Canal and was the consideration as respects the
Counties now claiming the Right of Way for the
Baltimore Company on which nat act cdS founded,
MS the following extracts from the record will
chow
Dec 18th, 1927, the following Resolution was
adopted
Whereas The State has adopted liberal and extensive
system Of Internal improvements and IS desirable thai
equal justce should shouid be done all the rtt:es
the local situation Of the State will admit and The
Southern part Of the S,Ge haze direct ocntR from
any constructing at present. Therefore
Rssolrsd That Committee be appointed 10 inquire
into The expedency Of bringing n bill authorizing Inc
Governor Of this Commonwealth to subscribe for stock
FROM time time may be directed by law to the Bal
tore Railroad half the amount that will be necesSar
ly expended in this Commonwealth on condition ina;
said Company shall agree make Chamoersourgh and
Pittsburgh. within the State points in said road This
adopted unanimously.
On the 2ist OF December II was again.
R,solued That a Committee be appointed. 10 inquire
into the expedency OF confirming the charter OF the bal
timsre and Ohio Railroad Company, and Of granting
free and unconditional puHssl0S TO that company 10
mako and the proposed Baltimore ana ODIO
Railroad through the territory OF Pennsylvania.
Mr. Alter moved TO amend the same BY striking Out
the words FREE and UNCONDITIONAL lnls was rejected
without a division.
An act was passed in pursuance OF these resolu-
tons on the 27th of February, 1928, with Pream-
BILE in accordance with these resolutions. And on
the cath of March, nearly month afterward the
act for the construction of the Pennsylvania Canal
was passed, proving clearly that the prior act was
the condition on which it was founded. Numerous
petitions had been presented from the Western
Counties, and among others, there Is the following
on the cath January:
"Mr Wilkins presenieda memorial from Committee
appointed by the citizens of Pittsburgh praying that the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company may be author
lied construct their contemplated road from Cum,
berand any other point without the State 10 the head
of the Ohio without annexirg any ether CONDITION ihan
that of keeping the road in repair
The act Of Feb 2s instead Of being free and mn
conditional required the execution OF the WORK 10 be
completed in fifteen gears When this Time ex-
PRED, before the Company reached Cumberland an
act was passed, but purposely clogsed With such
operous conditions as 10 render it impossible for the
Company to accept. An application made last
winter. by the people of the West, 10 procure some
reasonable modification, which was refused This
winter another attempt has been made ana Is the
cause of the present excitement In the meantime
Virginia has granted the right of way 10 Wheeling
through that Stale on the most liberal terms It's
now question between Pittsburgh and w hceiins'
which shall be the head of the Ohio navigation tor
il is evident that if the steamboats, which come up
the River meet the cars at Wheeling, for all pur-
poses Of trade that place will be the head OF naviga
ton Here is not only claim OF right on the part
of Pittsburgh but call for protection from CONNER
cal ruin On this plain statement OF facts, make
no comment, but leave il 10 any impartial man 10
say. tchether Pittsburgh and the Vest hare not
reason to stand on the ground OF right
II. NJ. BRECKENRIDGE.
Rarrisbursh, AprR ia, 1916.
Py~ Col T. L. MCKINNEY, of Brooklyn long Of
Al,.i trt1d p