Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-05-29

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the time of its appearance in that journal.
We publish it to show our readers that there
are others who do not hold the Pennsylvania
Central IN better repute than we have been
want to hold it, and further, that there arc
other eyes directed to the route upon which
we are located. We have never been able to
understand why the Reading Railroad did not
make an effort to secure an outlet to the
West on this route. Perhaps this article
accounts for it.
According to the Railroad passenger
rates adopted by the last convention of
railroad officers in the United States, the
fare from Baltimore to Pittsburg Is $40 50.
From Baltimore to Wheeling $40 90. The
distance from Baltimore TO Pittsburg via
Harrisburg, is S34 miles; Baltimore to
| Wheeling, by same route, 425 miles; from
which it appears that Pittsburgher coming
home from Baltimore must pay 80 cents
more for travelling 81 miles less distance,
than the citizen of Wheeling. The Pennsyl-
vania Central Railroad and its connections
carry the Wheeling passenger at the rate Of
2.35 cents per mile If they could afford to
carry Pittsburgh passengers at the same rate,
the fare from Baltimore to Pittsburg would
be 81 81 instead Of SO so. At the same
rate, the fare from Philadelphia TO Pitts
! burgh would be s. 50 2instead Of Sll 90.
IF Philadelphian wishes to go to Wheel
ing by the direct route through Harrisburg,
he win travel % miles further than if be
started from Baltimore, and the cost of his
through ticket viii be SIS IS. Thus for the
- miles of additional distance he is compel
! led by the Pennsylvania Central Railroad TO
pay the sum of s. 45 IT, however, be
chooses to reach Harrisburg by way of BaIti-
more, he will travel s5 miles further, and the
cost win be as follows:
Philadelphia to Baltimore. 3 %
Baltimore 70 Wheeling. ...,... TO 90
| Philadelphia to Wheeling via Baltimore
and Harrisburg IL 70
These figures indicate that the railway Ia
cities Of Baltimore are decidedly superior to
those Of Philadelphia. and Wheeling 20 those
Of Pittsburgh and are but examples of a host
which might be adduced TO show that every
Eastern and nearly every Western city has
ike superiority in this particular over the
two which are supposed to constitute the
Eastern and Western termini Of the great
Pennsylvania Railway.
This state Of affairs has not been brought
about by the superior natural advantages of
any of our respective rivals. We make the
deliberate charge thai it is simply and solely
the result of the blind infatuation of the city
Of Philadelphia. Persuaded that corpora
ton, founded for her own safety, and erected
chiefly with her own money, would be devo-
ted primarily, if not exclusively, to the al-
yanceueut Of her prosperity as against that
of all other cities, her inference was eXerted
without hesitation or reserve to accomplish
every measure proposed for the advantage
Of the Pennsylvania Central Rail Road Com
pany. Every resistance to its encroachmeuts
which to the plain, common sense Of other
parts of the State seemed necessary to the
common interests Of the people, was overrul-
/ ed by Philadelphia influence The main line
of the State canals, which with their counec-
tions, the Portage and Columbia Railroads,
had been constructed at cost Of more than
$50. 600, 0O0-and which would to-day have
been worth more than the original cost-was
given to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
for q song to be blotted from the map Of the
Common wealth. The tonnage tax, which
had already amounted to nearly S300,O00 and
would have now been three times that sam
per anuum, was repealed.
The Philadelphia and EFis roed-in which
the city Of Philadelphia had SO largely invest
ed and which with the aid extended by the
State Legislature ought to have been com
pleted and maintained as au independent en-
terprise-was suffered to go into the hands Of
the favored corporation, already gigantic in
lis power. Every measure proposed by the
company was advocated by Philadelphia on
faith. When the Atlantic and Great w estern
Railroad desired to extend its broad guage
track to Philadelphia-her lawyers. her judg
es. her Legislators. were In the fore front of
lbe battle waged against it by the great mo-
nopoly.
When the Couuellsville Railroad was about
to be completed her legislators chiefly pro
cured the passage of the Infamous act which
repealed for a time the charter of that com
pauy. In short Philadelphia inHuence
auointed and crowned the Pennsy Jgauia
Railroad Company, King Of the Common
csalfh.
Aud how has the king ruled for Pbila-
delphia interests? BY uniformly djscrial-
mating against Ter and her natural oHy
Plas5uga. The oil trade furnishes striS
/ ing illustration. Pittsburgh was its natural
refinery" and Philadelphia its true market
and shipping port The Pennsylvania Com
/ pany. as transporter, holds the business with
/ in its grasp. Instead Of drawing it gently to
/ Philadelphia, the company tightened its
( greedy clutch upon the trade, SO that more
than half Of the refining business to escape
| straugulation rushed of TO Clcyelaud-iifty
miles further from coal, l30 miles westward
from the oil wells, and $50 miles further from
the seaboard a. any point than Pittsburgh.
/ As a consequence, the greater part OF the
petroleum is shipped to foreign countries
from the port Of New York.
| Byseisiag pith ari3ay sreyy opportunity
/ 10 earn trade around her or array from
her lrhicb presents ttss.f, as in the Allen
town route to New York The through
trains between New York and the West
touching Philadelphia as a way station on
/ the great Metropolitan route. The newly
perfected cheap and quick line from Chica-
go to Baltimore via the Philadelphia and
/ Erie and Nothern Central Roads. The
/ conniyauce With the latter to Dive to Bal
timore the trade of one Of the best regions
I in the State, and in other cases which the
( Philadelpbians can specify.
( By using ereyy means, fair or foul, to pre-
cent The construction 2f any Railroad lead-
ing togards Philadelphia, and eray msa-
sure ,ohick lrol,ld tend to ljbeyats her from