Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-08-12
Railroad Meeting.

gust 9th.
On motion of Geo. ". Eichelberger, COL R.
w. BAYLOR was called to the Chair, and BENZ.
F. BEALL appointed Secretary.
On assuming the chair, Col. Baylor briefly
explained the object of the meeting, which he
stated to be the appointment of committee,
to act in conjunction with a committee ap-
pointed by a meeting held in Shepherdstown,
whose object was conference with the Direc-
tors and Engineers of the Cumberland Valley
Railroad, at meeting to be held at an early
day at Williamsport, Nd.
w. H. Travers, Esq, said that in order to
get the subject fully before the meeting, he
would move the appointment of committee
of three, to prepare and report resolutions set
ting forth in an explicit form the objects of the
meeting, and expressive Of the sense Of the
community in regard to the proposed extern
sion.
The motion prevailed. and the chair appoint
cd MeSsrs. w. II. Travers, Andrew Hunter and
Daniel B. Lucas, to constitute the committee.
After short retirement, the committee re-
turned to the meeting, and submitted the fol-
lowing report, which was adopted
WHEREAS. 1t is announced to be the inten-
ton Of the Cumberland Valley Railroad to ex-
tend its line from Hagerstown to the Potomac
river, and thence southerly through the Valley
of Virginia by the most practicable lne to
some point on the East Tennessee and Virgin
ia Railroad:
And Whereas, 1t is believed that on proper
representation to the said company Of the great
advantages of a route in almost direct line
from Hagerstown through this county, over
any other that could be named, would lead the
said company to the adoption of the said route.
Therefore
Resolred, That 4 committee Of ten be APP
pointed to attend meeting of the Directors of
the Cumberland Valley Railroad which it is
understood is soon to be held at Williamsport,
Maryland, to consider the subject referred to ;
that said committee collect such facts and pre-
sent them to the said meeting as they may
deem important to lay before it, and such as
would tend to induce action by the said Direc-
tors favorable to the line proposed and that
they urge said company 10 send its engineers
10 survey the route herein suggested for the To-
cation of the said extension.
9. ReSolrea. That we cordially invite and
urge the Cumberland Valley road, and those
sustaining it to carry forward to a speedy con-
summation the projected enterprise, promising,
as we do, to afford it every facility in our pow
er, it being the unanimous opinion of this
meeting that such a work would inure greatly
to the benefit of the people of the country
through which it will pass and yield most
profitable return for the capital invested in it.
s. Resolved, That the foregoing committee
be requested to cooperate with a similar COM
mittee appointed by the citizens of Shepherds
town, on Saturday last.
In compliance with the first resolution, pro-
viding for a committee of ten, the chair APP
pointed the following gentlemen:
w III. Travers. Andrew Hunter ID. &. Lucas,
A. r H. Ranson, c. II. McCurdv, j. Law. Hooh,
G. w Eiehelberger, II. b. Davenport, j. b.
McElrov. DR.. J. V. Simmons.
Mr.. Hunter stated that if the meeting at
Williamsport was to be held on Saturday, the
7th, professional engagements would prevent
his attendance. and on notion Thos G. Green,
Esq, was substituted in place Of Mr.. II.
On motion the chairman of the meeting, Col.
Robt. W Baylor, was added to the delegation.
Daniel B. Lucas, Esq. appointed at a pre-
vious meeting to collect some facts in regard 10
the charges on freight and travel on the Balt-
more & Ohio Railroad, submitted the follow
ing report:
REPORT OF MR.. LUCAS.
Being called upon by an informal meeting
in the office of VIM. II. Travers, Esq, to pre-
sent to this meeting some facts in regard to the
abuse by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Of
the monopoly of transportation which it enjoys
from, to, and through this portion of the Valley
of Virginia, have collected few facts which
beg leave to submit:
/. Discrimination AgdjRSt tbs TGlley IN It's
Rates Of Toll:
The charge for one first-class ticket from
Baltimore to HarperS Ferry, say eigbty-two
miles is three dollars, while from Baltimore to
Winchester, one hundred and thirteen miles,
the charge is four dollars aud seveuty-fve
cents; the rate on the main stem being 8 &C
100 cents per mile, and that on the Winchester
and Potomac branch Ga 100 cents, or nearly
t,ro cents more per mile. The same inequality
is observable in freight Take for example
Cal The charge per ton from Cumberland
to Baltimore is 81 55 from Cumberland to
Winchester, fifty-One miles nearer, the charge
is the same; while the charge to CharleStown,
which is twenty-five miles nearer than Win
chester, aud seventy-three miles nearer than
Baltimore, is S3.05 per ton. Finally, the
charge on Anthracite Coal from Baltimore to
Charlestown distance Of, say ninety-one miles,
aud less than half the distance from Cumber-
land to Baltimore, is IS 30 per ton. Tie same
unjust discrimination is observable in the trans
poItatiOn of produce, which by the carload
may be transported Iom Winchester TO Balti-
more lllS miles, for thirty cents per hundred
pounds, while from Winchester to HarperS
Ferry l8l niles the charge is twelve cents per
hundred, and to intermediate points on the
stem at the same rate The freight from
Wheeling to Baltimore is tbirty-fve ceats per
hundred, while from Wheeling to Winchester
it is seventy cents, and from Baltimore to VIM
chester thirty-two cents: thus making it f,co
cents per hundred cheaper 10 ship freight
from Wheeling 20 Winchester RIA Baltimore
than By the direct route oreT the same road
2. ViolationS Of their Charter by Tie BALI
more and Ohio Road
In buying out the Winchester and Potomac
road. the Baltimore and Ohio Company are of
course bound by the provisions and restric-
tons of the charter under which the former
road was incorporated. Upon examining their
charter, Virginia Acts of Assembly 1881
page 1877, find the following provision:
act Of Incorporation, passed April sh 1881.
SEC. Is. So soon as a section of ten miles
of the said road shall be completed and as Of
ten thereafter as any other section of the like
length shall be completed, the said President
aud Directors shall transport all produce or
other commodities that shall be deposited con-