The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-01-18
The Air Line Rail Road.


the prnjsc, remained in abryancc, but
now We are glad to see the matter lias ta-
ken tangible shape, and prospects warrant
us in expecting early action on the part
Of Congress looking to The establishment
Of this road, Any ono acquainted with
the interests Of the West, must be aware
Of its great nj cessity and utility to that
section, as it would, when completed, be
the nearest and shortest line to the Tide
Water, and would consequently be the
great thoroughfare Of trade and travel,
10 US. in West Virginia, particularly this
portion Of the State, such road would
he Of almost inca!culablc benefit. 1t
would at onoc open up,lhe whole central
portion of the State, giving US an outlet
for our surplus crops and iuexLaustiblc
field. ofmincrals and would be the opening
Of new era Of prosperity TO our people,
This subject is now before Congress in the
shape Of bill granting Congressional
aid to the Company, aud has been laid be-
lore the House aud recommended in an
able aud exhaustive report by Mr.. Wash
burne, Of Illinois, recommending its pas
sage. Senator Sherman, Of Ohio, is
among its waImest friends, and in the
course Of an able speech on the subject a
few days since, he said: ~ u. g.g
The sbill,Y proposed to charter
three railroads-one from Westinghouse
New York, one from Washington 10
Pi,tsburg. and one from Washington to
Ciaeinuati:c Tue questions to be cousil-
cred in connection with this bill were:
first, the necessity for such new roads;
aud second. the extent Of the power Of
Congress over existing railroads, aud 10
authorize the construction Of new roads
Iu regard to; the first question, j, was a
remarkable fact ibut the only access from
the North, East, or West, to The national
capitol is By one Railroads. branch Of
ths Baltimore aud Obi, roi,road--a Ma.
ryiaInd corporation. No other town in
the country Of the size, Or near the size
Of Washington was without com netting
lines; and thiis was vas all the more remark.
able When il va. remembered that Wash.
iupton is the capitol Of mutton Of thirty.
six millions Of people, md the seat If ali
the rreat departments Of the General
Government. Congress having exclusive
control over the affairs Of the District,
had corresponding uuiic., one Of which
might reasonably be claimed to be to pro.
vide Tor citizens Of tue District caual
commercial aud travelling facilities viii,
the people ofotl,er like places. This duty
was not discharged while the 5pcopie Of
Washington we're loft depcplent upou n
branch Of the Baltimore aud Ohio rail.
roud "a great foreign CORPORATION having
in.e. est, opposed to theirs. and being en-.
,ircly beyo.,d their control. II would be
natural that dissatisfaction should arise,
from The fact that this CORPORATION l,a,l
monopoly of railroad transit 10 and from
Washington. even if it we're content with
a fair pl oft upon lis investment, i: bat sucl,
was not the case A careful examination
would show that the Washington braipc,,
of the road Welded Il profit grossly out Of
proprotion to its cost. That branch was
ouly thirty u,ile. long. extending from,
Washington to the RELAY House. and the
report to. / Sj5 showed its gross earnings
that year to have been S0l6,2S7-ovcr
$50, 900 mile. During the same year
tue EXPENSES Of operating It was ayG5 /.
994--lcayinr a balance of 1850 .!J03 MS
the profit on thirty miles Of ra;lroad for /,
vcar II.hnd uoi s.,,, any s,,,,,.,t os
the cost Of con.truc.in. The road bu,
from the comparatively easy Crude, and
the absence Of engineering difficulties he
thought it could not have be en- more than
$50, 0OU1 per nile; so that the annual
profit was about thirty.four pe- cent, uu,,,
its estimated cost. This profit wys diyi.
ded between the stockholders and ,bc
State Of Nlarvlaud aud. in fuct. the Who'll,
policy and inanureueu, of tie corpora.
ton were shaped, first. to serve its own
interests; second, 10 serve the interest, Of
Baltimore and build il up; and, tLird. IA
serve tic interest, of MARYLAND, He did