The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1872-01-11
RAILROADS.


RAILROADS.
The importance of wise legislation
on the subject of railroads, in a State
having the geographical position
which belongs to Ohio, cannot be
Over-estimated. The greater part of
the trade and travel between the
commercial and manufacturing
States of the East and the agricultur-
al States of the West, and Of the
business of the continental railways
which connect the Atlantic and Pa
cific Oceans, passes over the railroads
of this State. Fourteen years ago,
Governor Chase, speaking of the
railroads of Ohio, said "This vast
interest, affecting vitality so many
other interests, has grown suddenly
to its present dimensions without
system, without general Organiza-
ton, and, in some important re-
spects, without responsibility" Then
the railroads of the State carried an
nually about a million of passengers,
and their gross receipts were about
six millions of dollars a year. Last
year they carried twelve millions of
passengers, and their gross receipts
exceeded thirty millions of dollars.
All of the just powers Of the cor
porations which conduct this I'M
mense business are derived from the
laws of the State. If these laws fail
to guard adequately the rights and
interests of our citizens, it is the du-
ty of the General Assembly to sup
ply their defects. Serious and we'll
grounded apprehensions are felt that
in the management of these compa-
nies, which are largely controlled by
non-residents of Ohio, practices not
sanctioned by law, nor by sound
morality, have become common,
which are prejudicial TO the interests
of the great body of the people, and
which, if continued, will ultimately
destroy the prosperity of the State.
Regarding railroads as the most
useful instrumentality by which in-
tercourse is carried on between diff
ferent sections of the country, the
people do not desire the adoption OF
a narrow or unfriendIy policy toward
them. But it should be remember
ed that these corporations were ere
ated and their valuable franchises
granted by the Legislature to pro-
mote the interests of the State. No
railroad company can sacrifice those
interests without violating the law
of its origin. 1t is not to be doubted
that the authority of the General
Assembly is competent to correct
whatever abuses have grown up in
the management Of the railroads OF
the State.
The late Commissioner of Rail-
roads and Telegraphs, in his last
able and valuable report, directs at
tention to large number of what he
terms "clear and palpable violations
of law" by railroad companies,
which are of frequent occurrence.
In relation to the rates prescribed
by law for the transportation of per-
sons and property he says "There
is not a railroad operated in the
State, either under special charter or
the general law, upon which the law
regulating rates is not in some way
violated nearly every time a regular
passenger, or freight, Or mixed train
passes over it."
AS to the laws regulating the oc-
cupation of streets and alleys by
railroad tracks, the speed of loco
motives in towns and cities, and
railroad crossings, he says that stat
utes which he regards as wholesome
are, sit is notorious, wholly ignored
by some companies, and only par.
TALLY Obeyed by Others"
He quotes the laws fOrbidding
railroad officials from being interest.
ed in fast freight, express and trans
porLatiOn companies, and from deal