The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-11-14
CheQntelligetrrer:
The D. & O. Railroad.

From the Chicago Tribune OF the i2th.l
The rumor that the Baltimore q Ohio
Railroad Company has so far departed
from the policy 1t has heretofore main
tanned, and Joined In what iG known as
the Saratoga combination, whereby all
the Eastern trunk railways fix an arbltra.
~ rate Of freight divisions with the west.
ern roads, has, to the relief Of the public,
been denied. No railroad has ever been
5r0ughtto the West under more favorable
circumstances than the Baltimore s. Ohio
Railroad, The people Of this city and OF
the whole Northwest have welcomed 1t
with no ordinary interest They have ad-
mired It's independence, and have antici-
psted the most beneficial results there
from. A direct trade with Baltimore has
been looked forward TO with the livliest
antiCipations, and, II that road main.
tains lis independent policy, there can
be no doubt that In five years the railroad
trade between Chicago and Baltimore will
surely equal any railroad trade that has
ever existed between Chicago and New
York. Last winter the road, though
lab0Ting under the disadvantage oil no
direct connection with this city, did an
immense transportation trade In grain to
Baltimore. It carried of the surplus re-
CelpIs reaching this city, and gave en-
plOyment 10 all Western roads during the
winter. All over the Northwest,
wherever there Is a point reached by rail,
the people are looking 10 the completion
OF the Baltimore s. Ohio Railroad with
hardly less anxiety than II there were no
other trunk line 10 the East. They are
waiting 10 ship all they have 10 send by
that road. 1t is unnecessary 10 argue the
effect Of this upon the trade Of Baltimore
with the West That city, as the future
atlantic port Of our foreign trade, Is al
ready iavorably and warmly anticipated.
The Baltimore s. Ohio Railroad has
commended itself to the people Of the
West because Of its past independent
policy and oil its ability to maintain that
independent policy. It's financial condi-
tiOn is such as 10 render 1t free from the
embarrassing necessities which control
other roads. It's capital stock Of only
fifteen millions, when cOntraSted with the
stock and bonds Of other trunk.roads ex.
ceed;ng an average Of hundred millions
Of dollars each, speaks volumes for the
honesty and fidelity Of its management.
Instead Of being embarrassed in lis con-
ditons, it has a surplus Of thirty millions
Of dollars Of accrued earnings. Under
these circumstances it has no occasion to
enter into alliances offensive or defensive
with any other trunk lines, as they are
not and cannot be its rivals; they are
50 heavily laden with debt and wGtered
stock that they cannot compete with q
route that owes no debt and has sur
plus OF means. 1t has the field pracli.
CAlly to itself. None Of these roads can
touch the trade 10 and from Baltimore
and the South, and why 1t should now,
on the opening Of its road to this city,
abandon its present policy and make mo.
nopOly terms with the more northern
routes, cannot be understood by the peo.
pie Of the West. The public will ej0ice
that there is no truth in all this, and that
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad will not
destroy the general feeling in It's favor by
entering into any combination with the
companies whose past management has
been so disastrous as 10 render cxtOrtion
matter OF necessity.