The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-14
Mr.. Johnson Called to Task Concern
ing His Philippe on the Bridge

Mr.. johnson Called to Task Concern
ing His Philippe on the Bridge
Company.
Editors of the Register:
The incendiary tone of the editorial |
article of the last issue Of the Sunday |
paper, must have been written with as |
little regard for reason and truth, with |
the hope of catching the popular ear, as
were the asperslons on the "Gas Trust
ees" several weeks ago, and which,
"boomerang"-like, kicked much further
backward than forward. The per-
version or williul ignorance of
facts which are heralded
10 the public by this would
be manufacturer of the opinion is NOR
ally reprehensible, if not legally indicta-
| bic, and will have the effect of intimida-
ting capitalists from investing their funds
in any Improvements, where they can
be attacked by impecunious and ire
sponsible parties, who by force of cir
cumstances, succeed in abusing power
that they have not got the sense and
disernment to understand respect.
This time the bridge company is the
object of his unreasonable attack and
why? Because large num-
Der of Island citizens are
properly opposed to paying tax to pass
TO and from their homes within the city
limits. This condition of affairs is not
the fault of the bridge company; it ia the
fault of the city, which ought, by right,
to own the bridge and charge but NOM
inal toll, not only to citizens, but to all
who travel thereon Sufficient, say, to pay
for wear and tear. The stockholders
placed their money in this enterprise
when it was considered extremely haz.
srdous and poor investment, and
when very few citizens, who
had the capital, would touch it; and they
had good cause to thus consider it, for
the elements once blew it down, entail
ing great loss to its owners, and not I'M
til these last few years, with the increase
of ira: eel and population, has 1t paid a
fair interest on the Investment. The
time was when the stock was considera-
bly, below par, and ut recent sale of
some shares it hardly touched par. Such
is the fear that people have that tornado
in spite of its present strength to resis
the winds, may dash the superstructure
to atoms and leave only the bare but
ments and towers as legacy on which
another bridge might be erected by pri
vate capital and after short period an
other howl be raised by some incendiary
and crazy writer that it is about time
that ''these caterpillers that feed upon the
common wealth" should be weeded out.
The bridge company have never paid
on their capital stock u dividend of over
eight per cent per annum, sum that
any fair minded person knows is but rea-
s)nabe on all investment when no risk
is run from the elements.
The street railway, the banks, and all
successful corporations, rarely, if ever,
pay less than 10 per cent to their stock
holders, and yet no cry is raised against
their extortlons. And it may be noted
that the city railway and banks are cor
porations who make their profits rs does
the Bridge Company, viz: extorting an
excessive fare from travellers, or high
rate of interest from depositors, all of
whom are enerally citizens.
The Board Of Directors of the Bridge
Company propose to exact only an eqnit-
able return IRON the travel over their
bridge for the investment. Even now
they have in contemplation reduction
in tolls which they propose shall go into
effect as soon as the debt, contracted for
improvements made three years ago. is
eNpunged.
In conclusion, if the city at any time
wants this toll on part of her citizens
abolished, as by right it should be, the
remedy is in her hands, to-wit: Buy
the bridge, or assess the community TO
pay for the free Use OF the bridge to its
citizens. If it had invested the amount
In purchasing the suspension bridge that
was squandered in building the p. w.
& X. railroad, we might be travelling to-
day over it free of cost. In the mean
time, l would suggest to the Sunday
martyr to write his leaders within the
bounds of proprety and sense, and not
attempt, without good cause, to prcju-
dice his readers against either an individ-
al or corporation.
A FRIEND OF JUSTICE AND OF THE
| COMPANY.
! PERsoNAL.-Eldcr Ball ought TO sue