Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-04-20
The H. 4 o. H. X. investigation
The special legislative committee hal


closed it's labors in taking evidence Tor
the present, the last place of their sit.
ting being atClarkesburg on Tuesday OF
this week. At that place large mum
Der of business men reported TO the
committee, and the evidence taken was
ouite volunnous and important. The
one shameful fact is brought out promi-
nently, and it is supported by ample
evidence, that the whole policy OF this
road discriminates against the people
and the industries of West Virginia.
Goods are carried BY this corporation,
without regard to distance from any
point outside of West Virginia, TO any
point on the road in West Virginia, tor
less money than the same freight is car
ried like distance from one point to
another within the State, For instance
the Company charges greater sum to
carry freight from Petersburg to
! Clarksburg, (both these towns beng
within the State), than 1t charges Tor
carrying the same treig light from Marlet-
ia, Ohio, uia Parkersburg to Clarhs-
burg, or from Cincinnati to Clarksburg.
1t charges more for carrying articles OF
merchandise say from Moundsville to
Grafton than it does for carrying the
same freight from GAINESVILLE, or Mans
field, or even Chicago, uia Moundsvllle,
to Grafton.
On this point We present the sworn
testimony of Mr.. J, +, Osborn, OF
Clarksburg, which is, by the way, only
corroboratlve of the testimony OF all
the witnesses that were examined at
every point at which the Committee
sat. Mr., Osborn is in the foundry bus
mess at ClarkSburg, He said;
pay on iron from Baltimore 81 90 per
ton; from Wheeling So % per ton; from
Pittsburg So 90 per ton. On coke from
COnnelsville, Pa, $3S per car load. |
pay from Cincinnati on Rabbit metal 30
cents per hundred weight; from Wheel
ing here on Rabbit metal, IS cents; from
Pittsburgh, l pay on Rabbit metal 30
cents per hundred weight. geI freight
from McKecsport, Pa, for 30 cents per
hundred weight. The charge from
Wheeling TO this place on same class OF
lIClpuJ NOllO DC ISlltI'
The railroad company diScriminates so
against Wheeling that it amounts almost
to prohibitation to get goods from Wheel
ing, w. Va. The freights to this place
are lower from New York, Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Ohio, than from points III
our own State,
My freights from McKeesport, Pa, are
carried here via of Cumberland, over the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
If we had rates Of transportation such as
other States have our country would equal
Massachusetts in few years rs great
manufacturing State.
| have travelled great deal over the
United States, and have visited the thriv-
inc manufacturing sections of our coun-
try, and have not seen anywhere locall-
ty which affords greater natural facilities
for manufactures than West Virginia.
Thriving, industrious towns are spring
ing up on the lines OF railroads in the
North and West, while West Virginia,
with decidedly superior natural advan-
tageS, remains Stagnant and un0eYeloped.
This, | am confident, is caused principal
ly by the constant discrimination of the
baltimore and Ohio railroad against
manufacturers and shippers. In fact, the
Industries of the State are repressed by
this policy of the road. | am thoroughly
satisfied that if the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad would give the people of this
State fair and equitable rates OF freight
such rates as are conceded to thriving
localities in other States-WeSt Virginia
would be Il great manufacturing State;
her wealth would be developed, her pros
perity enhanced, and her position as Il
ilourishing, happy State would be secur-
ed.
AS we said in the opening Of this ar
ticle, the committee has now about
closed its labors in the way of taking
evidence, and we have it from autbOri
ty that can be relied on to the fullest
extent, that it will unanimously report
that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company have 10 authority, either VII
der their charter or the laws of West
Virginia, to charge any greater sum for
the transportation of persons or proper
ty from any point east OF Wheeling and
west of Uarper's Ferry to Baltimore, or
from Baltimore to any such point, than
they charge from Wheeling to 3alti-
more, or from Baltimore to Wheeling.
That is, the Company can III no case
charge a greater sum for short dis
lance than for the greater distance. If
tie Company charge poets per hundred
pounds from Wheeling TO Baltimore, 1t
cannot charge more than 20 cents per
hundred pounds from any other station
in West Virginia to Baltimore, or from
Baltimore to such station; or from
NNIo,t;nc. % from, Su,.l
station to Wheeling. We deem this
information to be of the highest impor-
lance to the people Of West Virginia,
especially as, under the charter OF the
Company and the laws of the State am
pie remedies against overcharges are
afforded to those aggrieved; and for
this reason We deem it wise 10 apprise
the public of the tenor of the forthcom-
ing report of the Commlttee.-U hfei-
ing Register.
E@- We wish to draw the particular
attention Of our readers to the facts con-
tanned in the last paragraph of the above
article by applying them to the part of
the 3. & o. Il. r. in this locality. 1t
is in direct and acknowledged violation
of the charter of this company to charge
higher rates of transportation from Bal
timore to North Mountain, Cherry Run
and Sleepy Creek, than from Baltimore
to Hancock, or higher rates from Balti-
more to Duffields and 10 Vancleyesville,