The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-06
TuE RAILROAD INVESTIGATION.

The JOINT committee OF the L9gisla-
ture appointed to investigate the charges
for transportation upon, and other matters
in relation to, the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, met in the Capitol, in this city,
yesterday, and took the testimony OF
some of cur prominent business men.
The Committee will conclude the taking
of testimony at Clsrksburg on Tuesday
next, and meet sgain in this city at some
future day for the purpose Of completing
their report. The evidence taken at
Msrtinsburg, Keyser, Grafton and
Wheeling relates almost entirely to local
freights and determinations against the
people of this State. 1t was shown that
tor the transportation of coal from
Keyser aad Piedmont the same gross
amount is charged for car load TO
Msrtinsburg that is charged to Baltimore
and Harrisonburg, Va, although the
distance to each of the two latter
points is twice as far as
the distance to the former. Why
the citizens of Martinsburg, who live in
close proximity to the great coal fields OF
Piedmont, should be compelled TO pay
the same gross price for the coal they
consume that those who live twice as far
from the source of supply do, we con-
tess we are utterly unable TO compre'
bend.
Again it is shown that for car load
of corn of four hundred and eight bush
els, costing forty cents per bushel, the
shipper must psy for transportation from
Martinsburg to Baltimore the sum of
$4l, while the shipper IN Chicago can
send the same amount of bushels to Bal
timore, over the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad for a little less than $50.
For transporting furniture from Mari.
eta, Ohio, TO Keyser, West Virginis,
the company charge fOrty.three cents
per hundred pounds, while from Wheel
ing and ParkersbuTg to keyser they
charge for carrying the same class OF
goods 81 81 per hundred pounds. These
discrimiD atoms run through all classes OF
goods, yet not to so large an extent as
upon the last mentioned article.
At Grafton and Wheeling the same
state of facts appear to exist. We must
confess our utter inability to compre-
bend the policy of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad towards the citizens Of this
State. AS we stated in yesterdays REG
IsTER, we are convinced that the true
policy and path to prosperity OF this COM
pany would be in building up the inter-
esGs Of this State; in developing its
mighty resources, and uncOVerlng lis
hidden wealth. Can the company hope
TO reap prosperity from a country whose
people its enervates and impoverishes ?
1t is the boast of great arteries Of COM
merce, that they build up towns and
cities, and make them thriving hives Of
industry; that they cause the adjacent
bills and valleys to produce everything
that is calculated to promote mans pros
perity and happiness; but we should like
any one to tell US what cities and towns
this policy of the road has built up in
West Virginia? What industry has it
developed; and what community has it
made contented, prosperous and happy?
These are vital questions, and the people
of this State await with eager and anx-
lous hearts their answer. If no hope or
comfort is derived from the reponse, the
people will be compelled to take care
that their interests be preserved. The
Committee have done much already to-
wards remedying the evils complained
of by our people, and We are confident
that much more will be accomplished
through their efforts. We hope and
trust that the remedy may be thorough
and complete, as we believe that it viii
not only BRING prosperity to our people,
hut to the Baltimore and OHIO Railroad
also.