Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-04-13


Joint Committee of the Legislature,
consisting of President D. d. johnson
and Z. T. Butler on the part of the
Senate, and John A. Robinson, j. Z.
johnson and Robert Lowe on the part
of the House of Delegates, appointed to
investigate the charges for transporta-
ton upon, and other matters in relation
to, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
met il the Capitol, in this city, yester-
day, and took the testimony OF some OF
our prominent business men. The Com
mittee will conclude the taking Of testi-
mony at Clarksburg on Tuesday next
aud meet again in this city at some fu-
ture day for the purpose of completing
their report. The evidence taken at
Martinsburg, Keyser, Grafton and
Wheeling relates almost entirely to To-
cal freights and determinations against
the people of this State. 1t was shown
that for the transportation of coal from
Keyser and Piedmont the same gross
amount is charged for car load TO
Martinsburg that is charged to Balti-
more 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 Mar
tinsburg, 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 confess We
are utterly unable to comprehend.
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 pay for transportation
from Martipsburg 10 Baltimore the sum
of Sal, while the shipper in Chicago
can send the same amount of bushels to
Baltimore, over the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad for little less than $50.
For transporting furniture from Ma
rietta, Ohio, to Keyser, West Virginia,
the company charge forty-three cents
per hundred pounds, while from Wheel
ing and Parkersburg to Keyser they
charge for carrying the same class Of
goods sl.37 per hundred pounds. These
determinations 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
Register, we are convinced that the true
policy and path to prosperity OF this
company would be in building up the
interests Of this State; in developing its
mighty resources, and uDcovering its
hidden wealth. Can the company hope
to reap prosperity from country whose
people it 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
prosperity 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 ca
ger and anxious hearts their answer. II
no hope or comfort is derived from the
response, the people will be compelled
to take care that their interests be pre-
served. The Committee have done
much already towards 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 will not only bring pros
perity to our people, but to the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad also.-UheeE
ing Register.