The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-15

primarily 10 the freight received by In
baltimore 4 Ohio Railroad from the Obi,
river, or from any transportation com
pany, individual, or corporation beyont
the Ohio river. II that section can beaI
any other construction, for the lie Of mI
cannot make II harmonious with good
common sense. As / said before, Wliat
could be the possible object; Of what ben
eht wonld this provision be to the people
Of West Virginia, 10 make the rates from
the local stations, or small stations, such a.
there are on the Ohio river outside Of the
city Of Wheeling the governing rate to and
from Wheeling2 y
There is no station which has trade
that would entitle It to the consideration
which must be placed on the point desig.
mated In this bill. The object OF the con.
struction OF the railroad was not 10 reach
the freight OF West Virginia or Wheeling,
but 10 reach the Western trade. That
western trade must necessarily be derived
from the Ohio riveror from line OF trans.
portation beyond the Ohio river. The
facts are that when this road was opened
there was no railroad beyond tho Ohio
river My recollection Is, although have
not been ableto refer 10 the data, that the
Central Ohio Railroad was in cortempla.
ton before the Baltimore and Ohio Rail.
road was opened to the city Of Wheeling,
The proposition was discussed through
the public prints that the Central Ohio
Railroad would probably be located ilom
the city OF Columbus to the Ohio river.
and reach that point at Sunlsh. After
the Baltimore and Ohio Company had
been compelled to make their terminus ut
the cttyot Wheeling, that route was chang.
ed and at one time 1t was thought that
road would reach the Ohio river through
the valley. Of Wheeling creek, | mean
Ohio's Wheeling creek. We have two
Wheeling creeks. 1t was thought Il could
reach the river down the valley Of Wheel.
ing creek and thence cross tile Ohio by
bridges to the Island and to the West Va.
shore; Twas sometime afterwards deter.
mined that the road should reach the river
at Bellaire. During all this period the
great bulk OF the freight transported over
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was dc.
rived from the Ohio river, and after the
opening OF that road a magnificent limo Of
steamers constructed for the especial
purpose Of running in connection
with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
were driven from the bosom Of the Ohio
river. The Central Ohio Railroad then
nearly all the trade from the
great West, and especially did that become
rue when the line was constructed so as
o reach the producing points of the great
West. This state Of facts existing and be-
ng patent to every man who has studied
he history or inception OF tho railroad
enterprises OF the United States, saw
here can but one conclusion be drawn
rom the provisions OF this bill. 1t would
you'd afford no benefit to the people Of
West Virginia unless it did intend to
each the Western trade. The provision
would have no force, aud would accom-.
1lish nothing unless 1t would embrace
hat Western trade. To embrace that It
hereby enabled the people Of the State
o take advantage Of the natural law that
must necessarily govern transportation on
hat road. That natural law Is that the
company must so arrange their freight
'ha!rges as to secure the largest amount OF
business.