Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-03-15

1t will be seen by these figures, taken from
the tariffs now in operation on tie diherea
roads, that, on short hauls, by the provisions
Of this company's charter, 1t is forced to ac
cept lower rates per ton per mile than any o
the trunk lines OF the country. IL Is clear
therefore. that, 50 far rs this feature Is con
ccrued. the citizens Of the State have 40 grounds
for complaint.
TIE figures referred 10 10 the statement
NAMED show that the new local tariff OF ih'
Baltimore & Ohio Railr ad compares iavora'
! bly IN rates with tie tariffs Of tue Peuusvlva'
MIA. the New York aud Erie. the New York
/ Central. the Chesapeake & ONO, the Wabash
the Illinois Central, aud tue Chicago, Burliug-
/ ton * Quincy Railroads ,the principal trUnk
/ lines Of the country. aud by comparing the
\ rates under the several distances namel on The
| Baltimore * Ohio (mAiu steml with the rates
! under relative distances uu these liues you Will
see that your citizens are enabled o. ship on
an average upon more favorable terms than
are accorded L. citizeus doing busutss on the
lines referred TO- Also, that 10y taking TIC
average rates and class.iications "f thc lines
named. YOU will see that those Of the Baltimore
/ Ohio are more favorable 20 shippers, except
in oue iustauce-that of tho New urk * tue
Railroad, which averages oae per cent. below
it,
Now. ask .hc committees particular at
teution 10 these facts aud .sures because as
sume that If the citizens of lhe State Of West
Virginia are accorded equal facilities a, equal
rates with the citizens resident on the hues OF
other roads that there can be no Just ground OF
complaint, aud have given special attention 10
tho preparation Of this statement in order thA,
each member of the committee can verify lts
acouracy fDr himself, and be ablo io,eiligoni!y
10 present the facts % his constituents.
! am not awaro Of ihoir boing any complaint
on The part of any oue within the State that
the company does not fuToish all the facilities
required. and that IL has not oil che necessary
means and appliances 30 transact the business
over W. roads with prompincss aud dispatch,
aud shall therefore ooufne my remarks g.
the simple question Of the taTiit rates.
Having submitted the general tariff Of Che
company desire nov to refer to the question
ofspecial rates and TO explain 10 tho committee
the principle upon which special rates are
granted ami think that you must agree with
me that special rate By no means Indicates a
discrimination, aud that Il is even necessary at
times. 10 mike special rates in order 10 prevent
determinations and 10 properly protect the
various interests on the line of the road.
Since the first of March, when the circular
withdrawing special rates weut into operation.
there has bocu received from most prominent
points aud shippers on ;hc lue an earnest pro-
test aeains, the adoption Of such policy aud II
is not oyer-slaiing the case 20 assert that nearly
every leading interest dependent upon the road
has already experienced The effects Of the policy
which lhe company has been forced 10 adopt
In Difference IL what it has conceived 90 be tie
wish ~ the LEGISLATURE. and 10 il is obliged 30
continue this system in force there are many
interests which must be practically Olotied out.
The theory upon which special rates arc
arantcl is this: Most business Transactions,
aud al business transactions OF magnitude are
affected by the fuctua,i ms Of the markets. and
al times these fluctuations are Of such extent
as 10 make the element OF transportation an
1 important factor in the transaction. There
fore any tarid which might be risidly enforced
would at times seriously interfere, II not en-
tircly prevent, the transaction Of business up
/ on fair or rcmunerative basis, and 10 meet
( this difficulty IL is the custom of an the road'
of the country 10 give 10 parties such special
rates rs from time 90 time may be found ne
/ cesslry
To illustrate the case will cite several in-
stances on the line Of this road, and have na
| doubt as see that there are several present
/ who have probably grievances 70 present, that
opportunities will offer 90 fully elaborate til.
/ feature Of railway transportation.
We will take tho gas Goals of Wcst Virginia
These Goals find their market 10 Baltimore, ADD
at other points 90 VI tributary 10 the coast
7 They come IN competition with similar coal'
/ from Pennsylvania aud " late years, since The
export trade Of the country ha. gro~n SO DIS.
propori!onatc 20 tie import trade. with ih'
/ New Castle coal brought from Liverpool and
/ other British ports as ballast.
The foreign Goals 20 q very couriicrab!o y
ytent establish the market price. and thn
price s therefore, 10 a great measure h2m by
tie am0nnto tonnage coming 30 tlis country
/ Tor return carsoes Of grain, &c. Therefore
/ the coal operators are obliged 10 making theil
contracts % meet tho competition ~ otbol
coal fields as Nell as the foreign competition
aud TO- order % enable them o. DO so the Baltic
/ G Ohio Railroad Company mast, in advance
/ place them in q position O. compete, as tle
I freight charges are by far She largest element
Of value. ana 70 dn this tho company must h'
+ at liberty 10 vary the rates from time % tine
/ as the eexi goncies u the case demand. To cite
/ another iustance-thero arc on ihc lac of ths
Baltimore e. Ohio road a uumlcr Of blast fur
uaccs in operation. These depend largely
upon tic company Tor trausportiOn Of then
raw material as well as their MANUFACTURED
products. The continued depression in th'
market has forced the owners aud operators o
these works. from time 10 time, % apply O.
the COMPANY ior reduction in rates. Had th'
company not been 10 position 70 meet Tues
demands. the effect would have been o. force
/ the s,oppage Of these works, aud tAus not ouly
/ entail a severe loss Oh the capitalists, bu, d
/ more severe loss % The cii.zens II this STATE
tg throRing large numbers Of people ont o
employment - tinte when you must all 20
cognize the difficulty q their Obtaining IL elzc-
/ where. The member from Berkeley, lN'
/ Kilchenl Las Just called ny attention 70 ih'
( grain rate from the Eastern Panhandle q
/ Baltimore. and asks II they should Dot b
/ reduced especially in view 4 the rate which
urevails from Chicago - the grain from hi'
section comes 10 competition with the Weste'i
grain at Baltimore, and be has frankly stated
+ in answer to ny inquiry that il costs him or
the average ten cents per bushel 70 wsgon from
lis farm, ten miles distauce from his station
on the road, which is more per bushe. IS vii
be seen by reference 10 the new freight tariff
than the company charges him TO haul hi'
grain from Martinsburg TO Baltimore, dis
tance If one hundred miles. By reference e
The tariffs the roads named 10 the comparative
! statement furnished you it viii be seen that
tbs company f-t-4 i,om Hlfpsf's Ferry .,