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

In the heart oil this city, and also
free OF cost, the right OF way through |
this city which probably to-day II put
upon the auction block would bring hun. |
lretls OF thousands Of dollars, II not mil. |
lions In addition 10 that the city Of
Wheeling did subscribe 10 500, 600 Of stock
In that railroad. They helped them to
build that railroad, and afterwards dis.
posed OF the stock, and tho company was
willing to buy 1t. Mr.. President, II has
also been sald that the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad cost nm immense sum OF
money, that the money was expend-
cd within the borders OF this State
That II thereby increased the value Of the
property OF this State and very naturally
added 10 tho prosperity Of the people;
that there not only was an immense
amount OF money spent in tho State in the
original construction, but to-day 3,4l3 Citt.
zenS OF the State are getting their sus.
tenanCe from the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company; That the company Is pay
ing neal y 81 ,J00, 900, probably over, with.
in the limits OF the State OF West
Virginia, and therefore the railroad
should be looked upon as benefaCtor TO
the people Of the State. That is n beautt.
tul picture that is presented in all It's rosy
hues and gaudy appearance, But, sir, let
US look upon the other side Of the picture.
What do we find? We find the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, when called upon for
a report OF thoamount OF receipts for trans
portatlon IN West Virginia, furnished the
committee with statement show.
ing about 81, 800, 600 us the receipts for the
State Of West Va. From that report must
be excepted ever bit OF freight that was
shipped into the State OF West Virginia,
and the freight paid outside Of this State,
That would include every ton OF coal, eV-
cry steer, every foot OF lumber tho people
ofthc State have shipped outside Of the
State. We have report Of the Baltimore
4 Ohio Railroad Company, which shows
the total OF the through tonnage for
1877, amounting to l4I645 tons. On the
other page 1t shows transported
on the main line. coal alone l,440,-
POS tons. Itshows that very large pre-.
ponderanCe Of this coal was taken from
West Virginia. And that report does not
show, venture to say, one-half OF the
business OF tho State OF West Virginia,
Again 1t appears from the report that tho
earnings Of the mainstem, including the
Winchester and Potomac, Winchester and
Strasburg and other roads for tho year
1877 were $3G5G,S0342 the gross
earnings OF over 1900 miles OF road
to which reference has been made, ex-
CeedGd but very little over $1,000, 600.
Now, whore Wero these great earnings
made? The main stem OF the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company is credited
with tina lions share Of It. II these fig
ures be true, at least four.Riths or three
fOurths Of all the profits Of the road above
expenses were made off OF the main stem,
aud the main stOIn runs clear through the
State OF West Virginia, almost from one
end to the other. Now il the net earn,
ings aud the gross earnings Of this
same road amount to $S,000,000. !
think that a greater part, or least large
per cent Of those gross earnings have been
extorted from the people of West Virginia
by unlawful charges. | ask who has paid
that 81 100000 but the hard working men
Of West Virginia? 1t has been said BY the
baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
that they have been carrying freight from
Chicago to Baltimore without even earn
ing axle grease, to use their own torn.
They say their Cincinnati division does
not make them any money, that the Cen
tral Ohio division makes but little, that
the Chicago division makes more money
than any other road they have, ex-
cept this main stem and it makes but very
little. Then where do these immense
profits come from? They have a capital
stock Of over SlS,000,0O0. Tho railroad
they say cost over 1913 ,0OO,0OO. This COM
pany has u surplus OF thirty-slx mil
lion dollars, and their assets arc worth
Sl00, 100000, Where has it all been made?
Where have all these earnings come from?
II the leased roads do not pny ANYTHING,
where have these gigantic profits been
made? There is but one answer, and that
is: from the people of West Virginia. 1t
was said upon yesterday that this bill
seeks TO accomplish something for the
State whether the company is bcnefitledor
not. That is not the object Of The bill.
It's purpose is to bring the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company within the pro-
visions Of the general law Of this State.
Mr.. President there was another error
committed here on yesterday | desire to
call attention OF the Senate to. Ii was
declared thatlho same traitf tlIut is pro-
posed by that company for West Virginia
was proposed to be put into operation in
all tho I States through which
this railroad and its connecting lines
run. l think that is most
glaring error. It may have been that
it was intended to limit that remark
alone to the passenger tariff, if SO, my i'm
preston is that would have been sub.
stantially correct, but when YOU come to
apply it to the local tariffs OF West Vir.
gtnia, l cannot agree with that statement.
! have yet to sec schedule prepared by
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, tllat materially reduces the
charges on freight in this State. They
talk about this new tariff that is to he sub.
mittcd soon to tho people. l am credibIy
informed that there Is no reduction what
ever upon pre.cxisting rates in this State,
or If reduction it is OF such small import.
anCe that It will afford no relief whatever
TO the people Of West Virginia. l find
tho local rate from the City OF Wheeling
TO FairmOnt, distance Of 50 miles, is
nearly Z! cents per ton per mile
yet run that through 10 the town OF
AN"t AhaDH'S NAAu tllS GIAlBcS WTe w per
cent higher than tho law OF 1928 author.
ICES them to charge. The law Of ~ 3
grants more liberal rate OF charges than
the laws Of Ohio or Illinois. Then how
can it be said thNt this West Virginia tariff
is the same tariff proposed to these other
StNtcs2
There has heon another declaration
made that the operation of this bill might
work disasterously TO certain interests OF
this State. For the life Of me cannot sec
where it Can be so operated. cannot sec
that it will work to the injury OF this
State. And il the railroad company avail
themselves OF tho privilege they have to
shift from the position they have occu.
pied to the general railroad law II can work
no disaster to the people Of the State or to
that corporation,
Now, MIR. President, was amazed yes.
tOnlay at an effort made to demonstrate
that freight DoRld b0 carried from Balti.
more to ParkoBburg aud hack TO CIarks.
burg cheaper thanit could bc carried 10
Clnrksburg direct. l do not know how
hatargument struck others, but do know
=. = II