The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-12

TOT only ignores all the Established Prln-
.iples upon which business Ia conducted,
out II arbitrarily reyerses them. In the
Inst place 1t undertakes to regulate the de.
ais OF the most intricate and important
branch inthe carrying businessby fixing
itbitrary rules, allowing no latitude for
he Judgment and experience Of its man
ayers. ItaSsnines that men enaged IN the
ordinary pursuits OF life are more Cotnng-
lent 10 determine questions affecting so
many vital interests, with more Accuracy
and fairness than men skilled and trained
In this particular vocation. 1t places the
retail dealer upon precisely the same loot.
Ing as the Wholesale. 1t ignores entirely
the element Of the cost of the services
rendered in determiningth compensation
therefor. II assnmesth that no more shall
be allowed per mile for transporting mer.
chandise over the mountain ranges oil this
State than over an equal distance OF the
prairies Of Illinois. II ignores all questions
Of cost both in constructing the road and
in operating It. Itignorcs all questions Of
responsibility on the part OF the company
for the custody andsecCrity 81 the articles
committed to It's cares II forces 10 to take
merchandise valued ,at thousands Of dol
lars per hundred weight, neeessltating
costly depot services, the use Of expensive
cars and rapid transportation,'at the salne
rate as the lowest grade OF traffic, the value
OF which renders loss by accident impossi-
bio and the transportation OF which can be
done on theCheapest flats, ut the minimum
rate Of speed and cost. 1t places the emf
grant passenger on d par with the FIRST
class passenger, and prohibits the compa'
ny from making such speCial rates as ex
perienCO has demonstrated to be wise and
necessary for the fostering and building
up ofal[the local interests Of a great rail
waylinel W III "
THE CoMPASY's RELATIONS TO THE PEOPLE
OR WEST VIRGINIA.
Admitting then that the effect Of THU
law will seriously injure the company
represent, let US look for a moment to sec
in what particular It's passage will benefit
the general interests OF the people of this
State. II the usefulness OF the company
be impaired and its credit be threatened
by hostile legislation, II must TO that ex
tent recoil upon the interests OF those
which this bill purports to protect, and in
order to determine the extent OF this in.
Jury beg that your honorable body will
allow me briefly to review tho past rela
tons Of the company to the Stale as vel
Us its present policy.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, !, rs YOU
arc aware, is one Of the trunk lines Of the
country. 1t owns 6nd controls lines Il
Chicago and st. Louis, and thfongh Us
connections reaches nearly all the I'm
portant trade centres in tho northwest
central west and the southwest, and has
working connections through to the Pa
cifc.coast. The amount Ofmoney directly
invested and under tho control Of its man.
ayers is but fraction short OF 500 200, J.
600. OF It's main. line aud branche:
east Of tho Ohio river the larger part Il
within the borders OF the State OF West
Virginia, and,whilstl 1t has invested in its
works within the State SS7, 23s, SSl, 1t has
received no pecuniary assistance from the
State, and but little or none from its in
habitants. ] think it one OF the misfor'
tunes under which, tho company labors
today, as respects the public sentiment OF
your people, that there are no partjpl
within the State largely interested in III
stock or securities who would find it ia
their interest to investigate its relations
with the State and lamillarize Themselves
with its policy, and thus be able to repre.
sent its views on the important issues
which often arise, and defend its policy
when unlustly assailed.
AS an officer OF tho company | point
with pride to the fact that whilst Virginia
Is to-day struggling under load OF debt,
created mainly for public improvements
not ono dollar OF it was on account ofthis
the greatest work Of them all, Your com
mittee will more fully appreciate tho bene
fits secured, without cost, TO, the people o.
OF your State il you will for moment con,
slider the almost insurmountable obstacles
which were overcome in the construction
OF this road. Prom tho point where q
costly structure spanning the lltomao,
strikes the eastern borders oil the State "a
the point on tho Ohio where the road
leaves the State. by tw6-great bridges
built at cost of nearly two. and a hall
millions, one almost uninterrupted series
OF obstacles was encountered. Two ranges
Of mountains were crossed, Involving tho
erection OF costly viaducts and lengthy
tunnels. The Ktngwood tunnel, which
crosses the AlleghGnies, nearly one mile
in length, cost the company over 81 ,OOO,'
600, and it would seeln az II nature in this
State Ind lifted up her mountain barriers
and poured forth her floods as il forever
to preclude man from constructing high
way through Its territory.
On the Parkersburg branch plone, l0l
miles in length, constructed at o cost oil
over 81 100000 90, there are 90 tunnels,
aggrcgating three and n half miles in
length, and 50 bridges. Certainly the
mon who had the temerity to hazard their
money In this enterpriSe and surmount
these difficulties, have some claims upon
the people of this State, and should not
be deprived, without Just cause, OF any
privileges guaranteed them. 5,iGi 2 :
iBesides tho direct advantages Of first
class railway, equipped with all the mod
ern appliances, aud operated with do
gree Of promptness and efficiency UnsuT.
passed by any road in tho country, fur
nishing rapid and ample communications
within your State, and with all parts OIL
the country, tho direct benefits which nc,
crIe to thcState must be taken into con.
sideration.
MONEY VALUE OF THE ROAD TO TIE STATE.
OF the O,l75 employees in its service OH
the first OF this month, Sab are citizens Of
your State, and during the past year, not
withstanding that tho prevailing CONNER
Clal depression limited the, com panY's eS-
penditures TO tho necessities Incident 10
the maintaining and operating the road,
81, 053, 100 so were spent within the State
for wages and material for the Company's
use, thus directly MlIipg this large sum to
the aggregate Of tho public wealth. 10.
side this amount the company paid on aG.
count OF the State, school, county and dis
triet taxes for that year, SG4, $50 80, equal
to II psr cont oil ali the taxes paid by the
ten counties through which tho road
passes; and as furth0r GYIdppeo OF the ma
terial benefits conferred by tho road ! TO-
fer to tue fact that, according 10 Tic last
census OF the State, so per cont Of the
whole population Of tho 81 counties com.
prising the State, ,w4s embraced in tue II
counties through which the main stem
passes and that II per cont 10y the rcp0EL