Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-02-12

have been fully cOnSluereu Dy tnt
trainers Of this bill, and can no better
illustrate it than by referring to il
direct and obvious effects upon one i'm
portant interest, il not the most i'm
portant, on the line OF the road, namely
that OF the coal interest. West Virgins
is more largely interested in gas coa
than in any single article. II has three
gas coal fields, known as the Fairmont
Clsrksburg, and Newburg fields. These
gas coal fields have always beer. placed
upon the same footing as regards rates
by the company, upon the ground that
any attempt TO discriminate in favor ol
one, as against the other, would be un.
lust. The Newburg field, however, has
the geographical advantage OF being
miles nearer the sesboard and II would
therefore, under the operations OF this
bill, be unable to place its coal in the
markets at such difference in price as
would give it, independent OF its super
ior quality, their entire control. But
whilst this might operate favorably
for the Newburg company, as
against its less adyantageously
located neighbors, il would in
the end prove fatal, asthe ioughiogheny
vas Goals of Pennsylvania are by
actual and constructive distance, forty
three miles nearer the seaboau than
the Newburg. The advantages which
the extension Of this principal To that
field would give it, would preclude the
shipment OF not only the Newburg, but
any OF the gas Goals of West Virginia.
The policy of the Baltimore and Ohio
Company in placing the loughiogheny
field precisely upon the same footing as
to rate as the West Virginia field, has
been one of the measures adopted for
protecting the interests OF West Nir-
ginia. The city oi Wheeling, by
an Interpretation placed upon the COM
pany's charter, is only entitled 10 max
imum OF the local rate. This rule must,
OF necessity, lose Il large proportion, II
not the entire business it does on the
line of the II. Il q. road and its branches,
The company would be- compelled To
withdraw the special rate given To that
city, and thus deprive II OF the means oi
competing with the cities ot Pittsburgh
and Cincinnati, situated equally iayora-
BILE for this traffic. The Legislature Of
Virginia, not controlling the tarifbeyond
the limits Of its State, could not enforce
the pro rata rule as against Cincinnati
aad Pittsburgh, the effect oi which would
be To force the business of its CONNER.
cial and political capital to those rival
centres. Besides this il would operate
injuriously To every local station on the
line, those being nearer Baltimore de-
irving the advantage of shipments Ia and
( ON that point, as against their more
distant neishhor-, and having 10 share
the disadvantage when required To ship
to more remote points. Tho local
storekecper along the line would find
his tariff rates in some instances un-
duly advanced, and in others unduly re-
duced, and his business would bc sub
iect 10 all the yicissitudcs OF a system
founded upon principles which exper-
icncc has demonstrated to be entirely
iallacious. The business upon the line
of the road would oi Necessity bc large
ly reduced, as the company, un,Lr this
rule, would be shut out from promin-
ent points which il reaches by accepting
low and frequently unrcmnncrative
rates, rather than withdraw from the
market. To illustrate this, ] take the
first station in the State, after crossing
the Potomac river, llarpcr's Ferry.
By the action oi this bill all freight
To IIarper's Ferry, whether received
from individuals or corporations, or Ia
be delivered Ia individuals or corpora.
tions, must he upon exactly the same
basis. Surprising the company then
desirous of reaching Staunton from Gin
cinnati between which two points the
Chesapeake ami Ohio offers direct com.
petition, instead ri, as at present, being
at liberty to tix such a rate as w"uhi
meet this competition, and enable IT by
it's longer line to reach staunton, u
would he compelled to abandon the
field, as the rate Ia llarpCrs Ferry
would be prOhibitory.
This il but one of the many cases tu
which | would refer, but have already
trespassed upon yOur time Tar beyond
INV original intention, and ] am yet ~
hopes that some members of your hon.
Orable committee may SEQ proper to ash
some questions in relation To the local
tariffs, which may enable me more fully
to explain some Of the specific cases re-
ierred to in the report Oi the committee
OF your honorable body.
desire, in conclusion, to ay that. a.
your honorable committee ~ aware, the
company has already adopted a modified
passenger aud freight tariff. The PAS
scnger tariff il basel upon the uniform
rate OF three cents per mile-the same
rate which il fixed by law in the State
of Ohio, and the same rate which will
now apply Ia the main system of roads
operated by the baltimore and Ohi0
Company in the seven Statcs. The
freight tariff ~ also about ready tn
be put into operation, AMI the con
cessions made IN it are of such
nature az, think, must satisfy the
reasonable demands Of your psOpie.
regret that the magnitude of the chsngs
and the necessity fuT most carefully con
sidering all the points which the mlop'
tion 81 new tariff involves has pre-
yentcd its earlier issue. | hold in NV
hand the advance sheets just reccivoI
from the printer, and | present them
for your consideration, both A. AN eyi'
dence that the change will soon be made
operative, and to show the labor botil
from the company's officers and the
printers which this change involves.
Looking 10 the relations between the
state and the company, A. ] have en-.
deayOrei izirly tO present them, and
to the difficulties which the comian,
from necessity contends with in estab
fishing such rates a. will at all times ac'
equitably and fairly upon all the locA
interests. trust that your honor
able committee will be convinced ths
the company which have the honor "
represent rc,rgnibes aBd aims tO fulfil
all it, duties Ia the citizens Of your state
UERRIRIE ACCIDENT.