The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-15
COL. IOHNsON's SPEECH
ON THE B. & 0. RAILROAD.
An Interesting Review Of the History
Of That Company
And It's Relations to the People Of
West Virginia.

west virginia.
Delivered 10 AZ, !9e Senate at Wheeling on "wednesday
The report Of the Judiciary Committee
in regard to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road being under consideration, Senator
IN. D. johnson, of Tyler, addressed the
Senate as follows: ..o,
Mr.. PREslDENT-It will be remember.
ed, sir, that from the very incipiency Of
the proceedings now before this Senate up
TO the present time there has been great
anxiety on the part Of the people Of this
State to know whether the Legislature OF
the State OF West Virginia would afford To
tho people Of this State relief from the
onerous burdens imposed upon them for
the last quarter OF century. Sir, this is
no new subject. It dates back forty odd
years ago; aye almost from the very orga-
niZation OF this great railroad company to
the present time. II Is a contest In which
our fathers engaged-a bitter, long, car
nest struggle on the part OF our fathers TO
correct an error which they committed
in granting the original charter to the Bal
timore & Ohio Railroad Company, and to.
day the people Of West Virginia are groan-
ing under the extortion OF that company
which Is crushing out their very lie, and
energies and industries. This Is not the
first time II has been attempted to secure
10 the people Of this State the relief desir.
ed. Since the organization OF the State OF
West Virginia, repeated efforts have been
made to ascertain whether there be any
relief TO the people Of the State from the
extortions that have been demanded
and imposed by this great railroad com.
pany.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
Two years ago the Legislature passed u
Joint resolution appointing committee to
Inquire into the state Of facts existing be.
tween the people Of the State Of West
Virginia and the Baltimore and Ohio Rail.
road Company.
That committee entered upon the dis
charge Of that duty feeling the great re.
sponsibility resting upon 1t. They knew
and realized then that previous commit
tees had been appointed TO inquire into
this evil and apply the remedy, and they
realized the fact that those committees
had failed to afford one single means Of
relief from the expressions under which
the people were grooming. That commit
tee approached this subject feeling the
great responsibility resting upon It and
feeling that the subject presented for their
consideration was one of most profound
magnitude and great intricacy, and ! may
say, sir, that committee ut one time found
itself almost in the position in which
many Senators ON this floor to-day, from
their declarations, find themselves, in a
state of dependency and despair.
1t will be my purpose this morning to
endeayor to show 10 the Senate ii l posi-.
bly, can, the true relation which the B. &
o. r. Co. sustainsto the State OF West
virginia, and will ask the Senate to bear
with me this morning as am very much
indisposed. feel that am not able for
this discussion imposed upon me, and in
faCt would much prefer had some other
Senator on the floor opened the discussion
and given the Senate some good reason
whyt tie judiciary Committee have seen
lit to report against the bill had the honor
to introduce in this body, and reported In
favor Of the bill introduced by the Senator
from Harrison (Turner). But in this ]
have been disappointed, and the task Is
Imposed upon me of making a defense
here without knowing the accusation.
But sir, to come directly to the point. let
lis look at the organization Of this railroad.
Il has been well said by tho distinguished
Second Vice President Of the road that the
charter OF the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company was granted at q time
when there was nothing known of rail.
road corporations. 1t fact 1t was the first
effort in the world to construct grand
trunk line OF railroad for purposes OF gen
eral transportation. The city Of Baltimore,
as has been set forth In the report of the
Senate committee, by reason OF its geo
graphical location occupies a position near
or the western waters than any other city
upon the seaboard. When the gigantic
scheme, inaugurated by the great Clay, Of
Kentucky, had been completed, the 81
vantic pike stretched its length to the
Grand centre OF Ohio. Baltimore, by mean'
Of that communication, possessed, as thu
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
themselves say, almost monopoly Of thu
trade west OF the Ohio river. But, sir
while she was resting secure in the posses
sion of this means OF communication, thu
great cities OF New York aud Philadelphia
began 10 open lines OF canals connecting
with the great lakes and stretched thei
arms TO the grand Northwest, and theI
wero the people OF Baltimore compelled Il
resort to other means OF securing the con
troll OF the great trade OF the Northwest
After mature delIberation and considera
tion, after tho expression oil doubts anC
fears Il was resolved that q railroad wa!
tho only means that could be employed /
reach that Western trade. This Ballimor
and Ohio Railroad Company was incol
porated by two acts, or one act passed b
the Legislatures OF two States nt tht
Union. ,..u
1ME INCORPORATION OF TIE BALTIMORE
ONO COMPANY.
On the 2Sth day Of February, 1897, til
State OF Maryland passed an Act to incol
pora.e the Baltimore and Ohio Railroa
Company. On the Sth day OF March 70
lowing the General Assembly OF VII
ginia passed an Act confirming the Act {
the Maryland Legislature, incorporatin
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Comp
nv, And DO II remembered, Mr.. Pres
dent, that not one single effort had eve
been made to organize that company, nc
any preliminary step taken until after Ii
Act passed the General Assembly
Virginia. After the Act passed, alter I'll
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Compan
had secured, the right to construct Il
road TO the Ohio river, then the stool
holders came together, and on the q
and 94th OF April following, organize
what Is known Rs the Baltimore 4 OH
Railroad Company. Not under the A
: Of Maryland, not under the Act Of VI
pinia, but under both Of those A0ts, on
to-day their charter rests on tho joint a
ton Of tho two bodies, or the separa
. Act of the two bodies concerning u
|. SAME charter. refer TO this, AIR. Pre-
: dent, and ! desire to call the attention
s the senatoto 9 lSot that probably ~ y,
" throw some light on this llspqssit
" tS...f., To ;a allnOah bp n