The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-24

upon W neeunB Wuu tArKeEspuIg " IeE:
minal points2
MEK.-You ought 10 be ableto answer
that question as well as I. | expressed
myself OH that point before the eomniitee
to the effect that It would very seriously
affect these places There Is no help for
them unless we sacrifice our local bust.
ness for the sake Of these two places
which Of course We cannot do. l am sor-
~ for the dilemma In which we will be
placed by the Legislature, but theresponsi.
bllity Is not ours.
Reporter-But, Mr.. Keyser, is there no
possible accommodation for this dilemma
except 70 fightit out on such q line Us you
indicate?
Mr. XII really sec none, Here IL a
dispatch from Mr.. Garrett 10 nc which
will show you just how the company
stands In. reference to the difficulty.
Here the reporter took said dispatch
and read it,
II was TO tho effect that II the Legisla.
ture forced the company into the courts,
by q quo warranto, then the company
would beCompelled to accept the issue and
go to the courts, and meanwhile the now
schedules would be nj once withdrawn.
Reporter-This looks very much as
though the company meant business In
the de Csion arrived at by Mr.. Garrett.
Mr.. keyser-Mr. Garrett has no doubt
taken the advice Of distinguished counsel,
and in coming TO the conclusion to accept
the issue OF litigation forced upon Us, is
simply doing what Is an absolute necessity,
growing out OF the action Of the LGgisla-
turc. '
Reporter-But, BIZ. Keyser, you notice
that the House has delayed final action on
the quo warranto. They did not send the
resolution to the Senate. This looks as II
an accommodation were still possible.
Mr.. K-The company will be very glad
indeed to accommodate tho issne on the
basis Of what they have done and are en-.
deavoring 10 do to meet any Just com
plant on the part OF any shipper on the
road, but | can plainly suy to you thGt
there is point beyond which 1t will moi
go. They do not propose to enter on
some wild scheme OF pro.rating freight
by which some freight will be carried fol
nothing and other freight charged too
much, In order TO meet the views Of per
sons who have absolutely no experience
In railroad management,
RepOrter-What do you mean by wild
schemes Of pro.rating?
Mr.. XII will illustrate ityou will take q
seat at the table here and 60 over with INT
one Of the freight schedules lying here.
Yesterday gentleman came IN hero with
u plan by which he said all this trouble
could be avoided. | asked him 10 lot mt
have it by all means as that was lust what
thecompany above all things desired. Well
said hO, II you will make u proper differ.
ence in shipping our cattle between thesC
points (naming lhem) on the Pgrkersbure
road, and in the rate on freight received al
the same points, l think that will meet Oul
complaints. said to him, let me under
stand you periOctly. You mean TINT il
we would ship from each point few miles
apart at different rates that that would ht
popular. Yea, said no, that is what
mean. Ny dear SIR, said J, so fur frOU
that being popular itWould breed u perfect
pandemOnium In week. Don't you SEE
that parties living ut all the different vari
atoms Of distance from these station!
would lie SGT by tic ears. Some would
haul or drive their stuff away from theil
proper points OF shipment to one q fON
miles nearer to the point Of destination
and We would be Offering premium FOL
them to do so. Experience has shown III
that such policy is radically unfair, ant
hence We have, US all railroads shave done
consolidated certain stretches or divisions
Of our line under one tariff OF prices, aut
in that way We have equalized rates on {
fair average, aud thereby protected, 80 tal
IA wa are able, all the interests alonl
our roads. To illustrate this very
difficulty still further, | will relatt
to You a conversation that
had with prominent lumber man q
Piedmont. He claimed The advantages o
his geographical position over the Grafton
Lumbar interest, and insistcd that the com
pany should discriminate in his favor.
told him that it was impossible for the
company TO comply with his demand, as
In that case We would put Grafton at O
great disadvantage in the market, and por
haps break her down altogether. Well
said he, let Grafton look out for herself
and font her timber down to Pittsburgh,
or help herself in some other way. No
said L, thut would not be right and the
company will never do II. We will sim
ply move you half way back to Grafton
and bring her half way forward, and make
the same rate for both Of you, and as far
as We have the power put you both into
market on terms OF equality.
Reporter-That certainly looks like q
Just policy, What did your visitor say to
1t?
Mr.. K.-He saw It At once in the proper
| light, and acknowledged that his plau
would not work. lie said that nOtwith-
standing he had thought good deal on
the subject he had never thought OF it in
the light OF q general average Tor the pro.
lection OF a large number OF interests
which the company was interested in
keeping alive.
Reporter-Perhapsi II all Of the members
OF the Legislature had come here and ask.
cd questions and presented grievances
their views would have been modified as
in the case Of this man.
Mr.. K.-t have taken pains, so far rs |
have had time md opportunity, to solicit
interviews with every man in the Iegisla-
tnre who either had grievance himself
or who represented anybody else who had
one, in order that might disabuse his
mind OF just such views rs this ono in re.
gard to determinations.
RePorter-Speaking OF the lumber in.
terests at Piedmont and Grafton, hear
the complaint made that your company
does not sufficiently foster either Of them,
but that you bring large amounts Of
foreign lumber into the State, or rather
carry it to Baltimore right past our lumber
districts?
Mr.. Xii you read my remarks be.
fore the Senate Committee on that point
you will see how we are able to do this,
and why We must dOit. l explained tho
difference between the lumber VIC haul
from Michigan and that which We carry
from West Virginia. In the first place the
quality is radically different. There Is no
comparison on that point at all. In The
next place. the Michigan lumber affords us
u return cargo for our coal cars, which
would otherwise come buck empty. Look
at this map Of tho railroad and water sys.
TEN OF tho country. Here is the pine
region OF Alichigan-lhe greatest lumber
region in tho world : where tho
best soft Pine lumber IA cut ON mil.
lions Of acres and foatcd iu the