Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-11-12
NOTES AND COMMENT.

Court, decided last Monday that the
B. & o. r. r. could not be sued in
a West Va. State Court, except by
consent of the cooperation.
There is apparently no limit to
Jay Gould's stupendous schemes, nor
to his ability to push them to sue
cessful conclusion. 1t is now an
nounced that he contemplates build
ing another trunk line of railway to
the Pacific coast, independent of the
Central Pacific system, as well as a
trunk line to the City of Mexico,
bringing a line of seven thousand
miles, costing $40, 900, 900, under his
management. The magnitude of
such an undertaking almost surpass-
es comprehension. That one man
should attempt it, is amazing.
The testimony taken by the COM
mission appointed by Gov. Long, of
Massachusetts, to investigate the
conduct of the ninth regiment of
that state while in Richmond en-
route to Yorktown, is of a pretty
damaging character. 1t shows that
some of the members of that regi-
ment, perhaps only a few, behaved
very badly. A stop at Richmond
was not intended when the regiment
started from home, but by some de-
lay of trains the troops were detain-
ed five or six hours in the city. AT
the request of the men they were
permitted to break ranks and "see
the town" while waiting for their
train. Some of the men, it appears,
patronized the saloons pretty freely
at the outset of their tour about
Richmond. and their over-indnl-
gence, no doubt, accounts for the
bad conduct. 1t is probable that not
less than a score of the four or five
hundred of the Massachusetts, SOL
diers in Richmond misbehaved. In
justice to the members Of the regi-
ment who behaved themselves prop
erly and in vindication of the good
name of Massachusetts, troops gener-
ally, it is right that the guilty few
should be hunted out and made to
bear the odium of their misconduct.
The leading trunk lines of rail-
roads seem to have declared war
against each other in dead earnest
and with the purpose of keeping up
the fight. The Pennsylvania road
put on 26-hour fast train between
New York and Chicago, which
prompted the New York Central to
advertise a 24-hour train between
those points. These fast trains may
become popular and paying features
of railroad travel. Experience has
demonstrated that really there is no
more danger in high rate Of speed
over good road-bed than in a slow
rate. Higher rates of fare are charg
ed upon the fast trains, and the re-
suit will probably be to make this the
means of travel for the rich and tie
'swells." People who can afford
the luxury will take the fast and
more expensive trains, while "com-|
mon folks" will travel on common
time. lLrr. .t
The Minnesota legislature has de-
vised IA plan for the payment of the
repudiated debt of that state, which
will be submitted to the voters for
ratification or rejection in a few
days. Instead Of borrowing money
to meet this obligation, public lands
are to be set aside and the proceeds
of the sale of these lands employed
in the extinction OF this debt. The
prevailing opinion is that the voters
will approve this scheme, as the TX
perience of the state has convinced
her people that reputation does not
pay. The question of the pay
ment OF Mississippi's repldiated
debt has been raised in that state
and there is hope in some quarters
that agitation may eventually bring
about compromise that will relieve
the state of the odium she has so
long borne. The example of Mime
sofa in setting about the payment of
her suspended debt started the agi.
tation in Mississippi. .ut as