Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-26
MISREPRESENTATION TO RAIL
ROAD EnTEPRIBES.

~ 09Nnxk LAWNS - ~ &sa@T
ROAD EnTEPRIsEs.
Voting q subscription from q county
treasury to the construction OF local
railroad is a correct and commendaole
policy.
We build turnpikes in that way
Why not railroads?
A railroad is more properly puohc
enterprise than is turnpike.
A turnpike is comparatively a Sec
tional institution. 1t accommodates
neighbo, hood or section OF a county
II seldom stretches across the full limits
of a county. But tax is levied upon
the entire people to build it
A railroad, on the other hand, reaches
everybody. 1t benefits everybody. 1t
belongs, in a measure, to everybody. 1t
is reckoned as the chief agency in the
country's progress and development. 1t
is like the chief artery in the county's
system Of roadways. All roads lead to
it, and all sections draw their nourish-
ment from it. When it is once set into
the system, new lie is infused into ev r.
foot OF territory that opens connection
with it. To cut it out after it is once
there, is to destroy the life OF the county.
The people wouid rise in arms to re-
tain ii.
Why, then, should not the peoples
money build the railroad?
Who is wronged? Who is taxed un-
Justly by such a policy? Every tax
payer is benefited by the road in pro-
portion to his property. He pays in the
same proportion to the.county subscrip-
ton. Thus the burden and the benefit
are balanced; it is absolutely fair; it is
exact justice between citizens; it is
equity itself.
We are impressed with the conviction
that such a policy is peculiarly proper
one for West Virginia.
III Is our ulIlu CudliCc.
The people OF our State are compare
lively poor. We have no large cities
where the course of large commerce
aud trade have concentrated immense
wealth. The counties are not densely
populated. The towns are small. Our
people are comfortable and thrifty as a
rule, but there are few men possessing
large estates.
1t is easy for each man to contribute
a little, but it Is impossible for few oi
our people to build the railroads VIC
need from their own resources. a gen.
eral tax, we say, is our only resource
The man who would withhold that mas
no interest in our future, or is blind tC
the situation. THIS generation will moi
see railroads in West Virginia except
they are brought through the aid OF the
public purse.
Moreover, the money that is voted in
this way soon comes back to the couR'
t.. 1t is simply put out at interest, sc
to speak. A railroad soon doubles the
taxable value OF the property within the
county. The rate OF taxation may not
be increased, but the amount OF proper.
ty is increased. The railroad itself has
taxable value equal to a fair rate
OF interest on the investment
made by the county. The population
is increased. There are more people to
pay tax, and the county's subscription
proves in the end measure to tighten
the burdens OF the whole people, as
we'll as TO enhance the individual inter.
est OF every citizen,
We have now pending within the
State, several railroad projects, all OF
which-unless it be the Wheeling,
Parkersburg and Charleston road-ap-
pear to be dependent upon public sub.
criptions for their success. The counties
of Barbour, Harrison, Marion, Preston,
Monongalia, and perhaps others, are
asking their people to vote subscriptions
to railroad projects. In each case
the amount is almost nominal
as compared with the whole cost Of the
road. Outside parties propose to fur.
nish the principal part OF the capital
when these local subscriptions are made
Outside parties are willing to take the
risk OF such an investment for the mere
dividends which will accrue from the
roads when built, while the counties
subscribing will not only have the same
return upon their investments, but also
the immense advantages which must
result to all the material interests OF the
county by the presence OF the road.
We say to these counties OF West Vir.
ginia, that ii by voting these subscrip-
tons they can secure railroad upon
reasonable terms, they ought TO vote
them.
They ought to vote them now.
The terms are easier nov than they
will be a year hence. We doubt If there
ever comes to our State more favora-
bic opportunity for railroad enterprises
than this season has brought.
Break ground this season, il you want
q road.
The molders employed in the iron
works OF Chicago-about 600 in number
are on a strike for higher wages. They
demand an advance OF % cents a day.
They now receive 81 and S2.25 a day,
and ask for s. 25 and $3.50.