Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-11

Der of towns with and without railroad "a
eilities the differences are stltt greater.
The Feeling Against B&ifroad-L
There seems, Senator. to be some feeling
in our State against railroads, probably en-
gendered by the discrimination in favor OF
through traffic. Do you think if the peo-
pie understood the matter a better and
more liberal feeling toward railroads would
prev2il2
Yes. I do Now, while donot wish to be
understood as endorsing all railroads do as
right, neither do believe in condemning
everything railroad does, simply because
it is a corporation. We ought first to find
out all the facts in q matter complained OF,
and then apply the proper remedy. While
ii Is true that many railroads have tariff
rates that appear TO be onorous so far as
local trade and travel are concerned, yet
We cannot do without them. You might
as we'll say we do not need or want more
rain, because food comes occasionally and
Injuries our crops and intiicts other dam
ages. Take away the Baltimore and Ohio
road, for instance, and restore the old stage
lines over the Northwestern and National
turnpikes, and we would soon beg for the
restoration of the railroad, even il the rates
of freight and travel were much larger than
now. To make prosperity sure and to
keep up with the rest OF the world, we
must not only retain our present roads.
but must do all we can to encourage the
building of new roads We must bear in
mind this is an advanced age, it is 1882 not
1852 IL we do not want to fall behind the
rest OF the country, We mustb be progressive;
We must encourage labor, immigration, in
ternal improvements, etc.
There is q great hue and cry raised about
the
Monopoly and EXtorti0R
OF railroad corporations, but where would
we have been but for the few railroads We
now have in the State. The way to make
q railroad do right is not solely by legisla
tiOn, but mainly by competition: more OF
the latter and less of the former will
pay, and be far better for our State and
people. But to get competition we must
encourage the building OF new roads; and
il must be recollccted that while every mile
of railroad built increases our wealth and
prosperity, and the value of our taxable
property, yet all railroads do not pay for
instance. the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
did not pay its stockholders an average OF
one per cent. per annum for the first twen-
ty-tiyc years oil its existence; the CheSa-
peakc and Ohio has never paid dividend
TO stockholders. and all the railroads in the
United States. on an average, pay less than
three per cent. to their stockholders, and
upon their bonded debt less than five
per cent The Gods help those
who help themselves and this
is equally true of communities. This
is 81 in every line OF business, especially
in the building of railroads. Capital is
timid and cautious and we cannot expect
to get the benefit of it if we erect a buga-
boo to frighten il away. We cannot expect
capitalists to come into our State, and
spend millions Of money in opening up
and developing our mineral wealth and
mountainous country, when We, by our
laws and enaCtmentS, invite them to stay
Out. or threaten them with all sorts OF bur
denS and OnerOuS eXaCtiOnS il they come
in besides keeping up uniriendly relations
with those already here. Owing to the
personal liability clause in our corporation
laws many persons of large means decline
to make investments in the State. | know
of one instance where number of gentle
men. after organizing a railroad and coal
enterprise. refused to proceed further,
owing to that clause. BY the way. read OF
A New scheme
To build railroads, the other day. / noticed
in an editorial i'm one Of our State papers
that a certain gentleman was candidate
for the United States Senate because he
was aiding to build a railroad, north and
south, through the State. Now, if being
candidate iOr Senatorial or other hOnOrS.
the State. in any direction, hope that the
number OF candidates for Senatorial or
other important positions in the State will
be multiplied hundred fold.
Railroads, Population and Taxes.
But, Senator, did not the population OF
our State largely increase during the decade
between 1870 TO 1850
EeS, we had an increase OF about "a per
cent and there are but ten other States
which show as large n per centage OF in
crease. Much OF this increase must be at
tributed to the few railroads we have.
Then our taxes are low, our mineral wealth
and timber unbounded, We have splendid
free school facilities, We have made no debt
since we were created a State. our climate
and soil are COOL. and our people hOSpi-
table All these things make our State at
tractive Speaking of the increase OF pOpu-
latiuu. IL is wonderful 10 see what our
population would amount to in half a
century. and in a century, of time, sup
posing the increase OF each decade to he at
the same rate us the ten years from 1870 to
lSSu. Being curious on this question. |
made the following calculation, which was
at my request, verified by the Superin-
tendeut pt Census: