The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-06-03

From the Clarksburg News. /

1 RP4OPOo vi Vic fOtC ~ OC tdhCn
in Monongalia county on the 10th of
June upon the question Of subscri-
bling $4,000 to the capital stock of
the West Virginia and Pennsylvania
Railroad, 1t is our desire to call the
rattention Of our readers TO q few
facts, probably not known to them
hitherto in detail.
In order to show the vast amount
of money paid out by the people of
Harrison county for freight and pas
sage on the B. & o. we present the
| figures below:
The b. d 0. Company receive from
stations in Harrison county annually:
On coal-80000 tons, average rate
$500, $240,000; merchandise, grain,
&C., { in and out freights) 100000;
live stock, $4,000; lumber, $4,000;
express goods, $4,000; passenger
fares, $4,000; total $4,000.
This estimate can be relied on as
being under rather than over the ac-
tual amounts paid; neither does it in
clude the coal used by the B. & O.
r. r. Go. from mines in this county
for its own use.
The amount of freights exacted
by the b. Il 0. R. r. Co. from this
county, over and above a legitimate
rate is enormous, as is clearly shown
by the following comparison with
rates from the Eastern cities to
Wheeling, where there are competi-
tive rates, and to Clarksburg, where
there are no competitive rates: Rates
from New York to Wheeling, first
class, 81 cents per hundred pounds;
fourth class, Is cents per hundred
pounds. From New York to Clarks-
burg, first class, SO cents per hun
bred pounds; fourth class, At cents
per hundred pounds. An equal dis
parity from Philadelphia and Balti-
more to Wheeling and Clarksburg is
also made. A large part of the goods
received by our merchants are now.
shipped from New York and Phila-
delphia to Wheeling and Bellaire,and
then forwarded from these points to
Clarksburg at regular local rates,
thereby saving very considerable
sum to the shippers in freights, the
through rates from New York to
those points, added to the local rates
from there here being less than direct
rates from New York to Clark sburg.
A railroad from here to the Penn
sylvania Central would give us com
petitive rates equal to those enjoyed
by Wheeling and Parkersburg, and
would save to the county annually an
amount of money that is simply
enormous.
If we received only part Of the
benefit of the competitive rates that
| Wheeling and Palkersbnrg have, we
would save to our county more than
| $4,000 every year, and in two years
we shall have saved $4,000 more
than the amount subscribed to the
building of the road. These are
statements that no man who has the
welfare of the county, present and
prospective, at heart, can immaturely
consider.
If these great advantages are to
accrue to Harrison and Marion coun-
ties, what must the Monongalia peo
pile expect? just as much in proper
ton to the business to be done and
the competition inaugurated. Mon
ongalia is one of the most fertile
counties in the State and abounds in
large coal fields and that most yalua-
BILE mineral-iron. The wealth that
would flow into the Golfers Of the peo-
pie of that county should a railroad
be built, by the opening of mines,
sale of lands and Inauguration of
business enterprises of all kinds, can
only be demonstrated by what has
occurred in other counties in the State.
Look at the number of towns along
the line of the B. d O. road. They
are the receiving points for lumber,
produce and grain from the interior.
Would these towns be in existence if
there was no road? No, indeed.
Then the same argument can be
brought to bear on Monongalia. 1t
will not be the people along the line
who will be benefited, but those who
live and do business in the interior as
well. The people generally through
out the county will be benefited, by
the completion of the road The fact
remains that every man must buy
provisions, hardware and all the
commodities dispensed at the stores
along the line. If the railroad hauls
these necessaries within five miles of
their doors, certainly they can be
bought cheaper than when they are
placed at more remote business
center-say fifty miles. A railroad
passing through such a county as
Monongala would add population
wealth and prosperity to the ow
stagnant condition of affairs there.
| In order to bear ont our statements
we now make comparison between
Monongalia and Preston counties:
:. In 1920 the population of Preston
was 1922; Monongalia, 11.060; Mon
ongalia over Preston 1858. In
wealth, at this period, Monongalis
far exceeded Preston.
Now in 1870 let us see how things
stood: Population - Monongalia
13,437; Preston, 14,555; Preston ovel
MOnongalia, LOIS. Wealth-Mon