West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-05-05

prospect. aud no population along
he line 10 warrant me road a sufh-
cient support, aud thai there is a.
absence Vt many other things upon
which the great trunk lines depend
for dividends.
Very few business enterprises OF
any character would be begun Al the
SINE qlt0 non was business already
at hAud. needing no Development.
involving no risk. requnug 10 SIC
IGce, no growth, no wsiting Tor re-
turns. aud energy and courage 10
work 1t W, There are some rail-
roads, 1t IL true, where paying bu-
siness IL already made and waiting
ioI their Construction, but as a rule
the road must make liz business, and
what ~ true OF railroads csh b. sad
OF lew other business enterprises, and
that is, that they never TAI! to make
tneir business. TUey are sometime,
sold out, but they never cease when
once begun; they are lever tcrn ~
aud bolshei; they are permanent
institutions whep once pul down,
AID they prof the whole people
when they a. to pay dividends to
tue stockholders.
III We have rai!Ioads in West Wiz.
gaia We must consent 20 exercise
lltle patience about dividends,
take Itt,e risk upon the qusntum
OF business with which they begin
operations, but re ying. neverthel ess,
upon the main chance, which is as
cure IN this State AZ any Other, that
he ultimate resnts will be remu-
oelatiVe.
For the same reason We must
necessarily depend in this State
more upon public suhscr ptions than
private capital. Private capital may
not be willing to wait for its returns,
but the people who are benefited
from he start cen afford TO be taxed
for the general benefits derived from
opening road. IN discussing this
branch of the subject, tie Register
held the following views in an edi-
torial article published few mont q
ago and which we fac some OF our
exchanges reproducing at this time.
It is rs good doctriue now as il
was then:
Voting a subscription from
county treasury to the construction
o. local railroad lie a correct and
commendable policy,
We build tnrnp'kes in that Wv,
why not lailtoa]s.
"A railroad is more properly q
public enterprise than is = turnpike.
"A turnpike is comparatively 9
sectional institution. 1t sccummo-
dates a neie borhood or section Of
county. II seldom stre, ches across
The full limits of county. But a
tax If levied upon the entire PEG.
pc to build it.
"a railroad, on iha other band,
reaches everybody. j. belongs, in
measure, to everybody. It. is reck-
oned AZ tue chief agency in the
county's progress and development.
It. is like the chief artery in the
county's system Of ro9dwaYq. AL
roads lead to il, and all sections
draw their nourshments from it.
when It is once sot into the svs-
ten, new life ;s Infused into every
foot of territory hat opens c1onec-
tion with it.. To crt it out after j,
is once there, is to destroy the lie
OF the county. The people would
rise mp in arms 10 retain it.
"Why, then should not the peo-
pies money build the railroad?
"Who is wronged ? Who is taxed
uujuslIY by such policy ? Every
sxpayer is benefited by the road in
proportion to his property. lie pave
IN the sane proportion to the county
subscription. Thus to burdeo and
the baoe4t are balanced; it is abso-
IoteIy fair; it lie exact justice be-
tween cilizsuH it is equity itself.
1--WE are impressed with the con-
viction that such policy is pecu-
liarly aproper one for West Virginie.
1T is our main chance.
"The people Of our State are com.
Paratigely poor. Il is easy for each
man 10 contribute little, but il is
impossible for few of our peopleto
build the railroads we need from
their own resources. A general tax.
va say, is our only resource. The