South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-08-11
DENVER CoIorado .1alx =;

weeks later than his original SEIZED.
ule time your correspondent l,astcn-
ed through 10 this Rocky Mountain
metropolis without taking ms much
note Of the journey as first intended
1t was a great relief to get away from
the heat of the Capital aud from fol.
lowing the. routine proceedings of
di!atory and incompetent Congress
into the free air of the West and the
rapid motion of a railroad train.
And it would have been still more
enjoyable had there been time 10
spend few days by the way III leis-
urcly visiting Chicago and the other
wonders along the route. Yet no
matter how rapidly one travels, if he
is of an inquiring turn, and accustom.
ell to keeping both eyes & ears open,
he will see Il good deal aud learn
something of interest concerning the
country through which he passes,
Perhaps the most delightful RAILROAD
ride the writer ever enjoyed was that
over the Chesapeake aud Ohio to Gin.
cinnatl-the new route to the Yves:
OF which we have lately heard SO
much. The scenery of this route
surpasses anything 10 be found east
OF Colorado. 1t is not only pictur-
esque, but in some instances grand,
! and the road is in every way excel
lent, with all the improved facilities
which render travel agreeable aud
safe. But we will not set out to Gu.
logize the railroads in general, for
many of them do not deserve it, and
they are abundantly able to take care
of themselves. 1t is difficult TO trav-
1 ell in these days without observing
the enormous increase OF this great
interest and imbibing in some degree
a realizing sense of the Importance
the railway problem is assuming in
our political economy. 1t is only II
question of time when Congress will
be compelled to abandon its present
slothiul policy with reference to the
various phases ofthis subject and take
up the cudgel OF Legislation in behalf
of the people. While the railroads
are among the leading forces in the
industrial development OF the coun-
try, the power which they vest in the
hands OF their controlling officials is
a dangerous one, and the tendency to
constellation and combination, which
is becoming greater year by yeat /,
builds up monoplies which are the
natural enemies and oppressors of the
Ieopie. They yearly grow more in
different to public opinion and indc-
pendent OF the public welfare The
total earnings of all the railroads of
the country for the year 1881 was O..
yer 725,000,000, or nearly double
the total revenue OF the United States
Government. Employed by all these
roads are over 100000 men. The
power welded by the united corpo
ratIons controlling such mighty
force aud possessing such an ennr-
nous revenue will soon render them
well nigh independent of laws and OF
the men who are supposed to make
them.
The rapidity with which new lines
are being constructed, especially in
the West, is astonishing. During
the first six months OF this year over
5000 miles of track have been laid
in the United States, and it is estima-
ted that more than that number OF
miles will be completed in the other
six months, so that ;hc total construc-
ton for the year will not fall much
short of IL 900 miles. Last year it
was 9,358 miles. There are now four
| thrnnnlt IYnns I11,,a,c-r IL
Denver, all most complete in their
appointments and magnificent high
ways in every respect. No fault can
be found on that score. But one
would naturally expect that so much
competition would produce low rates
as well as luxurious accommodation
\ ct it docs not. The new line is no
sooner ready for business than il en-
tiers the old combination, or "pool'' to
keep the rates up to q point Of extor'
ton, almost, and divide the proceeds
among themselves. a meeting of
the managers of these lines was held
here in Denver only few days since
to adjust tie "details of this division.
But whatever these roads do there
can be no more arbitrary and unjust
| combination than that now existing
among the eastern trunk lines, which
is so rigid that the usual concession
for excursion parties, etc, are not al
lowed. The once liberal and pro.
grcs7ivc Pennsylvania road is n NOV.
ing spirit in this pool with Vanderbilt
aud Gould. When Tom Scott was
at the helm this company had some
respect for public sentiment and the
rights Of lis patrons Under the
I present management it is conducted
ON The hog plan, and both public o.
I piuion and public interests are Who'll.
I Us ignored. But / have written G.
Tough about railroads for the present,
fIoufr1 mo- off "a r,t,', ,e ,,,,,,t,t L.,