Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-02
BCIADINa RAILROADS BY PUBLIC
SURSCRIPrIONS.


BUILDING RAILROADS ny PUBLIC
SUBSCRIPTIONS
We regret to see that opposition is
offered to voting the subscription by the
county of Preston to the proposed rail-
road from KingwoOd to connect with
the L. & o., by one or more of the Lead
ing men ofthat county.
1t is true that the men representing
the largest individual wealth,and there
fore paying the most tax, are also at the
head of the enterprise, but back Of them
appear to be other men, influential as
citizens and whose Judgment as fnan-
ciers has influence, who are figuring for
the masses To show that the road won't
pay.
Tie determina.io and tenacity with
which public subscription to rail-
road enterprise is resisted, Is one OF the
anomalies in our public Polity which
might be expected in a state where
railroads already exist, but Is almost
inexplicable in a State where existence
is becoming every year aproblem, with
cut railroads.
But our people fight it like fire. They
act ike children who resist the dose of
medicine that is essential TO restore
them to health and yigOr, preferring to
languish and wane and finally die OF
imbecility rather than to put bad
taste in their mouths. Ii was so IN p
shur county, the other day, where alter
"A campaign that required all the ener-
gies and time of the more enterpriSlng
for some weeks TO work the voters up
to the point, the subscription carried by
only a margin of four or five votes. lt
has been so and seems destined TO con-
tinue To be 80 in other counties where
subscriptions are proposed.
But while such subscriptions should
he voted with care ana business discre-
ton, 50 as not To involve a county in
disastrous burden oftaNatiOn, 1t is very
Jane and unsubstantial basis upon
which to found such opPOsition,t TO argu
that "the road won't pay 1t is very
seasy for the tinanciers.tO sit down and
figure out. a. they are doing In Preston
that there are no dividends in prospect,
and no population along the line to
warrant the road sufficient support, and
that there i an absence of many other
things upon which the great trunk
line, depend for dividends.
Very few business enterprises of any
character would be begun if the sine qua
nOR was business already at hand,
needing no development, involving no
risk, requiring no sacrifice, no growth,
no waiting for returns, and no energy
some railroads, it is true, where a pay
ing business i already made and wait
ing tor their construction, but rs rule
the road must make its business, and
what is true of railroads can he said of
few other business enterprises, and that
is, that they never fail to make their
business. They are sometimes sold out,
hut they never cease when once begun;
they are never torn up and abolished;
they are permanent institutions when
once put down, and they profit the
whole people when they fail to pay div
idends to the stockholders.
five have railroads in West Virginia
we must consent to exercise little
patience about dividends, take little
risk upon the quantum of business with
which they begin operations, but rely
ing, nevertheless, upon the main chance,
which is as sure in this State a any
other, that the ultimate results will De
renumerative.
For the same reason We must neces-
sarily depend in this State more upon
public subscriptions than private capt.
tai. Private capital may not be willing
to wait for its returns, but the people
who are benefited from the start can
afford To bee taxed for the general bene-
fits derived from opening a road. In
discussing this branch of the subject, the
REGISTER held the following views in
an editorial article published a few
months ago and which We find some of
our exchanges reproducing.at this time.
1t is rs good doctrine now rs it was then:
Voting subscription from a county
treasury to the construction of a local
railroad is correct and cGmmendable
policy.
We build turnpikes i'm that way, why
not railroads?
A railroad is more properly a pubIc
enterprise than is turnpike.
A turnpike Is comparatively see
tional institution. It.accOmmOdateS
neighbOrhOOd or section offs county. IL
seldom stretches across the full limits Of
county. But tax is levied upon the
entire people to build it.
A railroad, on the other hand, reaches
everybody. IL belongs, in a measure,
TO everybody. Ii is reckOned aS the chief
agency in the cOuntTy'S progress and
development. 1t is like the chief artery
i'm the COunty'S system of rOadwayS.
All roads lead to it, and all sections
draw their nOuriShment from it.
When il is once set into the system,
new life is infused into every 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 would rise up in arms to retain
il.
Why, then, should not the peoples
money build the railroad?
Who is wrOnged? Who is taxed I'M
Justly by such policy? Every tax
payer is benefited by the road in pro-
portion to his property. He pays in the
same proportion to the county sub
scriptiOn. 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 eonvic-
ton that such a policy is peculiarly
proper one for West Virginia.
Ii is our main chance.
The people Of our State are cOmpara-
lively poor. 1t is easy for each man to
contribute little, but it is impossible