The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-01-12
Rights of Way for. the Coming
Railroads.

hoHonS ulia SouHty "uhto i"i
road.
We want it very bad.
Nor are we very choice rs TO where
it comes from, who furnishes the
money, or who builds it.
We want the road all the same.
We want it quick. Like the fell
low chasing the chipmuck-he was
tout Of meat and bound to catch it,
so we are after the main chance,
be it big or little.
1t is not worth while, therefore, for
our people to get at cross purposes
and take sides as between any OF
the enterprises that are aiming at Us.
We needn't say that this company
means to build a road and the other
company means only to obstruct the
way and play the dog in the manger.
There is no profit to us in that
kind of an attitude.
What we want to do is to give each
one credit for good faith and throw
wide open gates to every applicant
for rights of way, but, at the same
time, taking care that by giving
rights to one we. do not ohstruct
another.
However little is asked or expected
of Monongalia county from either or
any of the enterprises coming through
our territory-although we have
promised no money, and judging
by the past, are not likely to promise
any-yet the people of this county
have it in their power to greatly facil-
itate the building of n road, or to
defeat and turn it out Of its course,
if they will.
None Of the enterprises now on
foot are so anxious to go through this
county as to be willing to do so at
unreasonable expense for rights of
way. Neither Of them will come on
that condition. We have it in our
power to determine. whether or not
they shall come, BY the price we put
upon the rights Of way Or we have
in our power to aid one company to
act the part of an obstructionist and
keep any other road from coming,
while it takes its time to come, or
declines to come at all.
Manifestly, therefore, the only safe
policy for our people to adopt respect
ing grants of rights of way, is first,
to be liberal to all companies alike,
but, secondly, to grant to none &c
cept on condition that the road rs
bull or commenced ioithn q certain
limit Of time and that no other com
pdny wW build road sooner than
the one TO achich the grant is made.
By adopting this policy our land
holders will not only defeat all mere
obstructionists, but will stir up the
competing companies to the utmost
speed in completing their enterprises
| if they are sincere.
This precaution by our people is
entirely just and fair to themselves
and to the rival companies. Any
company that means business will
not object to it, and nothing will bt
lost if any company refuses to accept
the conditions.
In the mean time it behooves oul
leading business men to bestir them
selves and give whatever aid and adj
vice they can in the matter Of set
Ting the rights of way and othel
questions arising out Of the situation
Let us not sit and wait supinely TO
other men and money to build us {
road, as if we had no interest in it
we can at least afford TO show an ap
probation that costs us nothing, ant
public sentiment is no small facto
in helping any public enterprise. W.
are glad to see that at least few 0
our citizens have both their hearts
and their hands enlisted in behalf o
n road.