The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-04-26

THE CoUNrrs-We have great cause
for congratuiation this week, that the
Railroad Companies are out of court.
The bugbear of litigation will no
longer disturb our dreams or darken
our hopes of an early completion Of
one or both of these enterprises.
Neither company could afford the
interference and obstruction of legal
process, if sincere in its purpose of
building a road, and the very fact
that both have willingly withdrawn
from such contest, lie additional as
surance, if any were needed, that both
are in earnest.
The details of the compromise, by
which this has been brought about,
are not known to the public. We
are left to the surmise that the West
Va. & Pa. company has concluded to
make the effort to secure less ex-
pensive right of way on the west side
of the river than seemed to be prac-
ticable or possible for it through
Morgantown.
In other words the programme
seems to be for the B. Il 0. to come
down all the way on the east side and
the w. Va. 4 Pa. on the west side to
the mouth OF Cheat.
This divides the honors so far as
the county is concerned, more equally
than if both roads ran on the same
side of the river, but whether to the
advantage of Morgantown is ques-
ton about which men will differ, al
though, we think it will prove better
for each of the railroads.
There is this much to be said in
favor of it, and that is that it assures
US all the benefits Of competition, OF
which we were not equally certain il
both roads we're built directly through
Morgantown. The very fact Of the
river being between them ut this
point makes them competing lines
essentially and intensely so. II they
were on the same side of the river,
neither road would have the advan-
tage of the other as respects the traffic
Of either side. They would simply
put their heads together and agree
Oil rates Of transportation which
would be the same on both lines.
They would be bound to do this to
avoid a cut-throat policy. But be-
ing on different sides of the river
they are more nearly independent
lines. The trade Of the west side
will go exclusively to the west side
road and the trade of the east side
exclusively to the east side road I'M
less each company offers inducements
to shippers of either side to cross
the riyer-that is, unless they com
pete.
And they will compete. 1t is the
natural result of the situation. We
will find that it will give us practi-
cally free bridge-the companies
paying toll on all traffic crossing ,ae
river TO their respective roads; and
not only paying toll, but each "cut-
ting under" it's competitor to induce
shippers to cross the river. We may
be assured that neither company will
he content with the traffic of one
side, it will count all clear gain that
it can take from its competitor on
the opposite side, and thus all the
advantages of steady competition
between two independent lines will
naturally follow, and in this Morgan
town will share even more largely
than the county at large.
That a good part Of the business
of the lower, western section of the
county, which would be obliged to
come to Morgantown if both roads
were on this side; will be intercepted
at station about Granville or jim
town, is not only possible but almost
inevitable. That much, however
great or little it may be, we sacrifice
by losing the w. Va. & Pa. road on
this side.
But we are not disposed to grumble
about this. What is our loss is
gained to our own county. We will
have share in it. If it tends to
build up and develop any other part
of the county than the county seat
itself, we have no reason to begrudge
such result to that fortunate part
Of our county domain. Nothing can
prevent Morgantown from remaining
the chief center of the railroad oper-
atoms of the two lines, or Of having
its business and wealth increased
more rapidly than any other part OF
the county.
| Looking over the whole situation
we are not disposed to fall out with
it in any Of its parts or prospects.
Our horizon is lovely and our goose
hangs high.
In the mean time we have only to
say to our fellow citizens on the west
side that now is their chance. We
believe the building of road on that
side very much depends on their
liberality and aid in securing to the
company the rights of way and other
wise promoting and encouraging the
enterprise.