Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-22
STATE DEVELOPMENT.


the extent of the interest which - TO GO
paid, suffers an annual drain of its product
i've capital That is to say,a large par OF
the net earnings Of the community goes
abroad to pay interest on the county debt
2. The managers Of the new highway are
generally absorbing the profits Of nearly
every private enterprise along the road.
3. The market value Of property has not
advanced because there are no buyers except
persons holding confidential relations with
the managers ofthe highway.
4. Before the road wss built the property
was owned by the home people, but the
property is now largely owned BY non-resi-
dents.
The Experience of Jefferson.
The county Of jefferson has had her ex-
perience in this matter. Ii subscribed
$3.50. GOO TO the Shenandoah Valley X. K.
While the promoters were manufacturing
public opinion so as to carry an election IN
favor of subscription, they argued that
building the road would scatter
money; but the labor came from dis
lance, the contractors had their own stores,
and, it has been estimated. that $40, 900
Toutside of the cost oft right ofwayl win
cover all the money expended in building
the road, which remained in this county. 1t
was argued that the new road would
cheaper transportation, but there has been
no reduction in rates except such as also
occurred at poirts where there was no COM
petition. il was also argued that
the new road would increase the value OF
properly, but it has not done so. 1t was
said that the country would receive stock
for her bonds, but the road is 80 heavily
mortgaged that the stock is unsaleable. IL
was said that the railroad property would
pay large taxes, but while we are drained OF
81, 900 year to pay the interest on our
debt, the railroad county tax for 1882 did
not exceed $500. 1t was said that the
county, being stockholder, would be rep
resented in the management of the corpora
ton, but the county has no voice whatever
in its affairs; the entire road is owned and
controlled by non-residents. We cannot
pay off this debt in less than twenty five
years and, counting average interest, we
will then be out Of pocket say $450,000
every dollar of which must be raised BY
taxation.
We do not say that the new road has not
been great benefit to this county, but we
do say that the benefit which has been OBJ
tanned is not worth one-half no not one
third rs much as it will cost US. The point
is, if this $l50,000 (which will be sent
abroad) was retained here ut home and oc-
cupied in productive industry this county
twenty years hence, would be indefinitely
better of than she will be after sustaining
this drain upon her resources. Be 1t re-
membered that the annual net increase IN
the wealth of such county is proba-
bly, not more than one-half Of the amount
we will send abroad annually during the
next twenty years to pay the principal and
interest of this debt 1t IS not believed that
this picture OF Jefferson is too highly col,
ored and her experience will be the expert
ence of many other counties in this State
An Illustration.
About year ago one of our leading
newspapers heralded it abroad as indicating
great prosperity that well known capital
ist of an adjoining State had purchased 81
COO acres in West Virginia for $97, 1000. A
few months afterwards the newspapers were
advocating county subscriptions to railroad
which would run through this tract Of land
When that road is built this land which
cost S97, 900 viii be worth $2,000,OOO, but
| the question is, how far are we or our sons
| to be benefited by this transaction? A
State is prosperous only when the property
within her limits is owned by the home peo-
pie.
| Present Owners Should Gather the Har-
vest.
The writer has no sympathy with any
scheme of development which will not ben
eft the present population. 1t IS the de-
| light of some 10 describe the West Virginia
people as ignorant, thriftless and incapable;
| that the State will not be prosperous until
the present population is ousted from their
property and new set of people with en-
| ergy brought in. The writer of the report
does not tolerate such suggestions. 1t is
| craftsmanship to accelerate the prosperity OF
the present population and q gross perver-
sion of State craft to encourage methods
whereby strangers may acquire our lands
for string OF beads.
| 1t is Difficult to Arrest Public Attention.
But there is another feature of the situa-
ton in West Virginia. The men who are
stimulated by a private interest frequently
become the managers of politics, and public
business is often shaped to advance their
money-making schemes.
| An Agency Needed to Publish the Facts.
There is character of information
which ought to be spread before the people
which seems to be sedulously suppressed.
The average citizen, engrossed with per
sonal affairs, seldom travels outside his
daily duties to investigate subjects of q
public nature which equally concern every
other member of society and it is mere &C.
cident When publicity is given to any mat
| which some private interest wishes to con-
ceal We have reached an age when vast
! capital easily combines and we frequently
end a systematic organization of the best
mental power in the community in some
special direction to- promote enterprises
| whereby q few individuals will quickly
| gather enormous private fortunes,
but which enterprises are extremely
detrimental to the general welfare. 1t is
wellknown to such persons as have consid-
| cred this subject, that combinations are
formed to prosecute in this State enter
prises of vast profit which are illegal,
which hinder the prosperity OF our people
| and which are undertaken only because
those who prosecute them expect to be able
\ to conceal the facts from the general pub
lie.
Persons Interested to Prevent Publicity.
Although many members Of the Legisla-
ture win recognize the importance of Great
ing some agency which, representing the
State government, win collect and publish
information of the character here indicated;
and although every one, whose eye is single
to the common welfare admits that such an
agency viii be Of infinite utility, yet It is not
to be expected that the average politician
will be aggressive in this behalf unless sus-
tanned by a public opinion sufficiently strong
to silence the clamorous opposition Of those
personal schemes which thrive on diseased
condition of the body polite.
4 =
The writer goes on to illustrate the neces,