Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-05
TIMBER.

Atlantic Commonwealth.
TIMBER.
Nearly two-thirds of the States surface Is
vet covered with the original forest, COM
posed in the main Of hard woods OF msgnit-
cent growth and ~qushty-the oak, poplar,
walnut, cherry, sycamore, ash, chestnut and
locust-sttaining q size unsurpassed east OF
the Rocky mountains.
SALT.
DR.. John P. Hale, probably the best
authority i the State upon the subject, says:
Rich as is West Virginia in coal, iron,
timber, &c. she is scarcely less rich IN that
indispensable necessity to human health
and comfort, and to animal hfe-com-
mon salt. Fossil or rock salt has not been
found in the State; but salt brines of greater
or less strength and in greater or less abun-
dance, are found by artesian borings, al
greater or less depth, throughout the Ap-
palachian coal field, which underlies the
greater portion of our State"
Add TO these the agricultural, stock rals-
ing and wool growing advantages OF a gen.
eIods soil and mild and healthful climate,
and West Virginia offers the absolute
guarantee of a fair and profitable
return for brain, Drawn and capital.
TRANSPORTATION
But why is it that, possessing all these
splendid resources and natural advantages,
located within easy distance of the Atlantic
sea board, and surrounded by populous and
thrifty States, our development has been so
limited and retarded? Why is it that CAPT.
| tai, avoiding, has turned from US to seek
investment in regions more distant and
less favored? Why is it, that the tide OF
immigration has swept over and beyond US
to a more western locality, to engage IN the
upbuilding of great and prosperous States?
Why is it that there are so few lateral raj,
roads connecting with our trunk lines and
reaching back into the interior Of the State,
to those fields of untold, yet, undeveloped
wealth.
There is q reason for these things Just as
certain as there is a cause for every effect.
Is it because we have not invited and pro
tected c~apital2 The history of our legisls-
ton demonstrates the reverse. Is it because
the immigrant has been offered no encour-
sgement to choose his home amongst u.s.
The hand of generous and hospltable peo-
pie has ever been extended. Is it because
| Of unfriendly railroad legislation? In no
State of the Union can there be found such
liberal, and even prodigal, enactments as
our statutes present, upon this subject. Ot
the half dozen trunk line railways CONTROL
ing the internal commerce of the United
States, between the East and West, two OF
them-the Baltimore and Ohio, and the
Chesapeake and Ohio-pass through our
State. The one for nearly half a century
and the other for fifteen years, have traversed
our domain. ,
With a full appreciation OF the extent OF
the statement, Ideclare here that the constant
and unrelenting practice Of these two com.
panies, by rebates, drawbacks aud special
contracts, in discriminating against our
people, in freight and passenger charges, in
the interest of the Western States and Ter
| %ritories, has done more to discourage immi
s~raricn, the investment of capital, the con.
struction of lateral railroads into the inte-
rior, and the development OF the States
resources, than all other causes combined.
| assert, furthermore, that had they, in the
exercise Ct the franchises and privileges con-
TERED upon them by the muniicence OF our
law-making power, dealt with our people
with simple ~even-handed justice, the State
of West Virginia would this day, be one Of
the most prominent of the States in popuia-
ton, wealth and material prosperity.
What encouragement do they offer to
agriculture in exacting from us from %
to so per cent. more for carrying a car
load Of grain from West Virginia to the
Eastern market than from Western State?
What 10 the stock raiser in charging, for in
stance, $40 for a car load of cattle from
Ohio and 500 from West Virginia, to the
same market? What to the manufacturer,
with the same character of discrimination
against him both East and West? What to
the immigrant, when, added to these disad-
vantages of location, he assertains the fact
that immigrant tickets are not sold nor i'm
migrant trains run for West Virginia, and
if be desire to stop there, on his journey
from an eastern city, he is required to pay
more than is required to convey him humid
reds of miles still further West? What to
the capitalists, who may desire to invest his
funds in the construction of a lateral rail-
road into the interior of this State
from one of these through lines,
when he knows that, besides all these en-
bargoes, the business of his road, if con-
structed, must continually be subservient to
the will OF the trunk lines, in the capricious
or avaricious arrangement of freight rates
and charges?
Not only are these ruinous discrimina-
tons made as against our whole people, in
the interest Of States east and west, but the
same methods are applied to particular 10.
Ia. 81 zo-t.1,- -,r,op. uy,Kb,D nnr
own State, thus controlling, at will, the
entire business and industrial interests Of
the State.
The turnpike has long ago ceased to be
more than road for local travel and traffic,
while railroads have become the real arter-
les and highways OF State and continental
commerce. They occupy a position far be-
1oLG the boundaries OF mere private enter.
rise and every consideration Of public pol
lev ard the general welfare demands their
REGULATE on and control BY just and reasona'
bic laws.
1t is no longer a question whether the
State has the power to remedy these hurtful
and pernicieus evils. The judicial mind
has reached forth and grssped the problem,
in all its bearings, and declared, in unmis-
taxable terms, that railroad corporations
are created for public. purposes; that they
are the servants of the people; that their
roads are public highways, and that the
right to control them and regulate their
freight and passenger charges within, and
in the absence of Congressional legislation,
from points within to points without, and
from points without to points within, the
State, is a necessary sovereign power of
government that can neither be bartered
nor given away by State legislation.
We may be told to wait for
Congress to act. We have already
waited many years, and relief is still de-
MED. The House Of Representatives, fol-
lowing the lead Of the broad minded, noble
and intrepid Texan, has again and
again passed reasonable, Just and salu-
tary measures, only to suffer defeat in the
Senatorial end of the capitol, where the de-