Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-04

and OH the train, haS act many pc o.
pie. should say the Republicans
have practically conceded us
the State. At all events
there is very little effort being m2de
anywhere to strengthen their hopes.
With good, systematic management
and with the enlightenment there now
is In the farming districts on the tariil
question, the Democratic party mas
come to stay, not only in this State. out
many others as well that were hereto
fore hanging In the balance"
The reporter also had pleasant chat
with Secretary OF State Ohiley. 1T
would be difficult to say just how many
miles we have travelled in the two weeks
we have been on the road, but | know
we have been on the continual go. Yet
I think 1t has benefited all
the members Of the party.
We have covered considerable territory,
from the fact that to reach all the rail-
roads in West Virginia we naturally
have to travel in circultous route, and
frequently have to go some distance
through other States, as on the Norfolk
and Western, particularly In Virginia.
The only stop we have made OF any
length was at Virginia Beach, where we
enjoyed ourselves for two days, ana
where Auditor Duffy especially distin-
guished himself by rescuing fair dam
sci OF leviathan proportions from
watery grave"
sOf course. in going over the roads
rapidly in this way we are unable TO
note every detail of the system accu-
rately, yet the board is better Informed
of the condition and property OF the
railroads than the public would mag
inc. Almost every Improvement, how
ever slight, in the railroad line Is re-
corded in some paper in publication be-
fore the work is far progressed, and all
these are noted by the members OF the
board from time to time through the
year, as are also changes and improve.
ments seen by members on individual
trips, and with these notes, together with
the assessments of other years in our
possession, we travel we'll armed.
or course there Is trouble
at times In getting at all
the taxable property Of the railroads,
and we often have some lengthy discus
sions with the officials as to the extent
OF assessment, but on the whole we get
along very smoothly. One feature OF
the railroad business that Is growing In
our State Is the lease system. You see
II railroad company leases so many
cars from n car builder or manufacturer
In another State, thesecars become ex-
empt from taxation because the owners
live In another State, yet at the same
time ii Is a question whether they are
taxed even In the other State, as II IL a
very difficult matter for assessors 10 tell
Just where all manufacturers goods
are located. The result Is the cars 60
untaxed. These cars ought TO be taxed
in this State, as they are practically
owned here. the lease system amount
Ing 10 little short OF the instailment
plan, as the cars are generally leased,
say for twenty years, and at the end OF
that time the company owns the cars"
The roads now throughout the State
are being built In a very substantial
manner, particularly the Norfolk and
Western, which opens up one the rich
est coal aud timber regions have ever
seen. Next year there will likely be a
number OF new and important railroads
on the taxable list, notably the Norfolk
and Western, the terminal System and
the road from Weston TO Braxton Court
House. About the only new road COM
pieted last year was the line from Fair
mont ID Clarksburg. A meeting OF the
board will probably be held some time
the last OF July, and the report made