The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-14
Ont with the Facts.

Tho Wheeling & Lake Erie people are
particular to say that they. have no in
terest in the matter of the payment Of
the last install mont Of Ohio county's
subscription to the Bridge and Terminal
Company stock. 1t happens, however,
that they come along very OPPORTUNITY
tocharge the Terminal Company with
making exorbitant charges for the use
Of itsterminal facilities.
In view of tho Terminal Company's
pledge to Ohio county and its further
obligations to the business interest, OF
Wheeling, which have given that com
pany hearty support, it is worth while
to know what these charges are which
the Wheeling & Lake Eric considers
exorbitant, what that company has
offered to pay as showing its idea OF
fair rates, If it has made any PROPOSE
ton, and why 1t has not boon possible
for the two companies to come together.
Apart from any and oil merely local
reasons why the Terminal Company
shall do business for the Wheeling &
Lake Erie at the same rates it charges
other companies for like service, is the
obligation imposed by the interstate
commerce law, which governs business
crossing the, Union bridge. Inits de-
sire to get all the business
it can, it would be strange
II the Terminal Company has
Disseminated against the Wheeling q
Lake Erie and so shut itself off from all
revenue from that source. The charge,
grave as It is, OF exorbitant demands, is
not accompanied by any explanation.
The people Of Ohio county would like
TO know how the matter stands, and
since they have not been told by the
Wheeling & Lake Erie, they turn to the
Terminal Company, of which thoy have
the right to ask the question.
There may be no connection between
the allegation OF exitorbant charges
and the fight OF the hidden hand on the
Terminal Company. The Wheeling &
Lake Erie has at least q possible motive
to oppose with all the vigor it can COM
mand, including paid attorneys, lobby
lists and bushwhackers in general. 1t
never made serious move to come
within gunshot of Wheeling until the
Union bridge was q certainty. No road
Is more interested, none quite SO much,
in the financial failure OF the bridge
and terminal enterprise.
The Wheeling & Lake Eric lies at the
Ohio end of the system ready to make
use Of 1t when it can do SO on its own
terms. If the terminal system fails to
pay its interest charges the red flag will
90 up, and the Wheeling & Lake Erie
can afford to pay more than anybody
else will pay and still get q bargain,
wipe out the stock, wipe out the con-
tract with Ohio county. shut out every
other road and have a good thing all to
itself
If the county can BIO induced to in
iure its own credit by Withholding the
payment due, holders Of tho terminal
systems securities will take fright, that
system is likely to stop where it is, and
the scheme to gobble, not new one
and not severe tax on theingenuity OF
men Of average shrewdness, will be
made much easier.
The Terminal Company cannot af-
ford to let the Wheeling & Lake Fries
charge go unanswered. If the Wheel
ing & Lake Erie expects ever to have
business relations with Wheeling it
cannot afford to be suspected Of playing
q wrecking game against an enterprise
in which Ohio county has put her
money and much of her hope for the
future. This is time for showing Of
hands, and the cleaner they may be the
better.