The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-11-12

49, 4 90 u ~ ~ - v, ri
little value. they ara much more
than mere transportntitp agenciessl
They bring commercial he and ac-l
tivity, create values. stimulate bnsi- |
ness enterprises Improve the moral
and spiritual condition OF the people,
ana advance the general prosperity OF
the State They not only uid direct
III In the development of the State.
but they pay Q large portion OF the
taxes thereof The effect OF ruil-
roads in increasing values l. well IL
Illustrated IN comparing some OF the
counties OF the State with an without
railroads. The total assessment Of 4
the property In Hardy county in 4 $50
Twas double that Of Randolph county,
but In the meantime a railroad has
been built In Randolph county. and
lin 1907 the total assessment there was
five timea that OF Hardy county,
which county Is still without rail-
roads. Pendleton county had to-
! tial assessed valuation in 1883 of three
times that Of Tucker county, but in
the meantime a. railroad has been
built therein, and last year. Tucker
county's assessment was three times
that OF Pendieton. These two couri-
tiles without railroads increased In as
lsessed valuation an average of 95 per
cent. while the counties named,
Through which railways have been
constructed. Increased In the same
period 1888 per cent, more than 30
times as much, and these counties are
lall in the same section OF the: State.
West Virginia needs more railways,
Years ago when hostile legislation on
one hand, and unfavorable trade con-
ditions on the other, Discouraged fur
Their building, Every mile Of new
railroad helps the state In many ways
and instead Of making 1t harder 10
build and maintain. railroads, o wise
policy would be to help and encour-
age thcm by fair laws and just tax
alton. ~. ~
It Is. ! think. the duty OF this body
to counteract, as far as possible, the
feeling Of unfriend Illness, II not hos
tility. that has recently been mani
Tested by the public and State ard
i Federal officials toward corporations,
and to make more clearly the dtstinc-
ton between corporations and trusts.
Il The Government from the earliest
days: has granted charters, even aid
Ing the railroads across the continent
by land grants, and West Virginia. by
the passage Of q broad and liberal
general incorporation act, has en-
Icouraged the formation of..scorpora-
tions, not only for business in the
State. but in other States. It has
been very generally recognized by
legislators and leading men every
where that corporations are desirable
and benefit to the State, and arc In
fact essential to the Industrial devel-
n opment OF the State. They are COM
posed of individuals who have Joined
some special purpose, which can be
attained better by combined effort
than by; single endeayor If a mem
u Der OF d firm or partnership dies, OF
becomes insolvent, the business Is apt
70 be disturbed and often ceases. OF
has to be readjusted, but In tho case
of corporations. the financial difficult
ties or the death Of Individual stock
| holders does not AFFECT the affairs OF
the corporation. In this co-opera-
tive way are organized and conduct
Sti railroads. banks. rnafiufactures
\ public. utilities. and many OF Il the
Varied industries OF the day. K They
come in competition with each other
ana do not regulate or attempt 10
regulate prices. When. however
they or individuals combine to form
d trust, then such ~cornbinatio be.
fcome obnoxious andss hurtfni- to the
public interest. They. ara usually
made not only to. reduce the expense
!, EofS administration. but % stifie compe,
titicn BY crowding tsout the smaller
dealer and to regulateaprices 30 thai
the public pays an undue profit, and
more than 1t would under other con.
ditions. This has brought the people
to realizing sense of the unfaIrness
and injustice of trusts. But they dc
not always discriminate between them
and corporations, which are mos
useful and necessary in our modern
business methods. Take banks for
instance: They serve the commun.
lily IN many ways; they form con.
venient depository for safe keeping
of funds. and yet the greater part OF
these deposits are placed among the
people to carry on the daily opera