Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-01-15
(By John G. Bond.l

ONO railroad IN this state that be-
cause Of alleged domination of the
Pennsylvania system the former
road is not prepared to take care of
the increasing freight shipments.
have come to Governor Glasscock and
that official has started an investiga-
ton. The complaints coming from
the shippers in the extensive Fair
mont coal field are especially bitter,
and before leaving for trip to sew
eral upstate towns, Governor Glass
cock declared that some action will
be taken If the conditions are found
to be as charged.
The governor favors public serv-
ice commission to handle such diff
culties and regrets that House Bill
No. 312, offered at the last session
of the legislature, was not passed. He
believes that such commission could
do much good when such conditions
arise. The governor is gathering data
on the question andwill discuss the
matter with large delegation of ship
pers at Clarksburg today.
Some of the shippers have announc-
ed their intention of asking the gov
ernor to call an extra session of the
legislature to take action in case the
situation is not relieved. Governor
Glasscock has not intimated what
action he will take. In speaking of
the matter he said:
The report has come to me that
freight shipping interests of the large
and important section of the state
| traversed by the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad are making bitter complaint
that that railroad, because of the
domination on the part of powerful
railroad interests operating in an ad-
Joining state, is not keeping pace
with the business growth of the COM
munity located in its territory, but on
the contrary, its equipment has been
allowed to run down until it Is entire
: ly inadequate to handle the increas-
ing traffic of that rich territory now
, in course of development.
~ regret that such conditions have
arisen as to lead to this complaint.
/ During my administration so far, and
believe the other state officials have
/ had similar experience, have found
the Baltimore e Ohio Railroad COM
pany fair in all respects so far as We
have had to deal with its officials.
While other roads have appealed to
! the courts for relief from the pro-
visions of the two-cent passenger fare
law, the Baltimore & Ohio has shown
disposition to abide by the law, and
| has made no attempt to charge a
higher rate of fare than that fixed by
the law.
Charges Are Serious.
| "But the charges made are serious
and should be carefully investigated.
If It is true as charged that the
Pennsylvania interests are able
through their ownership of part of
the stock of the Baltimore & Ohio, to
dominate and dictate the policies Of
the Baltimore G. Ohio Railroad in
| the territory dependent upon it, then
it is high time that steps should be
taken to remedy the evil, for it is in
deed a great evil. The co-nplainants
charge that the interests referred to
are centering their efforts toward
building up the Pennsylvania system
for the development of its territory,
and at the same time are in position
to dictate the policies of the Balti-
more & Ohio, and that they are dictat-
ing to the extent that the manage
ment of the Baltimore & Ohio are
powerless to keep that road in such
shape as to take care of the shippers
along the lines.
"a large section OF West Virginia
is entirely dependent upon the Balti-
more & Ohio for its railroad facilities
In fact, almost the entire northern
half of the state must develop with
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad until
other roads are constructed. Other
trunk lines cross the extreme Eastern
Panhandle and the Northern Pan
handle, while a few counties are
traversed by the Western Maryland.
Nearly all the counties fronting on
the Ohio river are dependent upon
the Baltimore & Ohio. Many smaller
roads, opening up rich districts, are
feeders to this great trunk line which
has almost twice as many miles OF
track as any other railroad, and
whose property valuation is greater
than that of any other two railroads
in the state. Each day thousands o.
feet of lumber are prepared for
shipment along its lines; the product
of manufactures each day total man.
carloads; while millions of dollars
worth of farm and fruit products arr
offered annually for shipment.
State Dependent on q. G. o.
"All this industry and development