The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-10-05

tending and improving its yards
here in order to meet local demands.
Secretary K. v. D. King of the
board of trade, at whose instance
the conference was held. called the
conference to order and explained
it's object as being to talk over what
.clarksburg needs and to lay before
the railway officials local conditions
as viewed by home people
Mayor Frank r. Moore addressed
the conference and .Mr. Thompson in
particular pointing out the friendly
attitude CIarksburg has ever main
tanned toward the railroad company
in striking contrast to the antagon-
ism of ParkersDurg and Wheeling.
which cities are always fighting for
something and getting about all the
company has to give. He dwelt par
ticularly on the inferior passenger
service on the Short Line and West
Virginia and Pittsburg divisions and
commended that Clarksburg's UNI
euualled patronage in this state jutt-
fed better conditions.
General Manager Thompson in adj
dition to directing attention to the
improvements made and making
here stated that the company was
engaged in the expenditure of SO.
100000 in the mountain district
east of Grafton to properly handle
freight and passenger traffic from
this territory and that Clarksburg
should take that fact into consider
alton. lie also stated that the COM
pany was engaged in rehabtlitating
the railroad lines running to the
Parkersburg branch here and that
the service was being constantly
though gradually improved. IN re-
fering to the Short Line railroad, he
stated that its first construction in
dicated that it was built to sell and
that it would cost $4,000 a mile
to make it first class road. He
admitted that the passenger SER
vice was not what it should be on
the West Virginia and Pittsburg di-
vision, but he stated that the COM
pany had improved it within the
year, coaches being used in some OF
the trains there now that were used
in the best trains year ago on the
main lines, these coaches having
been supplanted with steel coaches
on the main lines.
Appreciation was expressed by
Mr.. Thompson of the great volume
of business the Clarksburg stations,
passenger and freight, give the COM
pany. He emphasized this to the
extent of stating that even during
the hard times the volume kept con-
stantly growing month by month.
He expressed a desire to give
Clarksburg all the company could
afford, and then in considerable de-
tail he explained the earning powers
of the various departments of the
system. Mr.: Thompson declared that
the Baltimore and Ohio was the only
eastern railroad company now en-
gagged in making improvements. He
stated that the necessity OF paying
dividends, the refusal of the inter
state Commerce Commission to ALL
low a recent slight increase in
freight rates, higher wages of enl-
ployees and state legislation limit
ing passenger rates all curtailed the
ability to make improve
ments, the action of tie Interstate
Commerce Commission as cited cut
ting Oft prospective revenue to the
of $2J5OO.00O.
The conference was a friendly and
frank one and it is believed It
brought about a closer and better
between the company
and the city's representatives.
Mr.. Thompson and party were due
here at o'clock in the afternoon
1t which time the conference was to
be- held, but they were delayed by q
wreck ON the Short Line, which in !