The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-04-25
PRESIDENT WILLARD IS
HONORED By McGRAW


to the large sum above mentioned,
which is paid out directly for wages,
the company purchases in this state,
materials of various kinds. such as
coal, lumber. etc, amounting to
more than 100000 per annum.
During the last two years over ST.
100000 has been spent for i'm
provements upon its lines located in
this state. and there are now under
way improvements which will cost
s2,0o0,o00 more TO complete. l
mention these figures or the purpose
OF showing the magnitude Of the
Baltimore and Ohio company's OPP
erations in your state, and the init
mate relations which must on that
account exist between the company,
the state and its industries. I'm
fortunately, during the last ten or
fifteen years the intimate relation
above suggested, has not existed at
all times between the railroads, as
whole, and the people.
Something like ten years ago,
growing feeling of bitterness
against the railroads seemed to cul-
inmate in a period of great legisla-
tive activity. More than l 600 laws
have been enacted during the last
five years in the various states and
BY the federal government, all in
tended in some way to regulate or
control the railroads, and the effect
has been reflected in greatly reduced
expenditures by the railroads during
that period for equipment and I'm
provements, and it is the belief or
many that railroad development has
fallen short Of Industrial develop
ment during the same period, or
since 1907, and 1t Is feared that
!, when the next period of business
activity comes upon us, the carriers
will be found quite unable to meet
1.-THE demands for transportation. The
bitterness OF the feeling which re-
suited in such drastic legislation
was due. in no small degree, to
faults committed by the carriers
themselves. 1t may be stated as a
fact, however. that most, If not all,
OF the things originally complained
of have now been corrected; but the
reform movement. which was started
for the purpose of correcting recog-
lnized evils, has been carried so far
las to seriously retard the necessary
development of the railroads, and
thereby jeopardize industrial devel-
Iopment as we'll. There is reason
Inow to believe that the attitude OF
hostility above referred to, has been
very, greatly modified, IL. not. com
pletely changed within the last year
or eighteen months. The public. I
believe. is coming to understand that
railroads have become, in sense.
the wards of the nation Commits
sions appointed bv the people have
been given absolute control OF the
rates which the carriers may charge
Legislative bodies have passed laws
regulating the character of equip
ment, the hours OF service and the
number of men that shall be en-
ployed in various capacities, so that
not only is the income of the rail-
roads under the complete control OF
the public, but their expenses are
also largely Influenced by legislative
action. -"
Ample transportation facilities are
vitality necessary in country of such
great distance as ours, and / fully
believe that. the people are willing
that the carriers should be be al
lowed to make such rates and
charges as will fairly compensate
them for the service performed, and
enable them to so establish their
credit as to justify and make possi-
BILE the necessary expenditures OF
the future. The people demand
and properly so, that charges shall
be the same to all. They demand
that there shall be no partially
shown as between shippers or CON-
munities and they viii expect fair
and reasonable service ut reason
able prices. They are entitled to all
this. and ample machinery has been
provided to insure their getting It.
Having accomplished this 1t is equal
ly important that they should SEQ
that no real injury is dene 10 the
carriers; otherwise. in the end. the
people will be the, ones who will sui,
fer most from such conditions. 1t
should be clearly understood that in
the end the people must pay the
bill. The law of compensation IS
lnexorable in its workings. II the
people demand more from the rail-
roads than they properly and fairly