The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-02-15
BALTIllORE AND OHIO DOES
NOT ENCOURAGE GOOD ROADS

II saMs - true OF Jaw materials anC
supplies for an Industrial or CONNER
cial certer and in the distribution OF
commodities from such center
through the surrounding agricultural
regions the wagon road is always an
important factor"
Mr.. NJ. V. Richards, Land Agent and
Industrial Agent, Southern Railway,
in an address before the Southern APP
palachian Good Roads, convention,
AsheMlle. y. c., October 6, 1903:
That the railroads are virtually in
terested in the Improvement Of the
common highways of the country is
certain. A permanent system of good
roads means only less to the railroads
than 1t does to the people, to the far
mers and the business men of the
towns who make direct use OF them.
1.-THE highway is the feeder OF the rail-
road and the river transportation sys-
TENS. They do two things which
means business for the railroads. They
build up the tributary territory, they
increase the population and the pro-
duction of the section which support
the railroads; by making the people
more prosperous they add to the de-
mands OF any given section, and that
means not only a greater movement
OF freight, but d larger variety and to
very considerable extent higher
class'of trafiic-tthe kind OF traffic that
is most desirable.!sIl ~ >ttt,4s
When you stop to consider the nom
inal expense involved to operate a
special train coRnposed Of not over five
cars for few weeks trip over the
lines of youf railway in this state, 1t is
surprising that the management of
such a corporation as the B. & o.,
progressive as 1t has become in so
many lines, should hesitate for mo-
ment to offer their cooperation. 1t Is
all the more surprising when the fact
is considered that you have, in the
past. and are arranging for the future
to operate institute trains On the in
terest of assisting the farmer in the
growing OF better and moro crops.
Wherein lies the logic of such a move
ment without the additional co-opera-
ton Of building good roads over which
the farmers might be enabled to haul
his crops to market and to the rail-
road, / fail to see it. AS a matter OF
fact, the farmers in this county, for at
least six months in the year, can not
haul to the nearby towns to dispose of
to the merchants or TO the railroad
stations for shipment. what is already
produced from their present efforts.
Another great argument for i'm
proved highways within the state, lis
the great natural beauty of the coun4
try which would attract tourists from
all over the United States. II would
also tend to build up better and more
extensive summer resorts IL good
roads were adjacent thereto and con-
tinuous therefrom to points without
the state so as to ne reached by auto.
mobiles in every direction.
: We should also revive the building
UP of the great Northwestern turnpike
extending from Winchester, Va, tol
Parkersburg. W. Va, which orlgtnat-
ed in a survey by George Washington,
and which would naturally be made a.
part of interstate or national high
ways now being very seriously consId-
cred by our federal government.
In any event. l wish to state that we
have already made application for an
engineer to be furnished by the Bu-
reau Of Public Roads to make pre-
liminary survey of our needs for Har-
rison county, and we will go ahead
with our campaign, regardless Of
whatever decision>is rendered by your
management in connection with any
movement for the balance OF the ter
rltory in which YOU are interested
within the state. Iii'vfsw OF the above,
however, trust you will carefullyire-
view the whole situation and see IL
you can not consistently recommend
to your management the running OF u
special good roads train, as requested,
and which has the unqualified en-
dorsement of; the leading commercial
associations Of thestounties through
which it would run,
Awaiting your early reply, I remain
Very truly yours,
CDARFSBURG BOARD or TRADE.
(Slgned) II. V. D, KING.
secretary-Treasurer