The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-04-25

in the end this very important ques-
lion viii be settled right.
In connection with this same mat.
ter, it is also interesting to note that
] the wages paid railroad employees in.
this country are from one to three
times as great Is they are in the
European countries. The last pub.
lished reports show, for Instance.
that the average wage received by
locomotive engineers in the United
States is 1856 per day, compared
with s1.6e paid engineers in Eng
land, and $1.O1 for the same service
in Belgium. With all this in mind.
It seems TO me that II there is any
institution, distinctly American, OF
which all Americans ought to be
proud, It is their railway system,
because, in spite OF all that has been
said and urged against It, 1t Is still
fact that its capitalization is the
lowest in the world; that the wages
paid railway employees in this
country are from two to three times
as high as they are in European
countries, while the rates paid by
shippers are lower In America than
anywhere in the world. and sub
init that this Is record that can
not be paralleled by any other
American institution. II the facts
concerning the American railroads
were only better understood, in my
opinion. much OF the criticism that
has been made in the past would
not' have found utterance.
+ In conclusion. the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company has been
subjected, with the railroads gener-
tally. to all the influences which |
have above referred to. We have
gone along with our improvements.
however. during the last two years,
! firm In the belief that in time bet
ter understanding would come
about and that we would be permit
tied TO reach such reasonable return
upon the money so expended as
would not only justify the expendi-
lture itself, but at the same time
I would encourage future develop
fmepts.
j have already referred to the
large amount spent for improve
ments and equipment by the Baltl-
more and Ohio Railroad Company
during the last two years, and we
will not need less than 81 900 900
and preferably $3.50, OOO, 900 for
similar purposes, and for necessary
extensions, during the next ten
years, and the raising OF that large
sum constitutes a very serious prob
lem, You will understand, Of
course, that 1t can come from only
two sources. that is to say, either
from the surplus earnings OF the
company or through the sale OF Sc
curities, and II the latter plan is fol-
flowed, its success depends upon the
credit OF the company, and / am
anxious that all should understand
how much 1t means to the state of
West Virginia that the credit OF the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany should be maintained upon a
high basis. 1t is infinitely more inn
portant that there should be fair
rates and ample facilities all the
time. than unfair rates with insult
ficient facilities some OF the time.
West Virginia with its s0,O00,-
100000 tons OF coal still in the
ground, its petroleum and cheap ma .
tural gas; with its $500, GOO acres
OF virgin forest, its limestone, clay,
farm and grazing lands and it's de.
Ilightful climate, is a verItable store.
house OF traffic. The Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company appreciates
that the interests of the railroad
and of your state should be and are
identical. The production. of coal in
West Virginia has already reached
the enormous sum of $4,000, 600
tons per annum. second only to the
production Of the state OF Pennssl-
yania, and soon Il believe to be in
excess OF that. Tho vastness of the
Industrial possibilities of West vir-
| glnia Is difficult TO comprehend. and
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company is not only willing but
anxious to help develop them. Very
shortly after came to the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad as president,
u might almost say before had actu-
ally reached my Office, was
waited upon by committee OF dis
tlnguished gentlemen from West
Virginia, urging the necessity for