The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-14

CHARLESTON, Jan, 15The ques-
ton OF government ownership Of rail-
roads popped up in the Senate when
Senator Hartman, Of Grant County, in.
troduced a resolution calling upon the
director general Of railroads TO take
over the Twin Mountain and Potomac
railroad, a narrow gauge line operat.
ing between Keyser and Twin Noun.
tain, and operate it as part OF the
Baltimore and Ohio System.
Senator Hartman moved that the
rules be suspended or immediate con
stderation OF his measure. Senator
Senders. Of Mercer County, chairman
OF the judiciary committee, in oppos
ing the motion, said: "This opens up
the question Of government ownership
of railroads. l am opposed to govern
ment ownership and ] think the mem
beers of the senate should have plenty
OF time to give this question mature
consideration" Senator Hartman then
withdrew his motion, and his resolu-
ton went to the judiciary committee.
I In explaining his resolution, Sena.
tor Hartman said that the Twin Noun
tain and Potomac Railroad, which
serves one Of the states greatest or
chard belts, plans to suspend opera
tions this week. When the road quits
he said. orchard men Of that section
will be shut off from the markets.
Government ownership of the larger
lines, he declared has put the narrow
gauge line out OF business. THE
Twin Mountain and Potomac could
not meet the governemnt's wage scale.
he declared.
Senator Harmon's resolution reads
as follows: i.
Whereas, the Twin Mountain and
Potomac Railroad Company has ooer-
ated narrow gauge line between
Keyser, Mineral county, and Twin
Mountain, Grant county, West Virgins
la, since March /, 1913, subject to
many losses and disadvantages in its
operation as private enterprise.
And whoieas many additional bur.
.dans Of various kinds grew out Of the
exigencies Of the war situation and
laid crushing weight upon this
struggling development, forcing 9
resolution to sell It's property and
which 1t desires to offer, at a very
heavy sacrifice to those who have
thus far carried 1t, to the Baltimore
and Ohio Itailroad Company the one
logical corporation to operate the line.
And whereas. the state OF West
Virginia would suffer heavily in de-
priying the wonderful orchard devel-
opments located along this line OF ade=
quate transportation facilities practic-
ally impossible to otherwise replace,
mad would further be subject to an
almost irreparable backset in With
holding from an anxious market much
good timber and large quantities OF
mine props, pulp wood, mine ties. tan
bark, cross ties, locust and walnut
wood, and at the same time denying
to labor the incidental means OF live
lihood and to which 1t necessarily
turns with the approach of winter.
Therefore be 1t resolved that the
legislature Of West Virginia declares
1t to be the sense OF this body that It
is the duty Of the director general of
railroads to halt. this backward step
and urge by all proper means the
the equipment and operation OF the
Twin Mountain and Potomac Railroad
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, believing that public inter
est demands the preservation Of the
many enterprises which will be SO
seriously affected IL not actually des-
Ordered that the Governor be re-
.auested to forward a copy OF this res
olution forthwith to VIM. g. McAdoo.
or his successor, director general OF
railroads at Washington, D. Gu