Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-01-27

lhtG vi W DG " AdiiNe
to eight per cent. why pass such
a bill? Is any bank in West Virginia
failing to prosper at the six per cent
rate?
THE people Of the country will
heartily endorse the House Of Repre-
sentatives in its decision not TO en-
large that body by providing for ad.
ditional members, as might be done
under the recent census. Everybody
knows that the House is plenty large
eaough-indeed there are those who
think ii is too big and unwieldy.
THE people Of the enterprising city
If Clarksburg have gotten their cam
paign for the removal Of the State cap
tal to their bailiwick in full swing
aud are quite enthusiastic in their eff
forts to bag the prize. We sympathize
with them and wish them good luck.
for Clarksburg would suit the Eastern
Panhandle much better than Charles
ton as the State capital, looking at the
ntatter from a purely selfish stand.
point.
Nevertheless, there is no real de-
nand, so far as the people of the
State are concerned, for a change. Had
not the capitol building burned the
matter OF moving would not have been
suggested. The disaster is simply
used as an occasion to manufacture
some sort of public sentiment that
would justify an agitation of the sub
lect. The State government is salts
factorily conferred at Charleston-why
uoset.le matters for years to come
s6nply to crafty the ambition of a
wprthily ambitious little city that is
getting along quite we'll of its own
accord? So far as the convenience of
the people is concerned, one place
is. about as good as another. West
Virginia is.so situated geographically
that it is simply impossible to find a
loaction that will not be extremely in
convenient to a considerable portion of
the people.
And then think of moving the State
capital from the classic Kanawha to
the unimposing and prosaic West Fork.
THE bottom has pretty nearly drop
PEG out of the railroad business, and
ttGm all over the country come reports
Of unprecedented falling-oF in both
passenger and freight traffic. The
ri road officials are unwilling 10 admit
that the increase in freight and pas
sepger rates has anything to do with
It, but this is the fact, and there is no
sehse in denying it.
Freight rates are now utterly I'M
reasonable and the natural result is
That trucks are getting the business
Goods can be hauled Eundrel miles
or more by automobile truck more
chcaply and much more quickly anc
satisfactorily than by rail, and the PEG
pie are not slow to find this out. In
deed, parcel post is in many cases
cheaper than freight and the service
I, course, far better Railroad men
lpidiy refuse to see these conditions
II they see them, they haven't wit
Jugn 10 meet the situation. The
3ust:tiablc increase in rates last
ID! irri'ated shippers and consignees
ankle, and the railroads are getting
orty such business as cannot be
Fan ed in any o,her way.
An Official of the Baltimore & ONO
Railroad has been quoted within the
past week as saying: The rcI.ci;..
IN passenger traffic." which he admits
IS serious, "is not due to the increase
III rates made last summer but 10 tn,
Hpancial condition now existing
throughout the country" This view
of The situation shows that he is no
familiar with the facts. The rca,
reason why the people are not using
the railroads is because il costs too
much to travel on them. Business
trips OF a hundred miles or so can be
made by two or more persons more
cheaply in an automobile than on =
tram, and shorter journeys are still
less expensive. The railroads de-
nothing to meet modern competition
on the contrary, they drive away busi.
ness by eliminating favors of all sorts
lime was when holiday rates were given.
excursions, allowed, round "Trip tickets
soio, conventions and special gather
Ings favored and other inducements
offered the public. All these things
nave passed away and the managers
OF me railroads are utterly OUT of touch
WIN the people. 1t is any wonder tina;
BUSINESS falls off under such conditions
ano mat folks use the railroads only
When absolutely compelled 10 do 50 =