Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-05-20
gtla GAZETTE
MARTINsBURG, May 90, 1894.


was first supposed. 1t is SAID that the walls
Of the building is little injured, and that the
actual loss to government and 20 individuals,
will not exceed S25,O00; but what is most az
rrayating is, that there is no doubt Gifts beng
the work Of an inceadiary
Under the signature SENTINEL there
has appeared in the Winchester Republican,
several well written essays We have CO.
pied below one of them, which we recommend
70 the serious perusal of our rea les.
hIR. EDITOR 1t may be inquired
how the James river monopoly can ac-
quire so many friends and supporters,
ilit be so grossly in violation of the law
so partial in its operations and so
injurious to other parts of the state.
will tell you, sir. 1t arises, in part, from
the consumate art and ingenuity of its
friends--of this we have given a few
instances; in part from the apathy, and
want oftalents and information 10 other
distant sections ufthe state; in part from
the want of concert in action, among the
representatives. of the neglected secA
tions; and in part, from some peculiar
circumstances which shall now rher-
ton.
James river runs nearly through the
centre of the state It's waters rise near
the head waters of the kenawha. The
wealthy and int eresting counties bor-
dering north and south of James river
counties containing many men OF
great talents-are easily silenced or en-
listed in favor of this scheme. But, UNI
less the western interest could be diyi.
ded, s. some of its leading men of talents
enlisted, the James river counties could
do nothing. Well, what is to be done
to accomplish this' Let it be proposed
to make a great turnpike road Of 80
miles, to connect the navigable parts
of James river and Kenawha together.
Let some of the men whose property
lies in this route, and whose talents and
eloquence might be needed, be appoin-
ted to survey the route, locate the road
and plan the operations of the work,
and you ensure their support. Hence
the division of the western interest; and
hence the support of that portion of it
whose property is to be so enhanced by
its accomplishment. If Gen. Black
burns property had lain in another part
OF the state-if Chapman Johnson's in
terest had been otherwise located, how
would our halls Of legislation rung with
their eloquence. against the iniquity and
injustice of such measures: But, as IL
is, they ere secured, and James river is
triumphant
That the cry Of injustice and injury
to other parts Of the state is not need
lessly raised, hardly need be proved
Why is the law violated, and largesses
granted to one section and applica-
tons solicitations from other parts, com
ing fully within the purtiew of the law
rejected? Is it not manifest injustice to
lay out the public funds to improve one
district OF country, and thereby enhance
the private property of that district to
three or four times its former value,
while other parts equally entitled TO the
benefit of those funds, are overlooked
But this is not all: those neglected parts
are to be taxed to raise those funds to
improve their neighbors' property, while
theirs is not benefited in the smallest de-
gree. could readily enter into calcu-
lations providing and illustrating these
positions, if necessary, but it is waived,
to syoid being tedious
shall now proceed to point out the
remedy for those evils. But must con-
fess this is no easy matter. The enemy
is strongly fofted, and securely en-
trenched. The state is already COM
mitted and spell bound. But something
must be done, or we must tamcly sit
down and agree to be hewers of wood
and drawers of water TO our lordly
masters. And vet il IS fact, that but
a small portion of the state, and a small
minority of It's inhabitants. are fattening
a The expense of all the rest.
In the first place, information must be
communicated upon tbs subject. But
how is this TO be doneo The pres.
ses in the injured districts are few, and
have never yet been brought 10 act in
concert. Let every man thatcan shake
quill, set about the work Truth j.
powerful, and must prevail.
There is great noise about James
river at this time, in favor of conyen-
ton. What can al this mean? ''Timeo
Danaios." iexpect il is something like
Eiychip5s a1yncntino tbn D>.o.S>oc laet