Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-02-17

n4Keiy 10 be taken up in good earnest. dur
ING the present session Of the Legislature. II
| IS indeed time that the energy. the int,lI.
gence, and the resources Of the State. shsnld
De sHected towards this Important object
Our neighbers to the North and IN, W..t
are engaged IN the construction of Road, and
canals, with rapdIdity and an energy nm
Earailsied IN any age or country. Ohio and
pennsylvania. and Maryland are exnrpd;n-
sniiilens OF dollars in the construction af
works which will constitute the broad and
deep foundations Of their prosperity &, great
Less. One OF them is draining us Of our mar
uiatien, and all OF them are diysrt;nr trado
and travel from our boruers n We loaL
much longer, with our accustomed ;n,l;Gsr-
enee, on the progress of the great works in
the nelghbsring states, it is much 70 be an
pfehenoed that we shall have lost. fora,er
the chance OF overtalliRg our vigorous rival,
In the race OF wealth and greatness. Itis a
tfi'e remark, that, in such a race, not 10 ad-
vance rapidly IS to recede. But it is a re-
marx, the truth and importance Of which are
iorcioly impressed on your rnemarlaIists by
the actual and relative condition Of Virginia.
and the neighbcring ststes
iour memerlalsts hspe and believe. that
thsy Wiil not be considered obtrusiye, ifthey
earnestly invite the attention of the Lcgi.la-
ture 10 subject IN which they, in common
WIN the inhabitants Of many of the neigh
serng csuatlss, are deeply Interested. They
aiiuee 10 the improvement Of the Shenaado-
an River, either by Canal, or by Locks &
Jams, as TO The wisdom Of the Legislature
IA, soem pest; or to the construction Of
i naii ROAD, II that shall seem NEST sdyslble
ne counties OF Augusta, Rockinshasa, She
n2Odh9h Erslertct- Il 4
are Immediately and NEST deeply ntcrsstes
IN the prosecution Of this work, ceniais near
~ tenth part of the population OF the con-
monwealth, and the largest district of fertile
land TO be found within its borders. Meth
ing is waiting to the prosperity Of this great
section OF the state, but the facilities which
either OF the proposed works would afford for
ths transportstioa to market of its agricultu-
raj productions. The want of these facilities
las hitherto prevented, as it must forever
prevent, the accumulation Of capital aud
wealth IN this fertile valley. 1t has not the
means OF effecting, without the aid Of tie
ceEmsnwealtk, the Improvement Of the TO-
bic river which flows through it from Angus
ia to the Potomac. That aid, your me naori-
slists now earnestly invoke
IL is net for them to prescribe the msde ia
which this aid shall be givea-whether by the
e1teRsien OF the powers and augmentation of
the capital stock of the company already in
cerporatod for the improvement of the river.
sr by tbs creation eta new company in which
the old enc shall be emerged, with its own
consent and on equitable terms of remunera-
ton for expenditures heretofore made. or by
the incorporation Of ace@pany for the cen
structlon Of Rail Road.
i hat the present company, with its pre-
sent capital, is Totally inadequate TO the pur-
pose OF its creation, is toe clear to be disput-
cd; and that no company, without liberal aid
from the commonwealth, can effect the OBJ
Ject, is equally certain. OF the preliminary
steps which will he necessary, if this impor-
tast enterprise should attract the favorable
regard of the legislative bodies, your memo
rialists do net consider it necessary to speak
further.
The whole subject is respectfully submit
ted te the wisdom and patriotism Of the le-
gislature.
As your memorialists, &c.
Signed, in behalf ofthe meeting, by the Pre-
sident and Secretary
JAMES HITE, Chair,nan,
ROBERT L. BROWN, Sec'ry.
RssolCed, That the Secretary transmit to
the Senator of this District copy, and to
the Delegates of this county, in the Legisla-
ture, copy of these proceedings, 10 order to
an application to the Legislature of Virginia,
now in session, invoking its attention to the
object of this meeting
Resolued, That these proceedings be sign.
ed by the Chsirnan and Secretary; and that
the editors of newspapers in the Valley. be
requested TO give them an insertion in their
respective papers
JAMES HITE, Chairman,
ROBERT L. BROWN, Sec'ry.
Tert.-"3he Bank OF the United States