Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-27
Virginia LEGISLATURE.
SKETCHES OF DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
OF DELEGATES.

Speech Of Mr.. Mccoy on The North Westorl Road
Mr. Spcakcr:-The proposition before the
House, is TO agree with the report of the Select
Committee 10 strike out the section which directs
that the road shall be located from Clarksburg TO
tho Ohio river, by the nearest practicable route Sir
am opposed 10 striking out this section from the
bill, it is in strict accordance with the suggestions
OF the Principal Engineer, contained in his last re-
port who expresses n desire that the poiut on the
Ohio river, should he fixed by law as il would be n
great saving OF time in the location of the west
end of the road lie says Ss,ersvilIci is the nearest
point from Clarksburg, and Parkersburg the most
distant: the former would require the least money
to make liz the latter would pass through larger
portion of territory, &c. The delegate from Iarri-
son, tAlr. WiIlians,) on Saturday, gave notice that
he would move TO amend the bill by inserting Par
kersbrg. ] presume he is waiting the action of the
House on the motion now pending. Sir, why strike
out this section? 1t is the substance Of the first re-
solution that ever was wrote on the subject of this
road, (passed Feb. 18th, 1929 A survey was made
IN 1919, from Clarlsburg S5stersville, which was
favorablc-(see Engineers report, &c. which re-
solution and report, am prepared TO show. This
route will pass down rich and fertile valley the
north side of Middle Island Creek, where it will re-
qulrc but few bridges, being excellent ground, by
Tyler courthouse 10 Sistcrsyc, distance OF so
miles, where it meets tic stages and steamboats, dai-
~, and unites with two State roads leading into the
State of Ohio; GAINESVILLE distance oiG9 miles
uniting with the National Road 10 Columbus the
other by the way of Woodsficld. Barnsville Nation
al Road, and from thence II miles Frecpor on
the Ohio Canal, distance of So miles These roads
are expected 10 be finished shortly. Sir, have
been minute in these Details with view of putting
the House i'll possession of certain facts that the
public not apprized Of But an impression has
gone abroad that Parkersburg is frequently the head
of steamboat navigation. This is the fact. The
late improvement in the construction of steamboats,
has obvated all these objections, if they did
exist, and Sistersviile is perfect navigation as
Parlcrsburg The gentleman from Harrison APP
pears determined TO carry this road as far west
the Ohio will let him. Can lie imagine the public
good requires 1t: | think not. Then is it TO make
an unnecessary waste of public money, by making
road 80 miles, over poor, hilly country, with Il
sparse population continually crossing water courses
thereby mourning great cXpencc in the building of
bridges, &c. This route approaches near the
Ohio river, that the travelling and trade will take
the direction to Marietta, instead of Parkcrsburg-
thereby depriVing Virginia of the benefit of town
OH her border, which is an object worthy of great
consideration. Let me inform this House that we
shall be scarce of funds From contracts that have
already been entered into, at the rate of $3.50 per
mile, the $l25,O00 will make about 1853 miles of road
when the distance from Winchester to Sisersyle
is 200 miles Perhaps the proper time to- discuss
this question will be, when want funds to com
piee tho road. 1t is proper now, the Engineer
VIII make location the present year; and it will be
great saving of time and cxpence, TO give direc-
ton TO The road by legislation. My mind is satisfied
on the subject, the nearest practicable point will
be finally adopted. The gentleman from Harrison
says ParkcTsbnrg is in n direction to the seat of
government of Ohio, Indiana, &c. The United
States map will show the fallacy of the idea
It Is in the direction of Chilicothe and Cincin-
natl 1t viii be admitted that this road will con-
1lict with the Great Kanawha thoroughflre and
lessen the value of that route to the State as
all that portion Of Ohio lying South of Chilicothe
properly belongs TO the last-named route. Sir, will
Virginia be so unwisc az to raise competition with
her great State improvement, and suffer the travel
ling TO he diverted to- the District of Columbia and
Baltimore? Sir, my wish is, that this road should
take its proper direction by the way of MiddIebourne
to Columbus, the seat Government Of Ohio and to
the canal and the lake country thereby drawing the
travelling from the National road into our State and
secure all the travel below and opposite Sistersvilc
which is 80 miles below Wheeling. Sir the comfy
Of Harrison aud the ncighboring country are depen-
dent, in great measure, for their salt and mcrchan-
disc, on the Ohio river if tire road is made to SIS
icrsve, they will get their salt from the Knnayia
and tue tolls on tic article Of salt will be sufficient
to make that portion OF the road profitable. If the
road IS carried 10 Petersburg, the distance will be
nearly the same as TO Pittsburg, and to avoid tolls
the trade Will take that direction-in that case we
will lose the sale Of our salt and the tolls which we
shall otherwise secure. lit is taken TO Siscrsvie
as the road to The latter place is now passnble for
wagons the travel will take tha route to avoid Tolls:
therefore, it is proper to take the road to the nearest
point, TO secure the interest of the atc and 10 bcuc
IN the community.
The gentleman from Harrison appears to claim
This road as matter ofrght, because lie had repeat