Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-12-12

"Your memorialists felt persuaded, therefore
that the circumstances already adverted to, would
be admitted to be sbundantly sufficient to justify
any unforeseen delay, and entitle them TO claim the
same latitude in the selection of the final route to
the Ohio, that in the year 1927 was freely grant.
ed them.
Certain itis that the completion Of a rail road
even 70 Cumberland, would never lave tempted the
vast expenditure already made, or warranted the
risk incurred in lis prosecution and that the work
would never have been undertaken, it il could have
been for a moment apprehended that the great
State whom il pfincipa relied for permission
TO finish il, could under any circumstances, arrest
| it in incomplete condition: and they venture
moreover, to conclude that the considerations which
recommended the original permission, under which
they acted, have lost none Of their weight.
| Upon the advantages OF the construction Of the
road through the State Of Virginia. By either Of the
routes above deIineated, especially the agFcul-
tural and manufacturing interests of those portions
Of the State which il may penetrate and the
ces Of which it may develope, your memorialists
need not here enter into any detailed observations.
1t may suffice to remark that, stretching from the
Atlantic waters, some three hundred miles through
the territory, and terminating at the Ohio within
the State the Baltimore aud Ohio Rail Road is en-.
titled in every sense, to be regarded emphstcally
a Virginia improvement, and essential part
Of her system of public works. For all that por-
tion Of the commonwealth commonly designated as
North Western Virginia, il would be the best. If
not the only channel which they with any
reasonable expectation rely for communication
with u valuable market; which, although without
the limits Of the State, is nevertheless Southern
city identified with Southern interests, intimately
participating with Southern sympathies, having
common cause with Southern destiny, and com
manding an important position at the head of the
great Southern bay, thence to be connected by the
present undertaking, with the trade and interests
Of the Sozthern and South Western valleys Of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
'It may be added, and il is hoped without pre-.
sumption. that BY an improvement now rendered
to them mainly by the capital and enterprise of
other parties the agricultural manufacturing and
mechanical Interests of a numerous, enlightened,
and rapidly increasing population, would be mme-
diately rendered active and profitable, the lands it
not less than twenty counties, more than doubled
in value, their resources, now dormant, speedily
and successfully developed, and the moral and 2o-
tieal power Of the commonwealth OF which they
constitute so important a part, proportonabiy
strens thened.
Your memorialists, therefore, approach your
honorable body. upon the present occasion, with
the greater confidence from the consideration that
while hat they ask will rescue their large proper
ty from the peril to which it is now exposed,
compliance with their demands will confer advan
tages of not less importance upon the common
wealth, under whose auspices heretofore they have
risked thesr Interests.
"ln conclusion, your memoriahsts ask that fur
Their time may be allowed them to extend the Bal
timore and Ohio Rail Road through The State OF
Virginia, so as strike the Ohio river at point
not lower than the mouth of the Little kenhawa
on the said river, according to the terms of the
charter granted in the year 1897; and for such fur
Their aid may be consistent with the policy of the
State, and as the Legislature may please 70 grant"
The Auditors Report exhibits the gratifying fact,
that after discharsing the temporary debt OF the
State and meeting the usual demands upon the
Treasury for the current year, there will still be a
probable surplus of more than Z 100000 on the LIST
of October, l845.