The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-09-20

the river as Wheeling. II is no part of my design
to enter into the controversy, between the con-
tending parties. But it may be of some import
ance to the parties, to let it be known what point
or points of termination would meet the views Of
the State OF Ohio. with view Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad beiag extended through our State;
for presume but few doubt now that in time most
of these improvements will have to be extended.
If then, as suppose, that company are looking to
their own interests and to locate their road that
il shall command the great travel Of the West, it
becomes indispensably necessary that it pass
through Ohio, or that other roads be made in Ohio
to meet that at its terminus on the Ohio river
This must be done in order TO secure the travel of
all the upper part of Indiana, Illinois, &c. &c., or
they will pass off by the Lakes to New York, Bos-
ton, SC. Indeed these communications will di-
vide considerable portion uf the State of Ohio,
unless the location Of this work be properly made.
Let US then enquire where this road can terminate
with prospect of its being continued through
Ohio'
First, would Ohio consent for a road to be made
from terminus at Parkersburgh through Athens,
Hooking, Fairfield, Ross &c., to connect with
road at Xenia in Green county, (now making from
Cincinnati to Sandusky on Lake Erie,) and thence
TO be extended through her territory, and onward
to the Mssissippi for the travel and interests of
the West will call for such an improvement To
this question I would answer in the negative
Ohio cannot and will not be so suicidal to her own
interests. When we take into consideration, first
that this road, if extended from Parkersburgh into
Ohio, would pass within twelve miles. at its very
commencement, of the Muskingum improvement,
and when made nineteen miles would be at the
now termination of the Hooking Canal, and run
ming parallel with that improvement, crossing it
near its head, would be within thirty miles of the
main Ohio Canal, and would cross that work at
Chillicothe. Now these works have been made
by the State at an expense of more than sererl mil
lions of dollars, to give facilities in getting up from
the Ohio river to Lake Ere uice uerso, or to pass
from the interior of the State to the Ohio river,
and thence of to such points as would afford the
easiest access to Market and no one can doubt if
this road is made to terminate on any part of the
borders of the State of Ohio, but that it will COM
mand very nearly the whole of the trade Of this
portion of the State 1t cannot then be denied
that it is really desirable to the citizens Of Ohio to
have the road made TO some point on the Ohio
river. But who does not see that il the road was
permitted to pass through the State as mentioned
above, that seven millions of dollars of her works
would be rendered valueless; and while very
small portion fthe State would receive benefit,
the balance would be heavily burthened by the
rendering useless of the seven millions of her works
and necessarily rendennglthe tax, for all time to
come heavier to provide for the interest of 81 ,000
900 of dead stock From these views of the sub
iect am inclined 10 think, that Maryland, deeply
interested as she is, and the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company would both come to the conclu-
sian that the government of Ohio ought not to
permit road to be thus made.
We may then enquire if there are any points on
the Ohio where the Baltimore and OH 10 Railroad
Company could terminate their work with cer-
tainty that the State of Ohio would not object to
road being made from that terminus? answer, If
there be any interest Of the State that would be
interfered with by road being made out from a
point or points above the Muskngum, and crossing
the Canal at or near Coshocton, and so passing by
Columbus and the Cincinnati and Sandusky Rail
road at or near Springfield, and the various I'm
provements in the State at the very centre or
heart of the State, have been and am unable to
perceive them
B etween the Muskingum and Beaver Canals are
more than one hundred miles in which is no State
improvement, nor none likely to be made, unless it
would be with view of connecting with this road.
Now within this range both Fishing creek and
Wheeling are situate, and from which there are no
difficulties to overcome in getting out through the
State of Ohio, IN locating or making road Now
it strikes me that while Ohio would never consent
to the location out from Parkersburgh, that she
would willingly grant the other. A question then
arises how would it affect the business of the road
itself! twill be seen, by very brief view of the
subject, that both the tonnage and travel would be
increased by location above the Muskingum, be-
cause all the produce that was destined for north
ern market coming down the Musklngum, HOOK
ing, Ohio Canal or ascending the Ohio river,
would have no point to pass off at untlit would
reach that road; the same with the travel. But
when you get above the Muskingum here are now
10 to $1,000 hogsheads of tobacco Ito say nothing
of any other tonnage) annually sent off by way OF
the Pennsylvania works to Baltimore. Now tits
very doubtful if this trade could be turned down
the Ohio 100 miles, and it certainly would not be,
if the Pennsylvania works carried at cheaper
rate. And here, by the by, may be found good
reason why Pennsylvania objects to location be-
ing made through her territory TO those points, be-
cause it would call of heavy amount ofbusiness
from her manufacturing and commercial cities sc;
the same may be said of the travel. The road be-
ing made to Columbus would command great
portion of North Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. &c.,
Ia tho dirac-