Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-08-14
THE EXTENSION OF THE BALTI-
MORE AND OHIO RAIL ROAD.

THE EXTENSION OF THE BALTI-
MORE AND OHIO RAIL ROAD.
To the Editor Of the Bartfnsburg Gazette:
The following are portions OF Speech, deliver
ed, by CaAs. CARTER LEE, Esq before meeting
of tho Citizens of Hardy County, Va. The subjec,
is one Of profound interest TO Northwestern Vir-
ginia embracing the counties of Harrison, Hardy
Wood, Preston, Tyler, Monongalia, Ohio, &c
The excitement. which pervsdes that region, 10 in
tense and Of no ordinary character Depending,
a. the resul, does, upon State action, il should at
tract general attention.
There are other considerations, however, involv-
cd in this sgitston, than that of the vital impor-
tance Of the Road to large and valuable region Of
Virginia. They refer themselves TO the restoration
of that sectional harmony, which 10 Indispensable
90 the general prosperity Of the Com mon~eslth.-
They refer themselves, moreover, to State honor
not to the performance Of express promises legally
obligatory, it 10 true-but that confidence, in its
purposes Of public policy which its acts of special
legislation have sngendsred, as firmly to be upheld
o. the faith of compacts.
Il 10 not my purpose to discuss the question.
venture 70 remark, that |, does no, present de-
batabie case--in other words, that hnal refusal
TO giant the application, made by the company
and, eagerly, embraced BY the most considerable
portion Of the North West, viz: to be permitted to
strike the Ohio river. at any point, no, lower than
the mouth Of tho little Kannwhs: would be &C,
OF arrant folly and, worse, q monstrous wrong.
The prominent facts, upon which this positive
opinion is expressed, will. very succnctly, state.
The Company was incorporated by the State Of
Maryland, by an Act of tho oath of February 1927.
On the 9th of March 1927, the State of Virginia
passed an Act, adopting the Maryland law. in its
very words.
By these Acts, authority granted to the Com.
psny to construct Road "from the City of Balti-
more to some suitable point on the Ohio River, to
be by them determined"-wit the restriction, in
the virginia Act, that the Road should not strike
the river, at poin, lower than the mouth of the
Little Kanawha.
The limitation of the period for the commence
ment of the Road was two years, after the passage
of the Acts, and for its completion, years from
the time Of it. commencement.
The State of Pennsylvania, in 1925, passed law,
Road to the Ohio, but requiring, if it should not
terminate at some point the river, in tho vicni-
ty of Pittsburg, that the Company should connect
that city with the main stem by a lateral Road
and limiting the period of construction to fifteen
years.
Such the magnificent scheme, which these
three central Eastern States adopted, to connect
=. ~ of fha Waat-a
scheme. not only of individual and local, but Of
State and National Advancement.
1t has now progressed one hundred and seventy
nine miles, at a cost of, about, 81 100000. Its
grand object is unsttained. The greA undertak-
ing is at stand.
Surely stranger to the enterprise would con-
elude, that it has been abandoned because of in
solvency deficiency of means, or because it was
il-advised aud promised to be Improbable. Bst
no. IL has been conducted with unequailed abili-
ty--there is abundant capital at commaud--and its
benefcent fruits have but rpened to the grasp
How comes it, then, he would ask with amaaement,
after all its vast achievements. and when mountain
barriers, one after another, have been rased to
their foundations that its bold march is arrested
now, in the very "heart Of the unpruned forest'f
selfish opposition--not uncommon, indeed
for ii, unfortunately, constitutes the basis OF egis
lalive action, too frequently, in such eases-reu-
SEES discretionary termination within the limits
designated by the original charter, aud would CON
fine it to Wheeling. IL is that Of the peculiar and
subsidiary interests Of the James River and Kanaw
ha Company. Mr.. Lees views, on this head,
are unsnswerabe -Whethsr the Baltimore snd
the James River interests DO Of rival character i.
not to be considered. IL rs enough that the Stats
has sanctioned both. IL they be rivals indeed, il
is all the better for the general weal--As respects
the james River and Kanawha PROJECT aud other
Improvements Of the State, they have heretofore
received the efficient support of the North Yves,
and of the Valley, and, trust, that steta neoes
sty of self preservation may compel them 10 with
hold that aid in future The advoca,es of Interim
improvement in Virginia will find, that its wors
enemies those seeming friends. who counse
them 10 mutual hostility.
l take no account of the lapse Of time Limited
for the construction of the Road and the eonse
quent expiration of the Charter. The argument
based thereupon, VIA that the State may, uPol
any elevated and enlightened principle of Legisla
ton, resume The grant and refuse renewal Of tn
ComPauy's original powers and privileges: in m.
Judgment, requires answer.
The pretensions of the City of Wheeling were
deliberately, presented, in the last Legislature
with no effect, 80 fat as respects the establishment
the Proprety Of combining the Company TO tina
city as the Terminus True, little was written o