Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-09-03
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAIL ROAD.

The people of Northwestern Virginia are greatly
excited at the prospect of losing the benefit of the
location of the Baltimore and Ohio RAILROAD
through their territory, in consequence of the course
pursued by our Legislature, and the movement now
being made by the company to consummate con-
neXon with the Ohio river at Pittsburg by means
Of the proposed Connellsvilc Rail Road. great
"Right-of-\Vay Convention is to be held at Yves
ton, on the 25th OF September, which is expected
to be the largest collection Of people assembled
in Western Virginia. Lewis county, it is said,
will have a thousand delegates in attendance, and
the other counties interested going to appoint
numerous delegations. The Weston Sentinel anti
cipaes that 'the whole earth will be literally alive
with an anxious and indignant peoples Some of
the most distinguished men of the State are invited
to be present; and the Sentinel says it is informed
that the Hon. Richard Nj. Johnson will also be in
vted, he having expressed desire to visit West
ern Virginia some occasion of the kind"
There is nc doubt that the apprchcnsions of our
Northwestern brethren are well founded but Whe-
Their they will be able to avert the evil consequences
OF the contracted policy of our Legislature by any
action they can now take seems to us to be rather
problematical. The Baltimore company has given
its approval to the Connellsville project, and its
Engineer, Mr.. LATRoBE, is engaged in making the
necessary surveys.-It is also stated that the com
pany has authorized its President to contract for
loan of three millions of dollars for the speedy pro-
secution and completion of the work. Under these
circumstances, it is hardly probable that the Balti-
more company would find an adequate motive for
forming another conneXon with the Ohio at its own
expense, especially 50 high up the river. We have
always believed, however, that the route up this
Valley was the favorite of the company; and
it Is the only now, las conceive, which offers
adequate inducements to its enterprise. or course,
the opposition to such grant would be much strong
or than to the right of way asked for by the COM
pany through the Northwestern counties.-But, it
seems to U.S. that those who have heretofore objected
most strenuously to it, placed by their action
last winter, in granting charter to company con-
fessedly of foreign capitalists, to make Rail Road
from Richmond to the Ohio, in a position which
will render it exceedingly difficult for them to main
tain their opposition longer, with any show of con
sistency. The greatest and most substantial reason
that Of surrendering privileges so important to a
foreign rporation-they have virtually abandoned
in the Of the charter granted at the instance of
Peter Clarke and Co. of New York. Would it not
be well, then, for us of the Valley and all others
interested in the completion OF the great central
communication which the James River company is
found wholly inadequate to accomplish, TO turn our
attention to this subject2 Our Richmond friends
have set us the example, by throwing themselves,
in their despair, into the arms of New York CAPT
talists and surely they cannot complain Of us, if
we, in cur extremity, should invoke similar aid Of
the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road company.