Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-17

Little kanaYha, the Cheat and the Ty-
CARTS valley rivers. | wish TO reach that
summit level. IL possible, with The main
stem, because from that point improve
menis might move off down the valleys Of
those rivers, and returning, bring to the
parent stem the rich productions of the
West. IL is believed hat this scheme will
have TO encounter great physical difficult
ties. That they are great ! readily grant;
but ! do not believe them 10 be as dIsast-
rous as are ~spprehended. The outlay may
be heavy, greater than on any oiherroutes;
but enterprise and perseverance guided by
science are lnyincible, and the equivalent
will be found in the numerous and i'm
portant advantages which this route will
secure TO Virginia. First, it will retain
within our State a large amount of pro-
duce which now goes TO Baltimore. Sc
eondly, it will carry a great improvement
within easy reach oflhe whole Of North
western Virginia, especially that part oft
which is now anxious for what may be
termed The Baltimore right 0 way. Third,
il will give 10 a large section of the State,
now without an adequate road, the very
best known style Of Improvement. Fourth,
IL will concentrate within our own State
the resources and affections Of her popuIa-
ton aud put an end TO the ambitious and
selfish scheming Of foreign corporation.
Filth, IL will connect US with the Ohio, and
enable US successfully TO contend with the
whole world Cor the trade of the Western
valleys. These advantages may be ours,
and are indispensable 10 our real ~prosperi-
ty aud independence.
But this work must be commenced al
once and with it must be associated the
assurance ofIts speedy prosecution. This,
with a know ledge OF the fact, that this city
affords the best grain market South Of New
York, will | doubt not satisfy those parts
Of Virginia interested in the right Of way.
Let US carry on this important improve
ment with all reasonable despatch, and no
Virginian, who feels in a true and proper
spirit the honor and glory of the name,
will desire TO separate from his brethren
and unite bis business, and o! course his
attachments, with another State.
In connection with these views, and by
request, | communicate the proceedings
of d Convention recently held in Stanton.
BY a like request, | communicate those OF
a large meeting. held at Weston, on the
18th Of September last. The object Of
this latter meeting is TO secure the right Of
way 10 the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
corporation, through our State, as far
South as the mouth of the Little Kama.
wha. This company has now the right
to go through Virginia to Wheeling, but
the great object is 10 touch the Ohio lower
down, not only TO get rid Of the improve
mentS Of other States TO the North, but to
be able successfully to contend with our
contemplated improvement. speak adj
visedly when | state, that private capital
can be obtained TO connect by railway the
James and Ohio rivers, if the State will
give a pledge hat no rival company snail
be allowed 10 touch the Ohio below
Wheeling. But, without this pledge,
private capital will never undertake it
The destructive character ofrailroad com.
petition is well known to business men,
England is suffering from it to a most ru-
nous extent, and is now struggling TO re-
form the evil by a union of rival routes
We are not without most unpleasant ex-
perience in our State. Pennsylvania is
guarding against it also, in reference es-
pecially TO this Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road company. And shall We, ~unconsci-
Gus Of those patriotic feelings which should
prompt US to the adoption of that policy
which will build up our State-ahd On
mindful Of that common sense tina, should
evergovern great public interests, yield to
a foreign corporation the night to pene-
trate into the heart of our State, and draw
therelrom her vital blood; | am, how.
ever, satisfied gentlemen, that your legis-
lative history will never be illustrated by
an act SO fatal to the best interests Of our
State. But, it is my anxious hope. that
you will proceed with all proper despatch
to the commencement of the two great
works | have recommended;-by the first,
connecting the city with the great eiDpo-
rum of the West, and bringing them
within FoRTY HOURS OF each other by
the second, connecting the lie Of the AT.
lantic with the currents Of the beautiful
Ohio:-the one, ultimately, by branches
down The Roanoke and the Valley to an
intersection with the road from Gordons-
vile, aud the other by branches into the
Northwest, satisfying every reasonable
want OF the great sections OF the State
Both without rivals TO be regarded, and
accommodating throughout their long aud
magnificent course The varied productions
OF the richest country upon the earth,
would hll our treasury and pour constant
streams Of wealth into our towns and cities,
which would soon enable them proudly TO
rival the proudest cities ofthe world. Nor
is this all the vast amount of produce
which would food our markets would ne
cessarily produce an immense navigation
interest. Tidewater Virginia would be-
come a shlpyard. Her population would
build our ships, own, and sail them, and
all would feel the fructifying influence of
this mighty trade. Virginia would be
prosperous, and would soon become rich;
would add to her high moral power the
indispensable element of numbers, aud
would soon become great and would
then be, what every Virginian must anx-
iously desire, independent. This is no
fancy sketch. The results oithese lmpor-
! to,,t =, ali ~,,,o 49,. I'll.