The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-08-04
The HemnfleId Railroad.

l The Hempfield Railroad.
There was very large and respectabl,
meeting Of the friends ofthe Hempfeld Rail
road, held at Washington, Pa, on the l9tl
inst. Speeches were made and resolution
adopted, which manifested warm enuhusi
asm asm in the project and "a determination t,
ipushit ahead.
MT: McKennan, President of the road, il
his speech on the occasion, made the follow
| ing remarks
AS link in the Railroad thoroughfare be
tween the east and west, he regarded il as o
great Importance. He repelled the imputa
tion of "deceitful promises or false state
ments made against the friends of the road
lte affirmed what he had before said, tha
I4'lg Hempfeld route was shorter than AM
projected q practicable route between Phil
adelphia, Cincinnati and st. Louis. He reat
a comparative statement of distances by tn,
different routes, which he said was compiled
chiefly fom official Reports, and from infor
nation communicated by gentlemen in whose
means OF knowledge he had entire conf.
dence.
The following are some Of the resolutions
adopted: ~.
RcsOlued, Taat in representing the Hemp
field road from Greensburg to Wheeling il
be the shortest and best railroad route from
Philadelphia to the west and southwest. We
have spoken truthfully, and acted in perfect
good faith.
Rcsol0sa, That the representations of the
press, resolutions and public speakers 0.
Pittsburgh, that Philadelphia can reach the
trade expected to be concentrated at Wheel
ing by as short route, passing through Pitts
burgh and Steubenville, as by the way O.
Greensburg and Washington, is without
any foundation in fact, and here Justly regar.
ded as notoriously absurd.
Rcaolred, That in advising Philadelpbia
to seekthe trade which is to be concentrated
at Wheeling by adopting the line which pass.
es through seven miles OF Virginia territory,
where 'thereis no charter or right of way,
and in defiance of the known policy of the
State-while there is a shorter and better
route sanctioned by law--shows manifestly
a fear Of the competition of Wheeling, and
a determination to avoid that place, even al
the hazard of losing the trade altogether.
ResolDed, That while we concede to Pitts.
burgh the full enjoyment of all natural adj
vantages, we conceive that the interests o.
Philadelphia, of the counties of Washing
ton and Westmoreland, the interests o
Wheeling, and of the country west of th'
Ohio, all demand the completion of III,
Hempield road and the continuation of th
Central road of Pennsylvania by the bes
practicable line from Greenupsburg 10 Wheel
ing.
The Pittsburghers are thoroughly alarme
at the project and are straining every nerv
to divert public attention to the Pittsburg
and Steubenville railroad, which the friend
of the other route say is impracticable, il
consequence of the necessity of passing si
orseyenmles through Virginia, the right t
do which is positively refused. In alludin
to the subject, the Daily Commercial Journa
Of Pittsburgh, says:
Again; We have not only not charge,
Philadelphia with swindling Pittsburgh,
but we have been scrupulously careful Il
concede that the citizens of philadelphia
were exercising an undoubted right, that the,
were but obeying, unadvisedly and errone
ously, as we hold, the irresistible tendencie
of business men to consult self-interest, il
thNproposal to make the connection wit
| Wheeling. We have put forward the Pitts
tburgh and Steubenville project, not to punis
bad faith on the part of Philadelphia-no
to damage Washington, but to avert the in
ljury to Pittsburgh ii which the Hempfeld pro
lject threatens. We have offered and urge
that work, as a sufficient and perfectly prac
Iticable measure of self-defence and protec
tion, not as cover for annoyance or vehi
Gle for reproach, to our fellow-citizens c
Washington or Philadelphia.
i 1t is evident that an excited state of fee
ing exists on the subject and warm discus:
ion is going on in the public prints.
We wish the Hempfeldroad all success
aswe think it will be evidently a benefit I
Portsmouth.
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