Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-07-08
From The PruatytOwn Gaeette.
Speech of Col. D. kinChelOc,
OF CLARKSDURG, va,

VI CLaRhsBUHu, fh'i
In the Convention held at Fairmont, on
tho 18th Of June, 1854, Oh the sub
icct Of the Monongahela aud Ravens
wood Railroad.
Mr.. PRESIDENT :-It is with much
dillidence, and even reluctance, that |
rise to respond to the call made on me,
10 address the Convention; and tho
more so, on account of being restricted
as to time. The committee appointed
to prepare business for the action of the
Convention is now in session, aud will
shortly return to report. Unjust, there.
fore, DO brief and condensc my remarks
as much us possible.
The Monongahcla and Ravenswood
Railroad, proper, will commence not
far from Union,own, Pa, and will ne.
cessariIy pass through the ich valley oil
the Monongahelu to the state line, where
It crosses the Monongahcla riyer-lhat
being the point designated by the Vir-
ginia Legislature. Thence up that val,
ley to The mouth of the West Fork riy'
er. Thence, up the valley Of the West
Fork river to the mouth Of Elk creek
and, from thence, the nearest and most
practicable route 10 Ruvenswood.
From the mouth Of Elk up the valley
of the West Fork to the mouth of Free
mans creek; thence, up said creek 'c
where the waters of Lending creek in.
terlocl;s; thence, down said creek tC
the Little kanawha river; thence, dow.
said river to the moulllof Rccdy creek
thence, up said creek to the head Of San
ay creek; thence, down said creek tc
Ravcnswood, is the route that has sug,
gesed ilsclf to my mind, in tho conlin'
nation of the road southwest OF C!arks
burg, and it is not only practicable, but
easy and cheap TO construct. Yet | have
great doubts us to its adoption-believ
Ing the West Folk river, above The
mouth Of Elk, bears too much south
east Of right line to Ravenswo"d.-
This route, however, is not only praeli
cable, but probably the very best in This
region of country. The land along The
whole line is OF superior quality, u
bounding with incxhaus,ible beds 0
coal, iron ore, and perhaps other miner
ais. 1t also abounds with tho fines
timber in the world. The coal itself i
u treasure 10 tue people in this county
from which thousands of bushels daily
flow into the market of Baltimore. The
fine timber of thosc lofty lills-t'Ic stur
dy oaks aud the towering pnplars-wil
Lecomo articles of traffic and transpor
ta,ion; tho yearning bowels Of the earll
will bc made TO disgorgo their bidder
treasures; the cattle ola thousand hills
aud every description of live stock vii
flow into the Atlantic cities. The az
ricultu,al products Of this rich vallc.
will furnish abundant supplies to carr!
on the construction Vt this contemplu
tied railroad.
Here, for our encouragement, let u
consider the rise and progress of thu
\ Baltimore aud Ohio road. Whilst thi
great work was going on many doubtet
Tho practicability Of the enterprise, a
to crossing the Allegheny mounlains.-
1t was thought by many to be uttcrl.
impracticable; but time has proven 9th
erwisc, and that stupenduus improve
mcnt made, and we now SEQ the iroi
horse, like tho horse in tie gospel, snort
ling fire and vapor from Ills nos,rils, ant
moving with the velocity Of u tornado
amidst The cragged rocks and towering
cliffs Of tho Allegheny mountains, pass
Ing ovsr,l,e limped srills, the brooks
tlle creeks and great rivers as though
they were moi; vending its way to the
Ohio river ladened with articles from
foreign lands, and merchandise from the
Atlantic cities, aud return, the cars fill
ed with agricultural products Of theSrici
yallies Of the Ohio and Mississippi. riv'
ers, and also the manufactured articles
Iin De far off west, will all few intolhe
citiesof the east, Astllo oceans blue
aud towering waves Obj and flow, SO
will tra9egp easl and west, 4e