Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-09-02

eTlees WV ~ S' Ps' 'H0t anu Hu-
where exceeds three feet nine inches in
II mile. Along the valley of these
streams the road will be most easily
oraded. From the West Fork to the
Ohio river at Rayenswood, by the gene.
raj route before indicated, the grade,
except two cuts, or tunnels, probably
M favorable. Thus throughout the line
il 4 most desirable grade. Other local
considerations aud advantages add TO the
eligibility ofthe route.
The country to be traversed by this
route, from the Pennsylvania line to the
Ohio river, will both derive advantages
and confer advantages upon the road
Il contains territory and population
possessing capacity Of developement,
| increase and productiveness to an indef-
mite extent. The counties thro' which
the road will pass comprise a large area
with most productive soil, wa'er.power
almost unlimited, great variety and ex.
ce)lence Of timber, with coal, iron ore,
| limestone, and in quantities believed to
be inexhaustible. Their population,
which is now perhaps $4,000, has in.
creased in the last ten years at rate
not under so per censum, and will con-
tinue to increase in an equal or greater
ratio. This people, now perceiving the
elements Of expansion, manufactures,
wealth, and prosperity, with which the
country is SO bountifully endowed, ami
mated by q spirit ofindustry. enterprise
and public Improvement, are aroused to
the wisdom and policy of directing their
energies to the enjoyment Of their natu-
raj advantages. aa =
An earnest effort will secure to them
its competent realization. They have
been informed of its advantages to 9TH
ers from public improvements, and they
aspire to an equal participation in such
prosperity. It has been seen that the
constitution Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, through part Of this country,
has conferred on that part benefits which
all desire; a market for all its prodpc-
tions, at all seasons, tthe highest cash
price; a market for, its coal, before that
| time undistlrbed as worthless in the
earth, now converted intoSan invaluable
treasure, ,enrichingthe owners and others;
an augmentation in the price of land in
some instances a hundred fold, and a
general impulse to every department OF
business with resulting prosperity
bringing the favored part into virtual
proximity to the great marts and mar
kets of the world. The county of Ma.
rion, as one on the lineof the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. may serve as all OK
ample. Her lands have been, on an av'
erage, increased four fold their former
value. Her treasures of coal, lime,
iron ore, &c. long dormantand unknown
aud esteemed but little.worth knowing,
have been exploited and opened, and are
now yielding abundant rewards to their
fortunate and dnterprising owners Al
this time--justin in the commencement o.
the bnsiness-in single mine. there
are not less than fifty men employed ii
mining her excellent bituminous coal
so exceedingly valued for gas, and moi
loss than 200 tons of it are daily trans
ported from that mine To Baltimore
New York and Boston, where it is used
for lighting those cities. Others are al
so embarking in this business with
zeal and energy which admonish US O
the impossibilily Of accurately estimat
ing the extent which this branch vii
soon attain. At this time also-beside
others projected there is single bias
furnace in the county making four o.
fvc tons Of pig iron daily, the ore fo
which is there found most excellent and
abundant. That furnace now employs
from seventy to seventy.6ve lahorers
and this branch of business will sool
employ vast numbers more. Flourine
mills and other manufactures are mul
tiplying and .prospering, in like degree
under the same influence. During tht
last year tho county transported by thu
same railway about $4,000 bushels o
wheat. aaG :, s.lu sIl l.A"a GHl't
Such are but a few ofthe advantages
and but a partial statement of them
which one county has derived from on'
road. That county, wise in this regnr
from her experience, is deeply interest
ed in the success Of the Monongahel
and Ravenswood railroad, trusting con
iidentIy to her participation with he
sister counties in the benefits to nop
\ from it. r'.l Hr'j Gns sS.N
Along the Monongahela anl Ravens
wood railroad route, au extent OF II
miles, lie richlands, fertile for agricul
turc and grazing, teeming with valua
BILE minerals, covered with choice tim
ber, and with water power adequate t
all the wants and demands of tho coun
try. The lands, in many places, ar
now unproductive of profit. They at
owned or possessed by ,huse TO whor
market is inaccessible, and upon whom
therefore, the powerful incentive Of lu
cra,ive recompense for labor is feebl
if at all operative. But give them