Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-07-05

I hope this Convention will excuse me a
<ew moments while address myself to-
the Virginia delegation.
ls Is not evident to us all that Pennsyl-
yania has already promised more aid to
this great, leading thoroughfare than we
have Then say to my bother delegates
and my fellow cltizens of Virginia, let us
return to our several counties with a full
determination to use all proper exertions
to secure at least two hundred and Gfty
thousand dollars stock to this road at the
earliest practicable period. and carry out
the act of our Legislature. organize the
company, and secure the services Of an
eminent engineer. whose estimates will be
taken abroad. and in that way we will be
abl"to set forth the facts that the Monon-
gahela and RLvenswood railroad will run
at least three fourths of its entire length
parallel with the water course on a water
level, and that grades and curves will be
less objectionable than any other railroad
new located or yet to be anticipated in
Western Virginia and that report
woulI enable foreign capitalists to form
some opinion of The eligibility Of the
route and it would show that it proposes
to connect the grand system OF railroads
in the northeastern States with all the
extensive railroads in the southwestern
States by short, easy and practicable
route. forming almost straight line from
the Pennsylvania Central railroad at
Latrobe to Cincinnati and St. Louis, and
also to Kentucky and Tennessee. Then
we could with all propriety solicit foreign
aid with every reasonable assurance that
1ohk - ~. L.
the right to elect Board of Directors
whose duty it will be to manage the pro-
gress Of the work, and they would not or
der more than preliminary survey of the
road on that amount Of stock. Such q
survey should be made early this Fall as
1t would cost only about eight or ten thou
sand dollars, being amere trife for seven
or eight counties to pay. 1t would great
~ advance the progress OF the work, as
It would enable US 10 show conclusively
the permanent advantage that would
result to the Pennsylvania railroad stocks
generally. aud to the city of PhiIadel-
phia, Grlm its immediate construction
We see, for ex lmple, that the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad stops at least three
fourLhs of the trade ascending the Ohio
river, destined for the seaboard, from
S.. LOUIS, Louisville anil Cincinnati. at
Wheeling. AMI pours it into the lap Of
Baltimore. all of which formerly went to
Philadelphia by way OF Pittsblrg. And.
we see it quoted in the papers that the
business which crowded Itself on the Ga.
plcitles of that roal during the month Of
May last, produced revenue Of over four
hundred thousand dollars. We also
learn that the North Western Railroad
Company, who have been Watching the
changing scenes Of the western trade with
deep interest and great caro- for more
than five years, have learned that con-
nectIOn with the Ohio river and western
improvements eighty or ninety miles be.
low Wheeling. and 30 below PiLtsburg.
must open new era in the history AMI
results Of that great work. They regard
1t in fact as its chief reliance in the flu
ture, when more active competition may
be expected to arise. as it will hOll the
key to the undivided tonnage Of the Ohio
river AMI its tributaries. In its effects.
too, upon the commercial intercss of the
city Of Baltimore, the view is not less
important and encouraging; for while the
Hemp6eld road is now being vigorously
pressed forward to divide with her cLi-
2ons the ascending trade of the Ohio ri
yer at the city Of Wheeling, the shorter
and more direct line to PArkcrsburg must
etectuaIly avert. consequences Of this
impending struggle by approprlating to
herself the whole through tonnage ofthe
river, without the possibility Of diver.
sion TO other points. Now, Baltimore can
certainly derive these advantages. as
above set forth over the Wheeling and
HempGeld roads. by her southwestern
connection at Parkersburg. Then. why
is it that Philadelphia cannot retrieve her
self with the greater portion Of the west
crn trade by the construction Of the Mo
nongahe!a and Ravenswool railroad
which will connect with the Ohio river,
and the western railroads forty or fifty
miles southwest of ParkerSburg or any
connection Baltimore can have?
She can do it, and she will do it she
understands her own interest too we'll, ana
appreciates it too highly, to let this favo.
rable opportunity pass. The president
and directors Of the Northwestern rail
road had an allusion to the Baltimore
and Hemp6eld roads at Wheeling. when
they said the Northwestern branch at
Parkersburg must etfectually avert the
consequences Of this impending struggle
by appropriating to herself the whole
through tonnage Of the river withol 1t the
possibility Of diversion to other points.
But when this road is completed it will
change the result as above stated, as it
connects with the river thirty five o: for
ty miles below Parkersburg, which will
SECURE to Philadelphia the same advan-
tage over Baltimore that the Northwest
ern branch will have over the Baltimore
and Hemp6eld road at Wheeling and
though some gentlemen here may have
doubts as to whether SO many roads ter
minating on the Ohio river. will pay a
diS,idnnd Ml,nr,