Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-09-02
xoHoNGAHBLA ARD RAYEHswooD RAILROAD.
vADlDRES SIS '=.- ......
OF tile Committee OF Fnirmont
Convention. .s, %!

An act, hereto appended, passed oy
the Legislature Of Virginia at its last
session, authorizes the construction ofa
Railroad from the Pennsylvania. line, at
or near where the same crosses the
Monongahela river, to the Ohio river at,
Ravens ood in the county of Jackson.
The interest which prompted this enact.
ment soon manifested itself ina populSr
form in the assemblagc at Fairmont,
Va, in June, Of a very large and enthu.
siaslic convention ofdelegates from sew,
eral counties Of Pennsy lyania, as we'll
as from counties in Virginia, along and
near the line Of the projected road, It
was the object of the Convention to a.
dopt measures for the earliest organiza.
,ion Of company to securethe valuable
privileges qftbe charter. The Conven-
ton adopted preliminary steps to that
end and among other things, entrusted
to the undersigned the preparation Of an
address to the public on the subject.
The great utility Of the railway sys-
tenn is unques,ionablo. Its excellence
for overland transportation has secured
its permanent triumph. In the speed
and cheapness Of travel, the extent and
facility ftrade, in the development of
the resources and augmentation Of the
wealth Of the country in the regularity
Of business,ra the certainty of
q Just and equitable reward for labor,
and in the general diffusion of informa-
ton and prosperity, consequent upon the
introduction of the system, we have the
proofs of its superiority over tho old
modes Of Conveyance. Hence,i in this
age of improvement, we find the gene
raj or universal adoption Of railroads in
all enlightened and prosperous coun-
tries. Scarcely twenty-five years have
elapsed since the first railroad was con.
struc,ed aud used as public thorough
fare for the transportation of mercha.-
disc and passengers, and less than tweu.
,y.fve years since the introduction of
steam locomotives; yet the vas. superi.
ority of the system, so readily discern.
ed by the intelligent, and SO plainly de-
monslrated to all, has, in that brief pc.
Rod, secured it universal commentator
and enlisted in its promotion and use the
patriot, agriculturist, manufacturer, cap
italist, laborer, and all classes, with com
mon accord. Wi,hthese considerations
which attes. the wisdom of maturel ex.
perience, q railroad scheme cannot be
an object Of indifference, and ono pos
sessed of the manifold advantages ol
that projected must command the most
serious attention. 1t has naturalI Iy pro.
duced an ardent and general desire for
the securement of the charter and the
immediate construction ofthe road. Tu
the inhabitants Of the country through
which, it will pass, it presents the stron-
gest INDUCEMENTS for becoming identi'
fed whit, contributing to the meaus
for its construction and eventual regula'
ton and control. To others. al a dis
tance, it exhibits inducements not less
attractive. -S' 'Taf" .,s
Between the termini designated in the
charter. the road may be constructed oI
length not exceeding no miles. With
out precision, it may bo stated that its
general course will DO up the Monouga.
hela and West Fork rivers, through the
counties Of Monougalia, Marion, Harri.
sou aud Lewis :; thence towards the Ohio
river, descending the waters of the Ka.
nawhu river through the several inter.
mediate counties, to the Ohio a. Ra-
venswood in Jackson county. This
general route is not only entirely practi.
cable, but one remarkably favorable to
the construction ofthe road. The grade
will be cosy; the right way cheap
cuts and fills inconsideraB: the bridg.
ing requisite, but little, aud NJ expen'
sive ; aud the genera! isclit'es unusu,
suall y favorable. No serious obstacle
will be encountered. No tunneling OF
consequence %ill be required. The li.'
| ciliy of graduation deserves special no
Mice, The descent in the wafer al the