Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-09-02
kOEONGAHELA AND RAYENSwooD RAILROAD.
ADDRESS 5.-.i
OF the Committee of Fnirmont
N @ Convention. d.. y.

WI AN act, HeTelo aPPehueu, Pdeseu W
the Legislature Of Virginia at its last
session, authorizes the construction ola
Railroad from the Pennsylvania line, at
Tor near where the same crosses the
3Monongahela river, to the Ohio river at
Ravens wood in the county of Jackson.
The interest which prompted this enact.
lment soon manifested itself in a popular
form in the assemblage at Fairmont,
Va, in June, Of a very large and enthu-
s,iaslic convention ofdelegates from sew
eral counties Of Pennsylvania, as we'll
as from counties in Virginia, along and
near the line of the projected road. 1t
was the object Of the Convention to a.
dept measures for the earliest organiza-
tion Of a ,companyto secure the valuable
privileges ofthe charter. The Conven-
ton adopted preliminary steps to that
end; and among other things, entrusted
10 the undersigned the preparation Of an
address to the public on the subject.
The great utility Of the railway sys-
TEN is unquestionablo. Its excellence
for overland transportation has secured
Its permanent triumph. In the speed
and cheapness Of travel, the extent and
facility oftrade, in the development of
the resources and augmentation of the
Y wealth of the country, in the regularity
4 Of business transactions, the certainty Of
4 Just and equitable reward for labor,
( and in the general diffusion of informa.
tion and prosperity, consequent upon the
Introduction of the system, we have the
proofs Of its superiority over tho old
modes Of Conveyance. Hence,in this
age of improvement, we find the gene
raj or universal adoption of railroads in
all enlightened and prosperous couu-
tries. Scarcely twenty-five years have
Il elapsed since the FIRST railroad was con.
struc,ed aud used as public thorough.
fare for the transportation Of merchant
disc and passengers, and less than TWEEN
ty.fve years since the introduction of
steam locomotives; yet the vas. superb
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
gpetriot, agriculturist, manufacturer, cap.
S5italist, laborer, and I'LL classes, with com
mon accord. With these considerations
which atles! the wisdom Of matured ex.
perience, a railroad scheme cannot be
an object Of indifference, and one pos
sessed of the manifold advantages Of
4 that projected must command the most
serious attention. 1t has naturally pro.
duced an ardent and general desire for
4 the securement of the chatter aud the
immediate construction of,he road. To
4 the inhabitants Of the country through
whichit will pass, it presentsthe stron.
gest INDUCEMENTS for becoming ilenti.
fled whit, contributing to the means
for its construction and eventual regula.
ton and control. To others. at a dis.
lance, it exhibits inducements not less
attractive. H3'" r
Between the termini designated in The
charter, the road may be constructed Of
length not exceeding 10 miles, With
out precision, it may be stated that its
general course will DO up the Monouga.
hela and West Fork rivers, through tho
counties Of Monongalia, Marion, Harri-