Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-03-11
AIonongahela and RavmswOod Railroad

We incline to the opinion that the people
Of Northwestern Virginia are not half awake
to the advantages which they are TO realize
at no dis,an, day from the construction Of
the Railroad above-named. Among the few
good things done at the recent session OF our
Legislature, was the passage Of the bill grant
ing charter for this object. True it was a
mere "naked char.er,n without an appro-
pria,on Of money, or it would not have
been granted. The object Of those asking
for this charter is to connect the Central Pa.
Railroad, lat some point West of the ALLIE
gheny Mountains, say at Latrobe, in West
moreland county, with the Railroad run
ming into Kentucky, from the State line at
the mouth of Big sandy-in other words, to
open great thOroughfate from Philadelphia
10 Kentucky, Tennessee. &c., and there is
every reason to believe that Philadelphia
capital will construct the work.
The facilities for constructing Railroad
on this route are admirable. Pursuing the
course of the valley at the base Of the noun
tain lin Pa. until it reaches the Mononga-
hela river at the State line, it is designed to
pass up this river 10 the vicinity Of Weston,
in Lewis county; aud thence, BY route
said to be practicable and easy Of construc-
ton, to Ravenswood, or the kentucky line.
On this entire route there will be no tunnels
Of any magniiude-no large rivers to bridge,
and no occasion for those keary grades that
interpose such formidable difficulties on some
rival roads. A Railroad'may be constructed
on this route which will combine the highest
speed for passenger trains with the greatest
possible facilities for the transportation Of
produce and merchandise. asH
And what will be the adrantages Of this
Railroad, to us in N. W. Va! Will they
amount TO any thing more than to bore our
ears with the shrieks Of the locomotives as
they 60 whisking past-to grind our pigs 10
powder, and to scare our horses and cattle
into fits? These objections are sometimes
made against Railroads, we know; but they
amount 10 but little. Why the whistle Of
a locomotive is music to a passenger waiting
to 20 ahead, or to a man who keeps Rail-
road eating house, and why should any one
else dislike ii? At to killing pig now and
then. we suppose such things do happen
bu, sensible pigs put themselves out OF the
way Of harm, and the most stupid are never
run over more than once! Horses and cat
tie are little sensitive, when first introdu-
ced to the iron horse" but they soon get
accustomed to its noise and uginess, and SO
little heed train in full flight that they do
no, even elevate their noses from clover, to
bow passing "how-d'ye.do" to the dignl-
taries who enact laws for their government.
But there are advantages awaiting us, and
such as are but little dreamed OF in our
philosophy" Will j. be no advantage to us
to have some hundred thousand dollars scat
tered around us, while the road is making?
Will it be no advantage 10 our enterprising
Merchants and Tradesmen to be within three
or four hours Of Pittsburgh, and within 10
hours Of Philadelphia? Is it not exhilirat-
ing to think Of having fish and oysters, in
their season, brought kicking from their beds
in the Susquehanna and Delaware Take
another view of this subject. Traverse the
hills and vallies Of this region-contemplate
the untold wealth Of iron ore, lumber, and
coal, that they contain, and how readily a
Railroad would bring ,hemto market. See
the smoke of forty furnaces, and hear the
clatter Of as many FORCES, coming money
or its value from our long embedded nine
rails. See little city springins up at Nc
Kelvy's works; another a. Ellington; and
still ano,he, at Clinton Furnace; while the
grand centre Of industrial operations, Nor
gan,own, shall boast its manufactures Of
Cotton, Wool, Paper, Seed Sewers and Corn
Planters
A similar destiny doubtless awaits Fair.
mont, Carksbnrg, Weston, &C., as their re-
sources ore developed.
The only one who, to our knowledge, has
entered with becoming spirit into this mat
Ter, so far as Virginia is concerned, is the
writer Of the following letter TO "Coopers
Clalksburg Regis'er"-