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

denily expect 10 renuer ~ tributary W .ucu
wealth and prosperity. In this competition
We find the cities Of Baltimore, Philadelphia,
New York and Boston, with characteristic
energy, embarking their capital, heretofore
so benefcially employed to their profit and
still actively enlarsing their prosperity. To
these cities and their capitalists, the project.
ed road must be an object Of concern, and
when rightly understood and appreciated, it
will present 10 them irresistible attractions.
From these cities to the coveted trade OF the
South and Southwest, it will afford the most
direct and easy line Of communication, as
will be apparent upon inspection OF map
Of the country. lis southern terminus on
the Ohio is one from which every facility is
afforded for connections which must ulti-
ma,ely and very soon be formed with the
great lines 10 Cincinnati, Louisville and St.
Louis, and the lines penetrating tile states
Of Kentucy, Tennessee, Alabama, Missls-
sippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. BY
means Of these connections, the vast and
prolific regions thus opened will pour their
unfailing and invaluable productions over
this road into the great city or cities which
may wisely and seasonably grasp the privi.
llepes now within reach. The mere sugges.
ton Of these to the keen.sighted will suffice.
The way business Of this road alone will
be large and Of daily increase, as the poPu-
lation, The country, with lis extraordinary
resources susceptible Of unlimited develope-
ment, and the enterprise and means now di-
rected to its improvement, sufficiently show.
II has been estimated that the investment
requisite for constructing the forty miles ex.
tension from the Pennsylvania Genital road
20 the Virginia line will prove profitable
from the way business alone on its line
Yet il will possess no natural advantage over
the projected road. The progressive increase
along the line Of this road, ,by the certain de-
velopement Of it's capabilities, is almost in
calcuable. For distance of l5O miles, i.
will pass through an immense coal region,
along the Monongahela and its waters,whilst
i, is known lha, the Baltimore aud Ohio road
passes through but eight or ten miles oil that
coal region. Besides the way business, the
river tonnage before mentioned, without the
South and Southwest extensions, would
supply The road with perhaps an equal or
greater trade than that Of the Baltimore and
Ohio rnud. That tonnage, as before eslmn.
ted, is equal to 5000 tons daily, or l6s, 600
tons monthly Of thirty days. Superadded
10 these encouraging prospects, we nave ths
confident expectation or assurance that the
southern and southwestern connections, and
their immense contributions to the business
Of this read, will soon render i emphalicall-,
the sreat ton iten. ths sssl-
err, cities and seaboafd to'the ieeming West
and Southwest. Should it be found expedi.
ent to bridge the Ohio river, at Ravenswood
a most favorable point will bs found. It is
superior to any other for that purpose within
forty miles, and affords thereby an eligible
connection with the Ohio roads converging
al Cincinnati. An extension Of the road a.
bout fifty miles will take it to the Big Sandy,
a point which will directly afford the con-
nections with the great Yves, and Southwest.
This extension so imperinusly demanded by
the great interests Of commerce, and so OBJ
viously suggested By the tendency and pres
sure Of events, may be regarded as iney'ta-
Bile, perhaps immediate. ',t
With prospects such as this road exhibits,
il mus, succeed, and i,s success must enrich
those who Wisely invest their capital in its
construction and fortunately direct its ope-
ra,ions 10 their emoumeut The immense
trade destined to pass over its line will find
its destination in one or more Of the rlTa!
cities, perhaps in proportion to the zeal and
interest they direct 10 that end. In It's way
10 the seaboard these rivals may divert il al
several points TO their own profit, or by sn'
rerior energy and skill i, mcy be poured into
one city more fortunate than The Others.
Boston and New York, so successful aud
ambitions in commerce, cannot be ;ndiler.
ent tothis scheme. Possessing such capital
and enterprise, they cannot snpineIy omit
this occasion when awakened to the value
Of the prize. Already they have lines
which NAV be connected with this road un'
der such circumstances as TO promise rich
4 increase 10 their commerce and prove for
midable 10 rivals. a.s-
Baltimore canno, be insensible 10 the fact
that her interests are 10 oe affected BY ihls
road Already, by her powerful energies
she has achieved most stupendous enter
prise in the construction Of her road 't
| Wheeling. Sho is now enjoying its advan
tuges. Foilea in her efforts 10 touch the
Ohio at more southern and favorable point
for it's coveted trade, she now has.in prospect
the advantages inuring from the terminus o.
the Northwestern Virginia Road at Perkess
bury. some ninety miles below Wheeling
pyospects not al all inconsiderable nj one
4 lime, Notwithstanding the obstacles TO navi'
gation below. Yet these ha,tering prospect!
will prove illusory. The MUnongahela and
Ravenswood railroad, touching tho river for
ty miles below parkersburg, and exemr
from the difficulties Of The MasigO ton above
will inevitably intercept and absorb the
,nde anticipated By Baltimore OH the No t.
western Virginia road. 10 avert the con
sequences so injurious TO that city, she vii
doubtless perceive and adopt tho pnlicY o
diye,,ing from the projected road the trade
upoa !, destined Tor the seubOurd. This sht
may auemp, at two points-namely, where
the road mny cross the Baltimore and ohit
road, and where it may cross the North
western Virginia Road. That her vigilance
and resources will bo directed 10 this policy
so requisite 10 prosperity, we cannot doubt
Her past history aud known enterprise give
us this assurance.
The city Of PHILADELPHIA, SO directly ant
vi,aIly interested in this road, will not, We
ara ,inrmpd. fail TO djIec: her means in suct