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

erages but two feet per mile, and no
where exceeds three feet nine inches in
mile. Along the valley of these
streams the road will be most easily
GRADED. From the West Fork to the
Ohio river at Ravenswood, by the gene.
raj route before indicated, the grade
except two cuts, or tunnels, is probably
as favorable. Thus throughout the line
| is a most desirable grade. Other local
considerations and advantages add to the
eligibility oftho route.
The country to be traversed by this
route, from the Pennsylvania line to the
Obio,riyer, will both derive advantages
and confer advantages upon the road
| Il contains territory and population
possessing capacity of Development,
increase and productiveness to an indef
mite extent. The counties thro' which
the road will pass comprise a large area
with most productive soil, watcr.power
almost unlimited, great variety and ex
cellence Of timber, with coal, iron ore,
limestone, and in quantities believed to
be inexhaustible. Their population,
which is now perhaps $4,000, has in
creased 10 the last ten years at rate
not under so per cen,um, and will con.
tinue to increase in an equal or greater
ratio. d This people, now perceiving the
elements Of expansion, manufactures,
wealth, and prosperity, with which the
country is SO beautifully endowed, ami
mated by a spirit ofindustry. enterprise
and public improvement, are aroused to
the wisdom and policy of directing their
energies to the enjoyment Of their natu'
raj advantages.
An earnest effort will secure to them
its competent realization. They have
been informed Of its advantages to 9th
ers from public improvements, and they
aspire to 40 equal participation in such
prosperity. Il has been seen that the
construction Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, through part Of this country,
has conferred on that part benefits which
all desire; a market for all its produc.
tions, at all seasons, asthe highest cash
price; a market forts coal, before that
time undisturbed. as worthless in the
earth, now converted intofan invaluable
treasure, enriching the owners and'othersi
an augmentation in the price of land in
some Instances hundred fold, and a
general impulse to every department oil
business with resulting prosperity
bringing the favored part into virtual
proximity to the great marts and mar
kets of the world. The county of Ma
rion, us one on the line of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. may serve as an OK
ample. Her lands have been, on an av'
erage, increased four fold their former
value. Her treasures of coal, lime,
iron ore, &c, long dormantand unknown
and esteemed hut little worth knowing,
have been explored and opened, and are
now yielding abundant rewards to their
fortunate and onterprising owners. Al
this time-just in the commencement o
the busness-in a single mine, there
are not less than fifty men employed it
mining her excellent bituminous coal
so exceedingly valued for gus, aud moi
loss than 200 tons Of it are daily trans
ported from that mine 10 Baltimore
New York and Boston, where it is used
for lighting those cities. Others are al
so embarking in this business with .
zeal and energy which admonish US Of
the impossibilily of accurately estimat'
ing the extent which this branch vii
soon attain. At this time also-beside'
others projected-,here is single BIAS
furnace in the county making four oil
tivc tons Of pig iron daily, the ore fo'
which is there found most excellent and
abundant. That furnace now employs
from seventy to seventy-6ve lahorers
and this branch Of business will sool
employ vast numbers more. FIGURING
mills and other manufactures are mul
tiplying and prospecting, in like degree
under the same influence. During the
last year tho county transported by the
same railway about $4,000 bushels oil
wheat. 500 =, .,,JI s,!l gI 90 at i"ti
Such are but few ofthe advantages
aud but partial statement of them
which one county has derived from one
road. That county, wise in this regar'
from her experience, is deeply interest
cd in the success Of the Monongahelt
aud Ravonswood railroad, trusting con
identIy to her participation with he,
sister counties in the benefits to flow
'front.'. Wt..e5.'
Along the Monongahela and Ravens
wood railroad route, an extent OF III
miles, lie richlands, fertile for agricul
turc and grazing, teeming with valua'
BILE minerals, covered with choice tim
Der, aud with water power adequate tc
all the wants and demands of tho coun
try. The lands, in many places, are
nav unproductive of profit. They arc
owned or possessed by those to whom
market is inaccessible, and upon whom
therefore, the powerful incentive Of lu
cra,ive recompense for labor is feebl,
if ut all operative. But give them t
communication; take the market tc
,hnm md ihav will acl,nnuladnn tha in.