Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-04-04
The N. w. Va. Railroad.

which many Of our readers have-ptobabty
Pcrused in the interval. it will be noticed
that that accomplished engineer antisi-
rates that the Northwestern Virginia
Railroad will derive considerable revenue
from the coal to be carried West. as we'll
rs East, from Clarksburg and its vicinity.
We refer to the report itself, copies Of
which can be obtained from Mr.. D"spard.
for the remarks Of that officer but wish
to call the attention Of our readers TO the
impulse which will be given to eve
~ interest in this quarter if this coal trade
can be established and made protita BILE
The coal carried East will be for the sup
ply of illuminating gas to the cities and
villages in that direction, and the 81 900
tons transported from Fairmont last ye r. is
but an indication Of what may be hereafter
expecled when we consider how rapidly
gas is coming into use wherever The mate
Iials for making it can be procured at
for the greatest consumption Of this mi
neral, SO very plentiful and accessible
here. and as yet SO comparatively worth
less as an item of export. We may truth
fully assert the supply to be unlimited,
and the term may with really the same
ProPliety, be applied to the present and
future consumption of the West. with its
cities and towns, its manufactures and
steamboats,, yearly increasing even i'll
greater ratio than that Of its unparalleled
general increase Of population. We are
assured it is fact. that notw outstanding
the many new mines which have been res
Gently opened and worked for the supply
of this immense consumption, the demand
is growing faster than the means Of sup
ply, and that in consequence the price is
slightly increasing from year to year.
We are induced to believe that Mr. La
trobe is rightiu assuming that coal will
be au important item Of transportation
from this point westward when our rail.
road is in operation. from the following
considerations which are partially noticed
in the report
/. The qualify Of our coal which will
favorably compare with any with which it
may be brought in competition.
2. The thickness OF the views, and its
accessibility. lying as it does above the Ie-
vel Of the water courses. in consequence
of which it can be mined and delivered At
the railroad with comparative cheapness
The prolucliveneSS Of our soil, our
relative position. our facilities (whsn the
railroad is completely for OBJ; aiming cheap
~ all articles We do not produce, will
prevent the cost Of subsistence, and conse-
quently the price of labor, becoming com
paratively high.
4. The fact that this transportation is in
the direction in which large proportion
of the locomotives of the company must
run without loads. as the commodities
carried to the East are much more bulky
than IhOSe carried to the West.
5. That boats for its transportation
down the Ohio and Mississippi. which can
be loaded without much handling, can al
ways, owing to its position at the mouth
of the heavily timbered valley Of the Lit
tie kanawha river, be procured more
cheaPly at Parkcrsbury than at places
above or below it on the Ohio.
6. That the voyage will be shorter, end
the risk and insurance both pr"portionaIly
and ratabIy less, than from Wheeling and
Ti.tsburs; both Of VIII CHI places now
mAint&n heavy and profitable coal trade
down The river.
The question ut present. it will be ad-
United, is not whether this coal trade can
be carried on from CiarksSurg as profta-
bly, as from the other places, but whether
it can be made at all prS6tabIe.--
If it can be made to pay at the OUT
set ouly fair interests on the capital as
tually invested in the lands, opening oil
mines, implements, &C.. and fair remu-
neration. for superintendent and labor |
great object will be obtained. 1t will
draw to US and maintain large industri-
Gus population. and supply a home mar
ket to the agriculturist. and customers to
the mechanic and storekseper and thus
thousands upon thousands. perhaps MIL
lions, OF tons Of a sommondity in general
demand, but now useless. will be the
means Of adding largely to the wealth and
ProsReriEy of the community at large. In
this view, in which the subject becomes
Interesting. net only to the owner. Of go.