Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-10-09
Ea TuE oENERAL AssEMaLr oF VIRaINIA.

To THE 0ESERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
4 railroal convention lately holden at
Upshur G. Il. assigned TO the subscri. !
bers The important duty of presenting. 10 |
q memorial. to your honorable body, al
sfair expression of its purposes and views.
twas declared by resolution Of the
Convention. that railroad from Alexan-
dria to the Ohio River, at some point
north Of Bufington's Island, is "matter of
sspedisney and absolute right" In seeking
TO enforce this grave conclusion. we take
loave to state. in advance, that tue Cons
Tention was composed of large number
of delegates. representing many Of the
counties between Alexandria and the
Ohio River. comprised within the Third
District Of the Board of Public Works.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was
projected by men of great sagacity. in or
der TO promote the commercial interest Of
Baltimore. Its extension through Vir-
ginia, and that Of its subsidiary, the
North Western Virginia Railroan, were
designed to compass no wider aims and
the end sccords with their yieW Ms. A great
Improvement has been extended through
ao'thern and western Virginia, by foreign
capital and enterprise, merely seeking a
through trade Nth the Great West. for the
aggrnndizBment Of baltimore. willis the
accommodation and interest Of the impor-
tAns section Of this Commonwealth inter-
yening already cease to be more than
partially regarded. But while the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, an only carrier
70 sn only market. has rendered that sec
-tion essentially her tributary, but OF
whose interest she is little regardtul) we
readily conclude that certain material
benefits have incidentally accrued to Vir-
ginia by reason of its construction. En-
,Oountering and triumphing over obstacles
apparently insurmountable, it has pene
Eated into our far and waste places to
Rnloek hidden resources, to explore min
srsi treasures, to stimulate production, to
advance the happiness, increase the CON-
4orts aud enlighten the minds OF men. 1t
has promoted lease and plenty" which
are the "cherishers Of knowledge" Thus
tar, Virginia would seem to be q posi-
i've gamer by the construction of this
road yet upon such we'll established re-
-suiss. with distinct recognition of their
eauSe. q general argument can be impreg-
:nably founded for the construction, al
50. Of our proposed road from Alexandria
t0 the Ohio River.
Great Legislative wisdom was evinced
IA the classification OF the counties com.
pIising tho several districts Of the Board
OF Public Works in a geographical extern
sion from the eastern TO the western limits
ofths State. There was the great trade
Of the Mississippi Valley to be sought for
by improvements fairly aud zealously
competing with those of other States, and
70 be borne by them to our Chesapeake
ports, to 6ud its way, at length, through
she cspes, 10 a foreign destination. There
Gas vast territory. of great and various
resources. lyipg between the Chesapeake
and the Ohio, to be developed, its
productiyeness to &c stimulated, its hid
den treasures to be revealed, its industry
20 be fosfsred and encouraged. There was
= still nobler work to be accomplished :
Sectional jealousies and strifes were to be
forever appeased, a mighty people were
70 be made one people. united in Interest
and affection. sharing equal benefits, sus-
tanning and sustained by common institu.
tions. maintained and fostered by one in.
divisible and glorious commonwealth.
We observe three thriving ports upon
The waters of tho ssapeake-Norfolk,
Richmond. and Alexandria-one in each
OF the Districts Of the Board Of Public
Works Norfolk. by her connection with
Petersburg. is urging forward a continu
Gus railway to Memphis, and Richmond.
by the Central and Covington railways, is
seeking path to the Ohio. In claiming
dor Alexandria an Improvement common
surate with those already accorded to
Norfolk aud Richmond. your memorialists
pray attention to her certain and peculiar
advantages. Her harbor is caFacious
aad easy Of approach. and confessedIy
superior to that OF Baltimore, aud is the
natural receptacle Of coal trade, des-
tined, at 40 distan: day, to supply our
national and commercial marine. With
what interest this great element of her
prosperity has been regarded, the pro.
oeedings aud discussions of former legis-
latures ~ill sufficiently cviuce. Resting
as she does. within the very shadow Of
the capitol, railroad from Alexandria to
the Ohio River must prove the great 0VsnVs
offrGuel to and from the National IHetropo-
ls. II the directness VI route from Wash
ington, by way of Cincinnati and Jeffer.
con City. 10 the Bay OF San Francisco, be
but observed, this point will need no
further illustration. While these singular
advantages are kept in proper view. our
main proposition is urged upon other and
scarcely less favorable considerations.
The road proposed is to traverse an ogri-
cultural region OF unsurpassed fertility and
cultivation. uu il its approach to the great
Allegheny range. whose undeveloped
wealth consists in timber. iron aud coal ;
whose resources are almost uubounded ::
and when the mountains shall be trans.