American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-03-19

glnia. These are my sentiments, and
| boldly ayow them here to-day; and
LIT, with these sentiments sink, let me
60. The county which l have the honor
to represent is little differently stu.
ated from the counties of other gehtle-
men on this floor. We are bounded on
the North by the Pennsylyania line,
on the South by Marion county, on the
East by Preston, on the West by Wet
eel, and we nre bounded above bv the
clear, bright heavens. We have a no.
BILE river going through our county;
and we have not got much Of the public
money; and thank God we can live
without it. We have fertile soil
we are ashamed to beg and afraid to
steal, and we can live without public
aid. The gentlemen from Preston and
Marion have the advantage of us in
point of improvements. The Balti-
more and Ohio railroad passes through
their counties-and | wish here to say,
to the gentleman from Preston, that
his argument, that railroads do not
pay, is practically refuted by the in
creased assessed value of land in his
own county, since the construction of
the railroad through it--which is, !
believe, about ten per cent. within ten
years: - -. 9'a..s'' - .-...' . O.,
MIR. KEMBLE-With reference to
that matter, it stands returned by the
Commissioner that the increased value
OF the land in the county of Preston is
$50 per cent; but in that calculation
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is
included. ..,..... ., ........ ..0
Mr. DAVIS-It is the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad that gives this in
creased vaiue.to the land. The popu-
lation of your county has nearly dou-
bied. look at your coal mining COM.
/ panies in Preston; look at your iron
establishments your thriving villages,
and then | ask, what has made Preston
county so prosperous. The answer
comes on every hand-the advantages
conferred by the Baltimore and Ohio
(, Railroad. ,,r fa.l, r-. ......,t
The gentleman from Marion (Mr.
Haymond} in making some remarks
! upon bill which he introduced to reg
tulate or equalize the charges upon the
! Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, spoke
not only of the thousands but of the
hundreds of thousands invested in the
coal trade in his county. Permit me
to say that but for the railroad, this
coal would be untouched and unmined
in the hills of that cid county. These
gentlemen may come here and charge
us with log-rolling. They are satisfied,
because their counties are well supplied
with railroads, and not only that, but
they are cut all over with turnpikes.
am not a turnpike man. | prefer
travelling on railroads, and I fully ap.
preciate the great advantages which
steam has conferred. L wish now to
call the attention Of this House to what
some of the counties in Northwestern
Virginia have gaitlea from improve
ments in the way of turnpikes. They
may be deemed Of no valuo compara-
lively; but it will not be doubted that
they have improved the country in no
small degree, Go to any gentleman
living by any of these tirnpikes, and
inquire Of him what is his price for
land if he has any for sale. He NAV
say $40, $50 or 800 per acre. Ifyou
suggest that the price is little too
high, oh, he will answer, but my land
is here upon the turnpike, and YOU
have got facilities thereby which YOU
cannot commend elsewhere. In the
county of Harrison, in turnpikes and
bridges, constructed in whole or in
part by tho State, we have fourteen in
all IN that little county, running in ey-
cry direction. [ found, in travelling
through that beautiful county, that al.
most every stream had safe bridge
across it. Yes sir; it has fourteen
turnpikes and bridges which have cost
the State $240, 900. In addition to
that, they have the Northwestern Rail
road. But, gentlemen say this costs
the State nothing. Let me tell you,
sir, it did cost the State a great deal
1t was the most lavish expenditure that
! the State of Virginia ever made, to
have granted the right Of way to this
railroad. She gave to tho rival city
Of Baltimore line ofrailroad through
her territory to the Ohio river, which,
to q great extent, has crippled and will
cripple tho improvements of the State
o&Virginfa. In view of these facts,
will gentlemen say that the Legislature
. of Virginia gave this region of country
, oothing, when they gave the right Of
way for this road2 1t has conferred
upon them great advantages and they