Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-02-04

from the first, the place, as a torn, was a mistake
that there are a thousand hilltops in Belmont
just as eligibly located for the county seat-iust
as healthy and Just as accessible; and that the
accident of its being the first laid out village in
the county, thereby attracting the county seat.
has been a great misfortune to our county for
she has had to hold the town up by the ears, from
the beginning.
Having as w trust, demonstrated that a point
upon the Railroad is much more suitable for the
county seat, than a point away from it. we shall
now consider more particularly the question
whether BellaiTe, being Il point ut the eastern
terminus ofthe Central Road, would make a more
advantageous location for it than some point in
the interiOron the line of the Road.
As We have elsewhere indicated, the na-urai
determination of the trade of every pI ton of
this county is to the Ohio river. This tendency
increases in strength with the increase of facili
ties for transport. Before the building of the
National Road, 81. C!airsville enjoyed, nceesSa-
rily, some kind of relationship to the trade OF
the county; but as soon as that work was com
plete, the larger and better markets of the river
drew all the important traffic through st. CIairs-
vile with as little interruption as If no town ex
listed there II is true that after the farmer had
disposed Of his produce AT Bridgeport or Wheel
ing. he was compelled 10 stop on his way home,
To pay out, at the ''COHHtg Ton Gate some por-
ton OF his hard earnings, III the shape of taxes.
lawyers fees, or some other mode of supporting
the evils, either necessary or unnecessary. which
cluster about St. Clairsyille: but not to do anv
trading.
From the advantages which the National Road
furnished to the farmers Of Northern Belmont, in
this access to a cash market, these of the Central
and Southern portions were excluded-so far "a
their heavier products were concerned-untll
the construction of the Railroad placed them on
a footing of equality with their more favored
Eeichb"rs Of the northern townships. The ac-
cess 10 the river which the Railroad has furnish
ed, without diminishing the value OF the lands
in the northern part has increased very largely
their value in the South, and has caused the
srfRier increa-e OF population in the Railroad
townships, which our table exhibits. Why IS
this? Not because the Railroad has made the
SOL more fertile or labor ea>i,r 7: but because the
products Of that soil and labor have been trans
ported more readily and more cheaply to The rirey
n,arEets; and also that the heavier supplies for
family and farm use can be obtained with more
directness aud with fewer profits upon them,
from the sources Of supply at the river. This re
eiprOcal movement of trade, to which the inter
ests of the farmers Of Belmont have always nat
urally tended, carrying with it the necessity for
frequent travel to and from the River, finds all
the accom- :odation it could ask whether in
cheapness or saving 81 time, in the Railroad with
its passenger trains, running four times each
way daily, except the Sabbath. The Company
have authorized the publication Of the statcmen;
that thess trains are intended to he permanent
and three OF them at least, to stop on signal be,
ing given, at all the way stations, for the best
possible accommodation OF local travel.
1t is true that these same facilities would fur
nish equal ease OF access To a point in the interi.
or, say Belmont or Lewis Mills, and if all ON
business call were to pay taxes and attend court
one of these places would undoubtedly give t.
TIE whole county the greatest possible equality
Of accommodation. Bat in view of the almos
constant business movement of the interior to
ward the river, it would seldom be the ease. i
the seat Ot justice were located at claire, wleI
the western halls of the county could not com
bine its pull lie ana private business under on.
trip AN. one eSpemse-prac.icaliy making at
tendance to the county seat on county bushes.
cost nothing. This however would not be tn
case iflhe county seat were located out upon tn,
! line Oh the road. Even if Il trip to the river wer,
combined with Attendance at Belmont or Lewis
Mails, it woI.d compel the loss of several hour
Ot time between traIuS, under the most favorabl,
circumstances. But If this were otherwise, ther,
is another point IN the question which ought t.
be conclusive. The business of the eastern o
river hall o. the ~cOuuty-alwavs destined to b.
the most rUpulOGs-dOes not necessarily carry it
citizens into tile interior Every trip they sho',
make to Lewis Mills or Belmont, on county bu
siuesS, would be Il loss OF time and an absolute
outlay OF money for tnat especial purpose. VI,
have shown that the western half cuuli general
ly do its county business ut the river in comb:
- lIitOl W 1 uIIAcE cSlS, 50 as 10 MAKE It, Al
tendance ut the county scat there, praclicl.,
cost nothing. Unu-r such circumstances woui'
it nOt tie emlEen.ly unjust tor the west hal
which would lose nothing by concession 10 de
mand u! the east hal! a perpetual tax upon II
time and its melao in sreRIag Il county sea
where tnoy could have no calls except 'On count
business?
Snould it, however, be urged that the location
fine scIi Oi ju>ticc on tnc line OF the R,.iroa,
would encourage the building up Vi al impprtau
commercial tSNn, and thus ld.uish an u4terlO
5 ulurHst that 2 Ouiu obviate a liar amount u
travel to the I.tyer, We say that this Is S>lmpl,
! impossIbie; ana The history OF every county alOa,
'! the OuiO aG,! oil tne LaAe- shore demonstrate
! its lai!acy. On the contrary, II would nave III
effect vi keeping The Committeeman interests of th
COUNTY cut nP INTO fragments and continue GU
l people as "hewcrs ol wood AMI drawers uI water
D Tor the City u Wheeling. No effort oil the int
rior ean overcome the attractive influence of thI
cI;y, Mart!uSviiIe, Bridgeport and Beiilire, wit
an aggregate population vi about p, 800 soul.
T The Jrue policy Tor us Is to concentrate as mIcI
vi oar Trade As We can, within our own border,
where but little encOura cement Is necessary I
| develop lt:-nameiy, along the river, at ga
e Mart.nsviiie, Bridgeport and Bellaire.
= And IN conheriI0n with this feature of Ia
D question:, have The people vi Belmont no pride Il
well as Interest i'll building W sh1h a co!i incrc.a
: town as night DC made ~ Be.iaiTe, bul which )
. years Oi eA ncT.hIeht has iaiied to build up .
= the interior. Ia ucauty % site Bcllaire is ui.suI
= passed. Ii has aS goud Il steamboat landing Il
:, any point Oh TIE river. 1t Is tile prIct. cal tcI
minus OF three great Railroads, lct ling to al
connecting wt,a the several railway systems ,
1 tne Norm, the East and tie West. IL has On
b Iaustiess miles u coal Tor manufacturing AZ
cheap consultation. Ii has ali the accessories
heals illness, pure AR and good water. lis re
. Iat;On by railroad with Bridgeport and Martin,
r viiie, bcIn. Tut 10 minutes from In. former an