Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-18
Mr.. EDITOR: | have hitherto remaii

INV ibhSNo - ~ hNhS tt
this discussion. But when | hear so
conflicting opinions promulgated
the matter, | am constrained TO
contribute my mite to the general fund.
That the county seat must enc day be
transferred from its present location 10
some other site, is admitted on every hand,
but the proper time and place are the points
for argument. Now, | will reverse the or
der in which. these points occur, and first
an inquiry into the merits of the
several locations to which it has been pro-
posed to remove it.
That it i. desirable to have the seat OF
Justice situated as near as practicable to
the geographical centre, is true with res
pect to most interior counties of any State;
but when the county is washed on q of
its sides by a n~arIgable river, its location
in the centre then RESOLVES itself into a
question of its doubtful utility. Be lmont.
Lewis Mills, and Glencoe, are points suf-
f~eiently nigh TO the geographical centre
for all practical purposes, and probably as
near the centre of population as any points
on the Rail Road that could be fixed upon;
Glencoe, in the latter respect, perhaps,
having the advantage over the others. But
they are all open to the same objection,
and hence may be considered together.
1t must be obvious to every thinking
mind that neither OF these points. aided by
all the public business that the county seat
could affcrd it, or advantage that would &C.
crue from lis location at any one of them,
would ever attain to any commercial impor-
lance, or afford the people of the county a
market for their produce. 1t could. at best,
become an insignificant hamlet, inferior, if
possible, to St. Clairsville itself, and a dis
credit to the good name of our county. Nor
is it necessary to enter into any lengthy
argument in support Of these facts, when
we have the history of St. Clairsville and
the result of her fifty years experiment BE-
fore us, and also when we reflect that
GAINESVILLE is situated on the one side and
Be llaire City on the other of the proposed
new location. These places would contrib.
ute greatly to cripple and keep it down;
the former in virtue OF its priority of exist
ence, and the latter from the superior ad'
vantages of it's location.
Barnesville, however. to which place i
has been proposed by some to remove thu
county seat, is not liable to SO many objec'
lions as either of the points above referred
to. Sill, a mere reference to one or two
facts ought to set aside her claims. If w
examine the history oe interior towns
through which Railroads pass, We will flint
that they have soon attained 10 the limits
Of their growth; that however rapidly they
may have improved for a time, there is
point beyond which they have been unable
to advance. Such must be the case witt
GAINESVILLE, although she has done nobly
since the completion of the Railroad. 1
is plain that she can never acquire muct
commercial Importance. Besides, she ii
announcement of access for a large majority
Of the citizens of the county. But another
and to my mind very forcibls objection IL
all of the above points: is their impractica
bility. The people of Belmont county will
never decide to remove their county sea
TO either of them; hence, why consume
time, and seek to distract public sentiment
by pressing their i~ll-grounded claims.
now come to the consideration of Bell
aire CITY, whose claims to the county sea
are, in my opinion, pre-eminent above al
others. 1t is not q question in which towI
tIut specututor5 u5ne are int&sesIed, as thu
editor of the Republican would have us in
fer, but it is a question of paramount i'm
portance to every citizen of Belmont county
who is not pecuDiarily interested in ST
Clairsviile. Who wou d not look with pridt
and satisfaction upon The prospect of a city
springiEg up within the borders of our OWL
county, noted for its manufacturing charac
ter, and facilities for all manner Of trade
Yet such a prospect is afforded in Bellaire
if she is properly fostered and encouraged
Her location is gooc-her Railroad faeili
ties, in connection with her great waite
thUroughfare, are unsurpassed-her supe
rior natural advantages in a manufacturing
point of view, no one calls in question, ant
she is backed by a county ample in its az
ricultural resources and wealth. All thes,
advantages she enjoys free of cost, not be
ing borne down and crushed by a half mil
lion OF Railroad indebtedness, as is the cast
with Wheeling. To a man who is accus
toned to reason from cause to effect, i
cannot but be obvious that Bellaire con
tains the elements of future importance
The Railroad, River, &C., render her a
easy and convenient ofSaccess, to major
part of the people, as any other point il
the county; and considering that the bust
ness of a large portion of our citizens cal
them 20 Wheeling several times a year, i
would be at this time more convenient Il
transact that busiI ess at Bellaire than St
Clairsviile. But, if Bellaire is already bless
ed with SO many advantages, it is asked
shy superadd that of the county seat!
answer, in order that enterprising men ant
capital may be Immediately attracted tt
that point, and thus secure to US the more
speedily a market for our surplus produce
1 ne !dCl tndt DelldlEe viii, uhdlueu, Uldkt
a good point, is only an argument in favol
of Immediately transferring thereto the sea
of justice.
But, in conclusion, is the present. the
proper time for the people to act in the
matter, or had. it better be deferred for
few years! Many here in the Southern
part of the county at first considered the
movement premature, but their objections
were based un the impression that iucreas.
ed taxation to no iDceGs siderable extern
would result from ii; and they argued tina
our taxes were already too onerous. Thi;
prevented many from putting their name;
to the petitions. and together with the alb
surd Misrepresentation Of tie St. Glars
vile Committee, which many at first, with
out rejection, considered as true tatements
! they we're Induced To sign the Tcmon
sIrances.
zThese objections, however, have been re