Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-03-06
A Grear Mnbbub over tho River.
Hon vriter is going to build up a RicGl Git
dotrn at Bellair, By RemoUiHg the Countt
Scat there iron, 81. C7airsriue

dolon at BellGir, By RemOping the County
Seat there from, ST. ClGirsrille.
from the st oIairsvile ChronieIel
The COUNTY SEAT.-A gentleman writing
from Washington township on this question,
says: at is my opinion, and has been for many
years. that St ClairsvilIe is not the proper place
for the county seat of Belmont county; that the
southern part of the county has been imposed
/! upon, and especially the valley of Captina; and
/ | am Of the opinion it would have been better
for the county if it had never been removed from
the place where it was first located. have OF
/ ten thought, when going to St Clairsville, it
| il would be hard to locate road through any
part of Belmont that would be a worse road to
| travel; and it is the case with almost all the
Southern part of the county. The citizens of
that part have TO cross almost all the hollowS at
| right angles.
In the second place, 1 will give you my
opinion where the county seat ought to be
| There nre several places which ! think have =
| preference over St Clairsville. l would say al
| most any place along the Central Ohio Railroad
GAINESVILLE, Belmont. Glencoe or Lewis Mills
OF these four places | would give Glencoe the
| preference 1t may not be quite as near the
centre of the county Lewis Mills, but con
Sidering the make of the county, it is approach
able with less labor in travel. But neither of
these places is my choice. BellaIre is the
place where would locate the county seat OF
Belmont if had the locating to do: and will
give you my reasons,
First. 1t is almost central on the East line of
the county. At this place is the point where
meet the two great thoroughtares Of travel that
pass through and alongside of the county,
Should the business of the people call them to
stay any length of time ut Bellaire they NAV
go unincumbered of horse, which is thing in
no way incUnsiderable, when expenses Overrun
fees, without taking into consideration the loss
of time. All this may be said of any other
place on the Railroad, with this exception: those
that go by way OF the river would have to ship
| aboard of the cars, which would give additional
| trouble and expense. All the main roads and
travel will eventually lead TO these two thor
oughlares and if the people of the county are
taxed for the improvement of roads, it ought to
be those roads that lead to those channels by
which their surplus products are carried Ia
market. Another thing in my opinion gives
Bellaire preference; it will in all probability
soon be the largest place in the county, and is
all the place in the county that can be city of
sufficient capacity to form = market for all the
products of the county.
see it urged by the opposition that this talk
edOf removal is premature-that we are bur-
thened with taXes-the county buildings are
good enough-the removal will be great in
crease in taxes-that the Bellaire-ians are spec
ulators, &c, &c. Now those St ClairSville gem
tlemen seem to feel dreadful concern for the
'dear people" of the county. think that any
person can see through all this. A certain peo-
plC Oh u CSI OSCuSlOu CIlSt 1ESlL ~
Diana of the Ephesians" think this passage
might be applied without perverting the text
| say if the county seat is to be moved at all,
now is the very time for the people of the coun-
ty to assist to build up city to be market for
them within their own territory. How much
has Belmont done to build up a city for Virgin
ial Who is therein Belmont county that would
| not feel proud to have such city as Wheeling
within her boundary-such u market for her
producer
Now, in my opinion, is the time to assist Bell
aire; she has great rival to contend against
she needs aid in the beginning if ever There
is no hope of st. Clairsville being anything more
| than she now is-simply rural village. 1t
surely cannot be possible that the people of Bel.
mont county will be SO foolish and blind to their
own interests, to continue to bestow their. ia
vors on place that cannot be any benefit or
honor as city or market, or even place con.
venicnt of access.
In conclusion, would say hope that the
Legislature will so far take the case into consd-
Grafton as to let the voters of the county decide
the question of the removal of the county seat
by ballot In pecuniary point of view | know
| that there is large majority of the voters in
the county interested more than am l think
l nn not biased. Local interest is what is Gre
ating all the opposition in the case, and think
this great reason why the people of the county
should decide the case If there is majority
for removal, so be it; if, on the contrary, there
is majority against removal, think it will put
Yours, &c.