Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-03-17
WHEELING,YA., SATURDAY MORNING, MAR


policy of the State on measure so well
aud so deliberately decided. We feel sat
isfed that the Senate will pause before it
lends its sanction TO the bill from the
House, which passed as substitute, never
was printed, and we are sure has escaped
the cautious examination it's great impor-
tance demanded.
The State of Virginia, in the exercise #
her sovereign right of eminent domain,
always carefully guarded the passes ofthiS
Ohio river, and has rejected every effort of
other Atlantic States to bridge its waters
in quest of the rich commerce of the Miss
issippi Valley, which concentrates at Gin
cinnAti. She has always designed to grasp
that princcly commerce for her own Allan
tic ports, and is now taxing her citizens to
the utmost, with view of reaching the
rich prize with her great canal and her
great Covington and Ohio Railroad.
When this canal and this road, either, or
both of them, shall oe complete, the states
men of Virginia well know, that q heavy
competition with Philadelphia and Baltt-
more for this trade of Cincinnati has to be
encountered. These cities are now in full
enjoyment of this magnificent commerce;
their roads are already built; the channels
of trade are already grooved out, and the
business connections are formed, and are
|
day of competition comes, we shall have
to encounter a dcath-struggle with those
we'll established and powerful commercial
rivals. Our greater proximity-Our better
climate-our more perfect equipment of
better grades-and direct outlet upon the
ocean, gives us confding hope of triumph
in this contest; but against such rivals we
must husband every advantage; we cannot
afford to award to them any facilities with
in our power to withhold.
Such, mt least, has been the fixed judg-
ment of all former legislatures. They
have held this power over the banks of the
Ohio river, as the key to the vast COM
merce of the lower belt of the Mississippi
valley. They have heretofore, jealousy
watched those banks and held that key to
be surrendered alone to the great work of
her own creation.
We will here give single fact in illus
tration of the vast boon which Philadel
phia has bargaincd with Wheeling, to Sc
cure, at cost of $25O,OOO!
At this time there is no railroad bridge
crossing the Ohio from the Virginia shore
Baltimore now crosses at Bcnwood, by a
costly system of ferriage, in quest of this
Cincinnati commerce. This ferriagc, be-
sides the loss of time, costs GO cents II ton,
and is thus heavy tax upon the COM
merce of that city. 1t is equal to tax of
6 cents barrel on all the flour sent TO
Baltimore through the State of Ohio.
This ferriage is an equal obstruction to
the commerce of Philadelphia. To avoid
1t, her trains cross the Ohio at Pittsburg
and running at n great loss of distance
around the big bend of the Ohio River,
they reach Steubenville, en- route to Gin
cinnati. 1t WAS to avoid this circuit that
Philadelphia projected her branch road,
1.-THE Holiday Cove rHilroad) from point
on her road east of Pittshurg, and crossing
the Pan Handle, struck the Ohio River at
Steubenville, thereby saving, if we remem-
ber Alright, about 40 miles of distance.
She now asks of Virginia the privilege of
building a bridge there; and feeling the
magnitude of the boon which had once
before been refused her, on full argument,
she now returns to the charge, backed by
all the influence of Wheeling, which she
has secured at n cost of S25O,OOO.
Now, we demur to this whole arrange
mcnt We deny that the vital policy of
this State is to be bartered away, and
compromised away, by agreements and
settlements made among the localities on
the Ohio river. We utterly protest against
increasing the difficulties which our road
to the Ohio River will encounter, when we
enter upon this struggle with those i'm
posing cities, for the tonnage of Cincin-
natl 1t will then be conflict of life and
death, and every cent of cost, on either
side, will then count. Our road will have
an advantage of six cents barrel onflour,
in that Struggle, and 60 cents on all ton
mage, if this barter of our commercial
rights is defeated. This advantage is
enough. of itself, to turn the scales of vic
tory.
The privilege of bridging the Ohio is
considered by engineers as equal to fifty
miles of distance; so that in the coming
competition for the Western travel, the
House of Delegates have surrendered to
our powerful rivals that large advantage.
We look now to the Senate of Virginia
to save the State from this most improve
dent grant. We are sure that the matter
has passed the lower House, Sub-sitentio,
and by inadvertance.
We have very hurriediy thrown these
views together. Some of our positions
may not be stated as clearly as they should
be. We hope, however, to arouse the Wig
ilance of the Senate and thereby ward off
a very heavy calamity.