The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-01-17
Location of the State Capital.

In tho JOURNAL Of November 29'h
re noticed tho controversy going on in
the papers of several villages and towns
on this subject, and disclaimed any in
tentioa Of urging the pr0pr:cty of es'ab'
fishing tho Capital here. .
Since then We have been reading the
arguments in favor Of the other places
named, aud, also the objections to them
and on mature reflection VIC arc satisfied
that the interests Of the whole people Of
the State would be most promoted by the
location Of ,bosCapitnl here at Charleston
we frankly:soOtfess, however, that the
objection We made then, "the want Of
enterprise Oh the part of our citizens, is
q good one, if an cntcrprisinc, energetic
people could be found at any othe: rival
poins-which We are sorry to say is no'
the case.
A little enterprise has been Infused
into Parkc:sburg by the oil men, who
ars mostly from other States, and the
same is true in regard to this place. The
oil and coal men and manufacturers
from other States arc exhibiting consid.
cradle cncrgy-epsash to give hope of
the speedy growth Of a place of cousid'
cradle importance at this point. We
haYa, therefore, concluded to present the
claims Of Charleston, the central town Of
tho Great Kanawha Valley, as the most
eligible site for the future Capital of the
State; and We now give notice to the
Clarksburg Telegraph, that We are not
Joking" when nc present the following
solid and substantial reasons:
1st. Tho Great Kanawha Valley.
which embraces that region Of country
between tho Little Kanawha aud the
Kentucky line, and from the Ohio to
the Allegheny Moupta:ns, is destined to
be BY far the richest Of any portion Of
tho State. Its hills are rich from their
base to their apices; they are filled with
untold millions Of mineral wealth, ant
nearly every acre Of it is accessible t'
navigation, BY the expenditure Of
sriaiOs sum, compared with its import
sncc. v
The KanaSha is already fine navi'
gable stream, and its tributarics-Poca'
talico, Coal, Elk and Gauley-can be
made 10, while the Guyandottc, Twelve
polo and Big Sandy rivers arc of suffi
cient size, with little improvement, to
hear of the vast mineral deposits at
their sources, and along their margins.
Charleston, being near tho ceutro OF
this great system Ct navisablc rivers, at
the. junction Of the Kauawha and Ell
rivers, and also at the junction Of the
contemplated Coyingtou s. Ohio and
West Virginia Central railroad, is admir-
ably located MS central point for travel
trade aud manufacturing.
Place the Capital Of the State here
and it will hasten the development o.
this vast region and the building Of Z
city which will be the pride. Of the new
Stale.
Place the Capital at site which is
not surrounded with country contain.
ing 80 many resources, tho growth Of tho
place will DO slow, and will always Lt
Insignificant in size.
If it is urged that Charleston is no
prepared With public buildings to receive
the State officers and Legislature, ths
anne objection holds good against thu
other places cou,cnding for the Capita!
and if it should DO determined to sclcc
this point, the Capital might remain fo'
a short time where j: is, until public
buildings could be provided.