The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-06

the public buildings could not be found
in the State. People from the most
southern portion of the State could
reach Grafton by boat and by rail, SO
with the Northern and Eastern por-
tons. Two-thirds of the people OF the
state would be accommodated by liking
the capitol at Grafton He hau
nothing to say against other points.
He saw no necessity for putting the
capital of all public thoroughiates,
merely for the purpose OF gettinS " IN
the geographical centre. ne thougnt
we ought TO regard the Improvements
already in existence II we put the
cnpitai in the centre, the present gem
GRAFTON, and probably the next, will be
very little Benefited by it. He could
couscfentionsly say that he believed
Grafton was the UeT,y best place for the
capital; for he looked to the general
interests of the whole State.
Mr.. Wilson nominated the city Of
Parkersburg, which he thought was
entitled to all the credit which had just
been claimed for Grafton. But he would
say that the accommodations at Grafton
were very inferior, while at Parkers-
burg they had facilities in this regard,
which did not belong to Grafton.
Parkersburg could make the Legisla-
ture comfortable.
Mr. Haymend nominated Clarks-
burg, which took its name from Gen.
Clarke, revolutionary soldier. 1t was
situated on the y. w. Va. r. R, about 50
miles from Parkersburg. and is near the
centre of the State. The town was
handsomely situated for the capital.
Not only had they there the \. w. Va
r. r., but they had the N W. Va.
Turnpike, a maradamiZed turnpike to
Marion and Lewis counties, and mud
pike from Weston on the south. Then
they had mud pike to Buckhannon, q
miles distant. And they had other
roads in various directions. Harrison
county had a population OF twelve or
thirteen thousand. 1t was very fine
grazing and farming country. There
were handsome sites for the public
buildings at two or three points near
Clarksburg. The property would be
conveyed to the State. The white popu-
latiOn north of the railroad was IS, So,
and south of il only III ,S92, making a
difference of 1880.
Mr.. Young nominated Charleston,
which wns on the only navigable river
running into the State. 1t was on the
natural route from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, aud the shortest route. \ rail-
road was partially completed in the
kanawha Valley. Charleston has facil-
tiles for great inland city. All COM
mercial cities must be on navigable riv-
ers. The capital would not make city.
are inland cities. but they are not COM
mercial cities. The capital will always
be village unless placed on naviga-
BILE river. The other public institutions
Of the State were all placed north of
the geographical centre, and if the
Southwest was to be legislated against
as Eastern Virginia legislated against
the Western part of the State in past
years, the Kanawha Valley would ask
for a New State, for it had an empire OF
wealth in itself. The God of nature
had laid out Charleston for CONNER
cial city, and if you wanted city at
the capital you must take the capital to
the city. Mr.. Young also spoke favor
ably of Buckhannon and Grafton.
Mr. FarnswOrth nominated Buck
harmon. He felt, when he reflected up
on this momentous question, that he
was unable to do justice to the merits
of Buckhannon. He believed that she
had superior claims to any other point
He intended to say nothing against
other points. He desired to advocate
BucShaunon on its own merits, and
did not want to build it up up
on the downfall of other
localities. Public journals had spread
broadcast over the land, most outra-
geous ISLANDERS against Buckhanuon.
some people undertake 10 say that
Buckhannou has no coal. He under
false To the last degree. He wondered
why any one, with the least degree of
intelligence or truthtulness, could utter
such base SANDER. Sir, It is not true.
There is no spot in the State which has
such coal as Upshur county. Not ten
miles from Buckhannon there is vein
of coal more than twenty feet thick,
and around the town of Buckhannon
there are numerous veins of coal, vary
ing from to 9 feet in thickness. The
object of gentlemen who are thus dis
posed to SANDER and abuse Buckhau-
non is obvious. They desire to preju-
dice members and the people against
US, in favor of other localities. Sir, we
have at Buckhannon the most lovely
spot for the capitol which can be found
in this State, and it could hardly be
surpassed in the United States. 1t is
also said that we have no building ma
terinl. Sir, within i OF n mile
to build the capital, there is an
abundance of the best rock for
building purposes; it will split sir, like
rail. The supply is insxhaustible,
and 1t is as good as ever the hammer
OF IA mason marked, and there are no
hills to got to 1t. Besides, sir, we have
timber in absolute profusion. No spot
on earth has better, and vet we are lied
on about the timber also. II is also
argued against us that the Transporter
ton OF material from the railroad will
be onerous and the cost immense to the
State. Sir, il gentlemen in the Senate
make this an objection, pledge YOU
that the people of Upshur will do all
this hauling, be it much or little, with
out expense to the State. They also
say we have no lime. This charge.
like the rest, is unfounded. We have
immense quantities of gray lime-the
white we should have to bring from
Rich Mountain, y miles distant. As
to this digestion, other points are as
bad Off as we.
Sir, don't understand why all ar
rows are pointed ut Buckhannon. 1t
IS the most central spot named, taking |
everything into account. 1t is twenty-
eight miles from Clarksburg and thir- |
ty-nve from Grafton; and as to |
population, he could not see where !
the gentleman from Richie gets his |
figures. Take the U. s. census. and If |
any fair minded man can produce the |
nSures OF the gentleman, then I will |
surrender his point. There are only |
nine counties North of the railroad. |
which do not touch 1t, and there are
'orty South OF il. The railroad strikes
he edge of the State, as it were. There
ire llO,9TS North of the railroad, divi-
ling the population of the counties
ordering on 1t; and South of it, 26I, 6T2,
The railroad has made the counties on
| weather.. Pierce the centre of the
state with another railroad, and 1t will |
10 the same, and the loyal, wealthy
North Will pour in its population and
: money. Our population will be a
nlilioh instead ofwhat il is. look to
ne future more than to the present, in
ms matter. We must look to the inte-
,ests oil the millions who shall follow
- we maSt have more than one ruilroad.
!, " ',t uese mere Is only one it is always
,IonS aSi Us managers mana are hesh and