The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1867-11-21
COMMUNICATED.
Editor Reaister:

Editor Register:
AS you are aware, tho vote to sub.
scribe s5OO,OOO by this county to the
preferred stock of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad has been taken, aud. tho
most important measure ever advocated
to add 10 the growth, population and
wealth Of our county, has been defeated.
Had this measure been carried, there can
be no doubt but il would have made
complete our connection by Railroad
with Richmond, anj'given US the prin.
ciple river depot at Point Pleasant, and
It would with equal certainty have secu-
red US Railroad connection with Oihcin-
natl, by branch Of the Marietta and
Cincinnati Railroad, leaving said road at
or near HOmden,and striking the Ohio
river al Addison, to fork al said place,
one branch leading to GallipoliS and one
10 Pomeroy, Ohio. which would make
over twenty miles of Railroad opposite
Mason county, on the11nOhio bank, and
the making of these roads would com.
pol the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company as q matter Of selt-dofeure to
extend their road down the Ohio river
to Point Pleasant OF Sandy, as it would
be most ruinOus to that Company 10 al.
low another road to strike the Ohio river
below them; and itissis, highly probable
that the making of this road would in
duco tho Chicago, Columbus and Ath-
ems Railroad Company to extend their
road to connection with the Cbesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad, thus making
Mason county great Railroad center.
and thus developing her great mineral
agricultural and manufacturing interests,
which would largely ipcroase..ths wealth
and population four county, and would
most likely double in value every acre of
land in it. But all this has been detea.
ted by few narrow minded, purse
proud aristocrats who own a large
portion Of the best lands in tho county
Many of these men declare that they
do mol want to sell, but want TO buy
more land. and therefore do not want
its value increased. The men that
have given this fatal stab to the beat in.
!orests Of the county, are we'll known 10
be opposed 10 all progress and enterprise
and knowing that the making of this
road would des!r oy their influence over
the labOriug men of the county, and
render it neCessaryto pay them higher
wages, have stopped to all manner Of
deception TO cause the lsboring men 10
vote against the subscription. These men
are large landhoIders, and yet they
want 10 buy more, and hence they d.
not want the price increased, which it,,ey
know the Railroad would do. Tt,sv nj
SO hire a large number Of MN 10 cult.
va'o their lands aud kOow.ng that the
Railroad would MAZE a competition for
4
labor and thereby largely increase the
wages of the Iaboring man, they have
r'soFted 70 all kinds of dece ption 10 iu-
d1ce The laborjng men of the county to
vote against the subscription. Now,
gentlemen laborers, allow me to say to
you, that | claim to BIO laboring man,
myself, wholly dependent upon my in
dustry for the support Of myself and
family, and have always been opposed
to arrayng the rich against the poor, or
the poor against the rich, but when | see
the luboring man of the county, cheated
and deceived BY this purse-proud arts.
tocracy, l do not feel willing to be silent.
Make these roads and what would be the
effect on the wages OF labor in this
county. Laboring mon on Railroads,
usually earn from $l25 10 $500 per
day. How does that compare with the
wages paid you by these gcnllemon?-
Are not many Of you laboring now al 50
cents day? These things may moi
have been understood by you, but they
were we'll understood by these gentle
men. What were the means they re
sorted 10 to deceive you? Did they mol
tell you, that if the subscription carried
their taxes would be SO high thai they
would have to reduce your wages and
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