Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-03-21
TIE NATIONAL ROAD.

perly, "An Act TO Rob the People OF Bel
mont County" passcd that body on Fri
day.
The road is threatened with serious
land slides between this point and the
Ohio River. Fears are expressed that
some of those vast hills will slide over on
it and obliteratc it. Col. Blair, the En-
gineer, says, as it is, the receipts from |
tolls are insufficient to keep it in repair,
without taking into account these enor-
nous land slides and this gratuity of
$4,000 to the city of GAINESVILLE. Now,
we ask these nineteen wise men who
voted for the swindle how the road is to
be kept even pdssdJte, with these great
slides to repair two have commenced
moving already and this $40, 900 gratuity
out Of the tolls voted to GAINESVILLE?
DR.. West fought the swindle in the
Senate vigorously, but unavailingly.--
Senator Mcfarland, of Butler County
by all odds she ablest man in the Senate
also made a speech against it. Mr..
Frank Hurd, the Democratic candidate
for Attorney-Gener voted for the rob
berry, which should certainly commend
him to the people Of Belmont County.
To be consistent, the Legislature should
now remit the collection Of tolls at the
toll gates in the nelghborhood of Hanes-
vile. Good Mr.. Linn! draw up your
bill for this purpose quick! And, If there
is anything else you want, don't let your
well known modcsty prevent you from
asking for it, but let your lieutenants--
the immortal ninetcen-know it, and,
We presume, they will accommodate you.
Our people are compelled to go to
Wheeling on business every day. Why,
II GAINESVILLE is to have free bridge,
should the bridges of the Wheeling d
Belmont Bridge Company not be pur-
chased by the State and made free to
travel also?
The following proceedings attendant
upon the passage of the bill we find in
the Columbus Journal, of Saturday:
s. B. 323. To authorize the Board of
Public Works to purchase so much of
the Upper or National Road bridge at
Zanesville as is situated OH the line of
said National Road.
Mr.. West moved TO refer the bill to n
select committee of one, with instructions
TO amend by striking out SO much of the
second section as provides that the $20,-
O00 which IL Is proposed that the State
shall pay for the bridge out of the gem
eral revenue fund, shall be refunded out
of the tolls hereafter collected on the Ma
tional road.
Mr.. Linn made an elaborate speech
Il Ia, ~
purchase by the State, and refunding the
cost from the tolls.
Mr.. West supported his amendment,
and referred to statistics to show that all
the tolls arising from the road are needed
to keep 1t In repair.
The question was further discussed by
Mcssrs. Tibbals, Bateman and Others
against the measure of purchase, and
Messrs. Warner, Hall, Kellogg and
others in its favor.
Mr.. Vests proposition TO amend was
modified, at the suggestion of Bateman,
so as to provide that the cost of the
bridge shall be refunded To the Treasury
from tolls to be collected on the bridge at
present rates, after which the bridge shall
be free.
Messrs. Walker and Martin further
spoke in favor of the purchase, and
Messrs. Cole and Mcfarland against 1t.
tons, was lost.
Mr.. Linn moved to refer the bill with
instructions to amend so as to provide
that the Auditorof State shall issue bonds
at one, two, three, four and five years,
for four thousand dollars each year, to
make up the purchase money; which
was agreed to.
The bill then passed-ycas 10, nays O.
a. follows:
Burt, Dowdney, Godfrey, Golden, Hall,
Harris, Hurd, Justice, kellogg, Linn,
May, Martin, Savage Walker, Warner
Williamson-l8.
,Ndys-Messrs. Batemnn, Carlin, Cole
Coombs, Grlswold, Mcfarland, Sadler
Tibbals, Wcst-9.
The Senate then took recess till to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock.
DIR. West on Friday gave notice thai
he would introduce bill to cede the Ma
tional Road to the counties through
which 1t passes. This proposition isjus
to all interested in this great highway
and affords practical solution of tn,
difficulties that now besct the road. w
hope our friends In the Legislature vii
press this matter and effect the object,
possible. or course, II there IL less travo
la other counties than this, the roa
Is worn less than here, and does not nee
- much repairs AS here; and, II NOR
revenue il derived from the road In thi
than In other counties, II IL the slmpies
Justice that our part of the road shoul
be at least passsble. This is the vie,
honest men take Of II. Mr.. Linn and hi
GAINESVILLE friendsseem to think different
ly.
Since writing the above, we lear
that the matter of purchase OF the Zanes
vile bridge was referred TO the Board {
Public Works and was reported upo
adversely by that body. We call upo
the House to throttle the iniquity, ant
In this connection, call the attention
members 10 the letter Of Col. John A
Blair, Resident Engineer, published els'
where.
THE House OF Representatives OF OF
State has defeated the resolution ofiare
providing for the publication of "Ohio
A