The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-07
1Ir. SteyensOn's speech ON the Loca-
tiOu of the Capital.

The following are the remarks made
by Mr.. Stevenson, President of the
Senate, on the bill to locate the Capital,
upon his motion to flI the blank with
the city OF Parkersburg, delivered in
the Senate on the 5th instant:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: In presenting the
claims of the city of Parkersburg for
the permanent seat of government, /
desire to state its claims without ex-
aEGerating them, and, at the same time
deal candidly with other competing To-
calities. A good deal has been said
during the discussion upon this subject,
as to the number of people residing
North, and the number residing South
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
and gentlemen have dHfered widely
in their estimates. The facts are these.
There are twenty seven counties South
of the road, (taking in the Parkersburg
Branch of that roadl. The population
OF these twenty-seven counties, in
round mum bers, is IL, 600. There are
North of the road, including those
through which the road passes, nine
teen counties containing a population
of lSl,O00. 1 include the counties
through which the road passes in this
estimate, because, of course, their peo-
pie would be directly interested in the
location OF the Capital on, or al the
terminus of the road. From these facts
ii is safe to say that the people on both
sides of this improvement, would be
about equally benefited should Par
kersburg be selected as the place for
the permanent seat of Government.
Parkersburg can be reached from if
teen counties by river, and from ten by
railroad, and by eighteen others, indi-
rectly, with little additional expense or
trouble, making forty-three counties
H. 4
brief time, and at a cost not, perhaps,
exceeding ten dollars in any one case.
Can as much be said in favor of any
other place named? From what have
said IL Will be seen that the four vast
regions of our State, are, by net work
of improvements brought into close
proximity 10 ParkersDurg, The great
extent OF country stretching from the
Ohio river to Harper's Ferry, is
brought to its doors by the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. The whole upper
portion of the State, extending up to
the Ohio and Pennsylvania lines, and
out into the interior as TAR as Grafton,
is made almost next door neigh Dor
by the Ohio river and the Two wings
OF the railroad, while the more
central counties find their natu-
raj outlet 10 Parkersburg by turn
pike roads, and the little kanawha
river; and last but not least, the vast re-
wealth, buried in its valleys or bloom
ing upon the surface of its mountains,
is brought into close communion by
the kauawha and Ohio rivers, and must
al no distant day, be more intimately
united 10y rail road. The fact that al
most every association of persons,
whether political, religious, or of any
other character, select PaTkersburg for
their place OF meeting, because of its
accessibility, is a strong practical argu-
ment in favor Ofits central position One
such fact is worth a hundred argu
ments based upon projected improve
ments which are merely panied upon
paper.
Senators have hurled their denuncia-
tions without stint upon those por-
tions of our State that have ouIstripped
other portions in material and COM
mercial prosperity. This, to say the
least of il, is a mistaken policy. 1t is IA
popular error to suppose that the build
ing up OF commercial or manufacturing
centers in State, will result in over
shadOwing other portions of its ter
ritory, or other interests of its people.
The very reverse is true; Whatever
builds up its towns and cities aud en-
courages works OF internal improve
ments will, in the end, impRrt corres-
ponding lille, and even to.the remotest
corners of the commonwealth. These
commercial and manufacturing cities
and towns become marts, in which the
wealth of the State Is exchanged. They
bring capital, skill and enterprise
within our borders. They make the
very best markell home market, for
our agricultural, mineral and other
productions. Such would inevitably
be the result should the seat of Govern
ment be established at Parkersburg.
No one can look upon the map without
being impressed with the belief, that
Parkersburg, must at no very distant
day, become one of the most flourish
ing commercial and manufacturing
cities on the Ohio river. Situated up
on two nhvigable rivers, both of which
empty their treasures into its lap
reaching by rail road and river into the
great Ohio and Mississippi valleys, and
the regions OF the great northwest and
the most direct route TO the markets OF
the sea-board-its manifest destiny
cannot be doubted.
1t is even now seeking to penetrate
the interior OF our State with lines OF
internal Improvement, some OF which
are already partially completed, and
which, when finished, must result, not
only in adding To its own prosperity,
but in bringing to light the hidden
treasures of the middle counties, and
in doing good to the whole State.
Parkersburg offers in good faith, ten
acres of land as beautifully located as
any spot in the State, upon which To
erect the public buildings, These ten
acres are worth 81, 900. The city also
tenders the magnificent sum of S75, coo,
in money, to assist in tine construction
Of the capitol, and if the Senators are
satisfied that PHrkersburg is the place
where the seat of government ought u
be located, then this very liberal offer
should be well considered, especially
in view OF the impending drafts upon
our State treasury. This building
which we now occupy tlhe Lindsey
Institute) cost $4,000; il accommodates
both branches OF the Legislature, and
all the State officers, yet Parkersburg
offers over seven times the amount that
it cost TO erect this building. If we
suppose that it requires as much again
10 put up buildings now as II did when
this one was erected, still these Sf5,U0J
would give US a structure nearly four
times as largeas the one in which we
are meeting to-day-One that would
answer every State purpose TOR the next
thirty years.
As for material to be used in the con-
struction of the public buildings, il is
at hand in great abundance tine most
extensive steam saw and Touring mills
/ perhaps in the State, are in operation
| within sight OF the proposed location
I building stone of superior quality is
/ obtained within the limits OF the city
corporation; within gun shot of the
site, are steam brick machines which
turn out several thousand bricks of fine
/ quality every day. Tne city is lighted
with gas, which can be conuucted with
I moderate expense into the pubIic build
I ings as soon as erected beside there is
an abundant supply ofpure water 10
/ be found every " here in the neighbor-
/ hood OF the locality. / believe may
say without fear of contradiction, that
from the abundance of materials, their
nearness TO the locstion, and the facili-
. TngnnfanfEr