The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-01-18
For tho 1ntelliRencer.
location the state CapitaI.


As the time approaches for the meet
ing Of the Legislature, the public mind
is becoming more and more agitated on
the subject Of the location of the State
Capital. Indeed. such is the pressure
and earnest solicitations on the part OF
the people, for the final settlement of
this long aRitated question, that
the ensuing session OF the LegIsla-
ture will scarcely dare finding a loca-
ton for the State Capital. It would
have been we'll for the State and ali
concerned, If some point on railroad
or navigable river would have been
agreed on, for our Seat OF Government.
where the Capitol buildings would have
been surrounded by a commercial CITY.
But since It appears to be the design
and purpose OF the people and the Leg
lslature 10 locate the Capital in the
centre and interior portion OF the State.
with a view Of improving the wild
sylVan1as and mountainous foreAts
1t would be we'll to look out for the
most eligible cite in the centre OF the
state. It's a conceded fact that Brax-
ton IS the centre of the State; then some
point in said county should be selected.
The hatwoods will not do well for the
want of sufficient water. There ia
scarcely level land enough at Bulltown
Ior building purposes; but at the Union
Mills, on Elk river, (within four miles
OF the Flatwoods, eight miles of Sutton.
and twelve miles from Bulltown,) is a
beautiful site for the Capital and a
city1-on the natural geographical line
Tor railroad, either from Grafton 10
Gharleston, or from Parkersburg to
White Sulphur Springs, connecting the
Baltimore d Ohio Railroad with the
Meeting each OF those roads with the
Central West Virginia Railroad.
Union Mills are located between the
mouth OF Holly river and Laurel creek.
Braxton county, on Elk river. There
Is large quantity of bottom lands sur.
rounding the Union Mills, many bold
and lasting fountains of water-their
inexhaustible quantities OF the very
best building stone, and much easier
OF access than any point heretofore
named for the Capital; also an abun-
dance of coal, both bitumen and cam
mel, underlie all the surrounding coun-
try, apparently within a few hundred
feet of the site of the Capital and city.
Elk river is naVigable for the largest
nat:boLtomed boats, from above Union
Mills to the Kanawha river below
Charleston. Indeed, steamboats, run
up Elk river twenty-seven miles regu-
larly, above Charleston, and could pass
up to the Union Mills II need be. A
site for the State Capital has already
been secured with deed from the land
owners as a donation TO the State.
Then II it Is the design to locate the
Capital In the centre of the State, and
not on some railroad already construct
ed, we think IL would be wise to locate
1t at this point, on the beautiful, bold,
crystal and navlgable river Elk, sur
rounded by rich, beautiful and fertile
country. Permit the writer OF this arti-
Gle to say he is well acquainted with
the geogrphy OF this State, and can say
without fear of successful contradiction,
that the Union Mills is the most desira-
BILE and eligible site for the Capital any
where to be found in the centre of the
State. We have no pecunIary interest
or land property in Braxton or any Of
the adjoining counties, but reside on
the border, and would express the
opinion that the Legislature would act
wisely by investigating the claims of
this central point for the location of
the Capital.
MANY VOICES FROM THE BORDER.
December, 1857,