The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-01-08
sTATE CAPITAL.

EdIt01b I5ietttgcnccT:
We see by your issue Of the 4th inst,
that one Marley Merrill, Jr., writes a
piece ON "Our State Capital" He
makes the broad assertion that the
many places proposed for It's location
are ali subject TO grave objections.
believe, after Il careful reading OF the
article, he undertake. to point out the
very grave objections to only TWO of
The plaCes-Clarksburg and Grafton
ana the objections to either place, III
true, and irTemediAbie would bu very
grave viewed from almost any Lo,jGE
standpoint. But it is our purpose to
notice his objections to Grafton What
nr" they? And the town OF Grafton.
Gc., can hardl v accomtilu dute the BHIti.
more and ONO KuiiiUad, aud wouldn't
more than make Il respectable head
quarters for some newly dubbed shoII-
derstrHPper, with his regiment of raw
militia" Another objection Indirectly
made IS that the town and surrounding
nils are black and smoky. Now, with
all due respect we will first inquire into
the h'Rh Of the objections alleged.
can hardly accommodate the Balli-
more and Ohio Railroad" We sun
pose bic meaning Is that the nc
coinmOdattons tor the travelling
public are not ample. II this is
his meaning we hope he will mar
don us when we say that II is untrue:
ana we challenge contradiction when
"" say, that there are more travellers
fed aud accommodated ut the Grafton
House than at any other house in the
I state; and when we say it we know
1 what we say. Aud we may Hdd on
1 this point, that there are half "A dozen
[ good and accommodating hotels in
t Grafton, aud If Mr.. Merrill, Jr., newly
uuGbea shoulder strapPer," was to
| make MS headquarters there with his
regiment OF raw militia" he wouId
/ ilnd that there would be plenty Of
room left for IL dozen CiTaUuns, "A STATE
] capitol, and public square, let him
spreud himself and his regiment all he
[ could There Il not IA nicer, more ro-
mantle, more convenient, and. in All
respects, u more eligible site for tho
state Cal itnl in the State than there ia
AT Grafton. ON the west side OF the 'Tv
Bhrt's Valley river.
As II regards the blnrk and smoke
"" hnd that these articles are necessary
attendants upon every place of much
| business. But Ia this Instance, th,, en-
glne- houses, workshops, &c. nTo nII
GA the east side OF the river. ana az ma
mir almost universally comes from
inc west there is little or no
smoke or black on the west
sid" OF the river; and indeed. IL is
scarcely noticeable on the east side. ok
cypl III the railroad yard. But what is
Mr.. Merrill, Jr.'s plan? He proposes
I" nuild up n magnificent city in some
Isolated and central part OF the Stale. n
project which can exist oniv in the
brain OF some specializing, theoriziIg
ma imhEiuiZing Junior Individual. The
lueh OF capitalists waiting for such ii
II golden opportunity to invest" is ride,
uIous in the extreme. Experience
proves that capitalists are moi vision
aries.
But suppose the capital should he an
! located, is there place III the centre nt
tue State, and such as is uruuused
which can accommodate "A hunter nnj
his dog, much lees i've hundred travail.
eFS DAY, with comfortable quarters
aud the good things of this life? or
would Mr.. Merrill. Jr.. NEWLY dubbed
shnuider-strapper,' find such "A place
IA respectable heHdquarters" for him
sell and hts regiment OF raw mfliti, pr
suppose he gets "a half dozen railroads
cehtering there, would he have a town
Tree OF smoke and black ?"
We take 1t from MIR. Merrill. Jr's mr.
icis that he admits that Grafton Is "A
commercial centre OF :he State: and ex-
peri"nce proves that capital purSups
The channels Of, and locates Mt, The CEN
trC OF commerce.
As Mr.. Merrill, Jr., invited discus.
sion, We have said our say, and await
further development Of his "plnn -
supported by his 'many arguments ;"
Yours, truly,
PRACTIoUs.