The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-02-04

House Bill No, 3S-'legallZtng the pro.
ceedings of a meeting of the Board of
Supervisors of Wayne county"
Mr.. Duffy. under leave, introduced
House Bill No. 39-"tO incorporate the
Moorefeld and South Branch Valley
Railroad Company"
Mr.. Harrison, of Lewis, under leave,
introduced House Bill No. 4O-"ap-
pointing trustees and authorizing them
to sell and convey Bethel church in
Lewis county" and
Mr.. Snodgrass. under leave, introduC.
ed House Bill No. 4I-"tO refund the
taxes collected from soldiers for bounty
purposes"
MIR. Allison obtained leave TO with.
draw from the files of the House, certain
papers relating 10 minerals under the
Ohio river.
A ~ O'Clock NJ, Mr.. Pinnell was ap-
pointed to inform the Senate that the
House was ready to take the further
proceedings in the election of United
States Senator in pursuance of the act
of Congress, and further to request the
members of the Senate to meet in joint
assembly with the members OF the
House in the Hall Ofthe House OF Dele.
gates.
A message from the Senate annOun-
ced like readiness on its part, and
soon after it appeared within the bar OF
the House and the members OF the two
Houses Immediately convened in joint
assembly. The journal of each House
was then read and it appearing there.
from that Gov. Boreman had received
62 votes and Daniel Lamb Is votes, Gov
ernor Boreman was declared duly
elected Senator for the term commenc-
ing March 1, 1863.
Tho Senate retired, and the House
took recess until 2 o'clock p. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The House proceeded 20 the consider
alton of the special order. it being, House
Bill No. 4-"permanently, locating the
seat OF Government of this State"
The House resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole, on the subject.
Mr.. Heermans addressed the commit
tee as follows:
MIR. CHAIRMAN:-I propose to oc-
cupy few minutes OF the time OF the
House in support of Grafton Tor the
State Capital. Ipresume 1t will be con-
ceded by all that the seat of govern
ment should be established at some
point on asrailroad, or where there IL
likely to be one built very soon unless
it be so far uncentrhl as to be an III
superable objection, or unless there be
other serious intrinsic disadvantages in
such location. The great thOroughinre
of West Virginia for the present ana
for a series of years to come, is the Bal
timore & Ohio Railroad, and If it does
not touch the geographical centre or the
centre of population, l think 1t IS quite
obvious that the available centre OF the
State-that is, the point most convent
emily reached by a large majority OF the
State, is on the line OF that road, and
that point is Grafton.
Now, take the map OF our Stale and
note the counties from which any pOr-
ton of the Inhabitants, to reach any
available point south of the railroad
would naturally and ordinarily
travel on that road 10 it, and
l think the list will embrace the
following counties: Jefferson, Berkeley,
Morgan, Hampshire, Grant, Hardy,
Pendleton, Tucker, Barbour, Preston,
MononCalia, Marion, Taylor, Harrison,
WetZel, Tyler, DoddridEe, ltitchie,
Pleasnnts, Wood, Marshall. Ohio,
Brooke, Hancock, Writ, Jackson,
Koane, Mason, Putnam, kanawhn,
Boone. Here we have thirty.tive coun-
ties out OF fifty-three-a majority OF
eight counties, and, in all, having rep
resentation on this floor OF fOrty-one
members ont of tirty-siX-a majority OF
twelve. Tho people of any of the coun-
ties above mentioned, to go to Buckhan-
non or any available point for the CRpi-
tal south of the railroad, would natur-
alIv avail themselves OF that thorough
fare for a portion of the journey; 80
that it is clear that Grafton is more con-
Venient to them than any other point
south of the railroad, whatever the dis
tance may be. That is to say, II the
members in the House of Delegates are
properly apportiOned 10 the population,
forty-one people who have occasion TO
90 10 the seat of government, would
save a stage journey south OF the rail-
road by having the Capital on it, while
less than half that number would save
the same distance by having it south OF
the road! Look at your map-see the
accessibility of the poiut:-the people
from the extreme eastern portion OF the
State have but to step aboard the train
and few hours ride lands them Mt their
journeys end ; so with those OF the
western portion, Il pleasant ride ni lour
or five hours brings them to the Capital,
while those Of the southwest have but
TO avail themselves of the Parkersburg
branch, and Grafton is the terminus OF
that route. No waiting of for night
to take second train,-no lying over a
dav, perhaps for numbering stage.
Imagine the Legislature of this State
with its usual attendants, adjourned, at
BuchannOn, or any other point twenty
eight miles from railroad What
think you would be the price of con-
veyance to the railroad under such cir
cumstances, TO say nothing OF the in
convenience?
As an available centre, then; as the
most convenient point for majority,
the connection of the two rOads-the
Parkersburg with the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad-must be the place, un-
less some overwhelming local objection
can be found against it. Is there any
local objection to Grafton? 1t Is SAID
by some that the place presents no
favorable site for the public buildings.
To stranger passing through the place
no aSf N Sc 0rf vic
few steps from the platform will enable
him to behold q very beautiful location,
lust across the river from the business
part of the town or on the emlnence IN
the other direction. There are variety
OF sites TO select from, both beautiful
and convenient.
The requisites for n location are, first.
accessibility, and second, a country rich
in agricultural products, and where all
the materials for building, and all
other commodities that are and always
will be wanted, particularly at seat
of government, can be procured as
| cheaply as possible. GA these points 1
may safely challenge auy other propos-
ed location. In fertility of soil, and
in all the natural productions needed
tor building purposes: Grafton and
| vicinity, are not, perhaps, eXcelled by
any portion of the State,-and as TO
other building materials and other com
modities always needed at the seat OF
government, to be brought from dis,
lance east or west, they certainly will
not be made any cheaper by wagon
transportation, twenty eight or thirty
| miles, or any other distance from the
railroad. On these grounds, therefore,
it seems to me very plain that for the
present, and perhaps for fifty years
| hence, Grafton is the natural position
for our seat of government.
But We are:told that the Capital must