Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-02-26

great confidence IN some leadlng lnleteol I1Ni"s
hold of this question. Mr.. Mckenzie spoke OF
the condition of his road showing that 1t was
| in very good condition.
Gen. Thomas l.. Rosser said he represented
no interests in this convention but before leav-
inp Baltimore he had a conversation with Pres-
idept Garrett, in which ne (Garrett) told HIM
| that he felt great sympathy Tor the people
of this valley, that they could build the road
themselves, and if they did, he would stock 1t
| and run it for them upon reasonable terms.
The General spoke OF the great interest he
himself felt in this great project, and hoped 1t
would succeed lie thought our only hope Tor
a railroad was by our own exertlons and aid
from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. lie
smoke of the Loudoun and Hampshire Kall-
road as "broken down train, and SAID that
| it was ridiculous for the people OF this valley
to attempt to haul this broken down train,
over these mountains. Quite discussion here
arose between Gen. RoSser aud Mr. Mckenzie,
which lasted sometime This discussion was
participated in by Judge Allen, OF Hardy, Mr.,
Fleming, of Highland, and Mir. Sprlgg, OF
| Hardy, all Of whom contended that the inter,
ests of West Virginia, Washington city, Old
| Virginia and the great West was to have
competing line with the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. Mr.. Sprigg said that if he would
consult his own personal desires in this matter,
he would prefer having the trade OF this mag
niicent Valley taken to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad to enrich it and the magnificent
CITY of Baltimore the grandeur OF both being
due to the enterprise, industry and intelligence
of the people of his native State but he felt
it to be bis duty as an adopted citizen OF West
Virginia to advocate her interests IN matters OF
this kind in opposition to those OF Maryland
and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. lie
A., ~ la RI
take hold of some line of railroad in opposition
and in competition with the Baltimore and Ohio
| Railroad. He concluded by Offering the follow
ing resolution .,,
Resolved Jy this Conreatiou, That we will
use our utmost endeavors to scare the tight
of way free to any company that viii construct
q railroad through this section OF our State to
| the Ohio river.
Mr.. Randolph, of Hardy, moved to lay the
resolution on the table, which motion was lost.
MIR. White, of Hampshire, moved to refer the
resolution to the Committee on Business,
which was carried. The Convention adjourned
till nine oc clock to morrow morning.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Convention assembled at half past ten 0 clock
and proceeded to business.
On motion OF Mr.. Sprigg, MIR. Carr, one OF
1
Geyed. and Jas. G.. lsenbtrg OF Hardy, APP
nointed ia his stead Col. Robert White,
| Chairman of Committee to collect the minerals
brought to the Convention reported as follows:
Ist. Specimens Of fire clay from Hardy county,
said to be in great quantities ID. Specimens OF
bituminous coal from Grant county. II. SpecI-
| mems of copper and IRON ore from PeGdleton
county, said to be IN large quantities. am.
| Hemette iron ore from Grant county. 3Lh.
coal, West of Petersburg, in Grant county
9Th Specimen OF grey marble near Mooreileld,
| in large quantities. Also specimen OF varei-
| gated marble from same region SPECIMEN 0i
antimony from PenietOn county, sad to be IN
large Quantities Specimen OF magnetic IRON
ore from Tucker county. Specimens OF lead,
from which bullets have been made from the
ore Magnetic iron ore from near the line OF
Hampshire and Hardy. Specimen OF coal
from Tucker county, on Red Creek, IN great
ABUNDANCE Specimen OF gold from Randolph
county.
Judge Allen, from the Committee on Ensl'
ness. made the following report to wit
'Your comm tee beg leave to report a. The
appropriate business Tor the action OF the con
| vention.
LIST. The designation Of the improvement
deemed most desirable for the entire section
| renresented by this body, and which would
promote not only local but general interests
| and would secure co operation on the part OF
olbers outside Of the localities through which
| it would pass.
%. The suggestion and adoption Of such
| measures as will at as carly period as possible
ascertain and present the most praitlclble
routes along the general line with their ad
vantages, especially the most feasible point OF
transit across the Alieghanle9, and thus con
nection with the tributaries OF the ONO.
| 81. The arrangement OF such plans as will
az soon as possible ascertain how far n free
right of way can be secured for the passage OF
the contemplated road.
| 4Lh. The obtentiOn OF county subscriptions
| to as large an amount as possible from all the
counties through which said road will pass.
| 9Th. The securing Of such legislation upon
the part of the State of West Virginia as will
aid any organization now chartered, or any
which may be In attaining the proposed ends.
And carrying out these views your Commit
tee Recommend, list. As the most desirable
| Improvement to the entire section OF country
represented by this convention, secure the
! largest trade and travel and will deveIope anu
| promote the largest local interests a railroad
which will pass through the Central portion Of
West Virginia, from point at or near Point
| Pleasant, on the Ohio river, as nearly as prac
ticabe by an "air-inc" to some point IN or
near the Eastern line of the State, between
Strasburg and Martinsburg, connecting with
either the Manassas Gap, the Strasburg TX
tension, the Loudoun and Hampshire, the
Winchester and Potomac, the Baltimore and
Ohio, or the Cumberland Valley Railroad: a
definite designation not now beng made, as
the requisite facts are not fully before the Con
vention u. We recommend that County
Committees be appointed for the counties
of Grant, Tucker, Pendleton, Ra ndoiph
Highland and Pocahontas, whose duty 1t
shall be to ascertain at as early a
period as possible, and report to the
Central Committee, hereinafter named, the
most eligible and practicable route IN their
| several counties across the Allegheny, giving
distances, natural grade, attitudes, specific
points, natural Objects such as creeks, rivers,
&c. 10 fine, such iull and minute information
| as will enable an engineer to arrive at general
conclusion as to the feasibility OF such route,
l.I.t,., 80