Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-12-22

structed, the value of real estate since
their completion, has doubled and in
many instances quadrupled itself. We
know that the grand aggregate of valu-
alton in our own county has increased
from ten to sixteen millions of dollars,
and, that aside from local causes-this
aggregate of increase is almost entirely
on the line of the Railroads of our coun-
tv. We know that our own citizens ad-
mouisbed by experience, i'll re-investing
the proceeds of real estate sold, re-invest
their means on the public thorough
;ares, in land at treble and quadruple
the price per acre, for which they sold.
Not long since l was struck with the
fabulous prices for which land in the
City of New York is sold. There tri-
angular piece of ground, not greater in
area, than the Lot on which this Court
house stands, was sold and transferred
for the sum of 475,000 dollars, almost
as much as the estimated cost of the en-
tire line of the road, which we propose
to construct. We know another fact,
that mi 1.-THE thriving town of Bellaire on
our2own borders, within the last five
years, real estate has trebled in value.
Why these things? Simply because,
these. points are centers of population
and trade, that here are commercial CEN
tiers. made such by our great railways
and the flcilities thus afforded for the
transa, tion of business, and because
men of means and enterprise will pay
these prices to be put in contact with
the traffic flowing through these chan
nels. 'Tis here nell reap their rich har-
vests, and insure TO themselves and
theirs. the bounties of their wisely di-
rected efforts.
We have it in our power, to make
ours the garden of promise, to make our
splendid resources available, for our
own and the worlds benefit Will we
do it? In common parlance, will it pay?
Are we able for the task? have put
the minimum value OF your lands, at
fifty dollars per acre--the maximum
expenditure of your wealth, at three
and three quarters per centum of your
wealth.
Suppose, for this Improvement, yon
spend five per ccnt of. its gross value.
May we not, by reason of increased
facilities, and the development of our
great mineral resources, reasonably an
ticipate an Increase of ten dollars per
acre? Here is an increase of twenty
per cent, on the gross value of your
will net you more? In ordi-
nary enterprise, your investment is
equal to the gross value; not so in re-
gard to the investment for this improve
ment. Here rs have shown YOU, YOU
invest but five per cent of the gross
value, and realize, estimating increase
upon gross value twenty per centum,
and estimating upon amount actually
invested a net increase of three hun
dred per centum, or o return of four
dollars for every one invested. Will
not this pay? Upon this hypothesis,
NAV YOU not well afford to invest ten
per centum of your entire possessions?
And who are interested in it? answer
all, all are interested in it, all receive
the benefit. But especially is the farmer
in it. He is the great pro-
ducer of the country, and ne is the di-
rect recipient of the benefit, not only
in tho largely increased value Of his
lands. but incidentally in the greatly
value of the products of the
X
penditure of putting hislprodrce in
the market ;he is directly i'm fhesmarket
of the world. The benefit flowing to
other interests in communityare merely
but not the less real, coming
as it does from the increased prosperity
Of the great industrial and productive
interest of the country. Thus we see,
all are reciprocally benefited, and all
should contribute to secure an end so
desirable. Shall we not all work to this
end? No; you will take away my
business" says one. at will be accom-
plished any wav," says another, and Il
need not work" Ipity the man whose
soul limits his conceptions of
1uty TO the interest of self. He is the |
mole-hill at the base of the mountain,
md bis cry, continually is, shake not
he mountain, lest the molehill be buried, |
md more do L pity him who with his
OWN consent becomes a clog upon the |
wheels ofprogress, and is dragged to
he mountain of prosperity while he |
gives not a tarthing's weight in the
scale. To the former, let it be said, if |
rour interest stand in the way of the |
public good, you must stand aside, or
DIN Ill the marcn ~ Keep step 10 we mu-
lis of progress, and of the latter, he is
upon the social system, a drone,
hat sucks the substance from honest |
and honest toll.
Another one says, Il will not cast in
NY mite," for the common good, yet,
Il will wish you much success, and when
,our efforts are crowned, will come
md rejoice with you; l will pull down |
ny barns and build greater, 1 will get |
me- ore psn and g will w 5 By up my %uTa Wsdo@
If good results. This is the work of the
lour, it must now be achieved, or the
opportunity is lost. All must labor,
hat good may come to all.
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