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

g@At Rail Road Meeting held at
the Court House in St. Clairsville, on
Saturday evening, Dec. 10th, a reso-
luton was passed by the meeting, re-
questing R. E. CHAMBERS to furnish for
publication, the remarks made by him
on that occasion.
The following is synopsis of Mr..
CHAMBERS remarks:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND CITIZENS:
An exchange of views upon ques-
tions of public utility may always be
profitable. We have assembled, this
evening to exchange views in regard to
a proposed Railroad improvement, now
being agitated in this community. A
large extent of territory. embracing per-
haps two thousand square miles. be-
tween the great through routes North
and South of US, is practically without
Rail Road facilities. This in valuable
country, with sell ofunexampled rich
ness, and untold mineral resources
is seeking development, and this desir-
aDlp Ctu Is dttdludblc. IL we Uut iCCcpl
that which is offered US.
One fact is patent TO every observer,
and that is, the mode of travel and COM
mcrcial communication, now adopted
and accepted the world over, is by
means of Rail Roads. This mode SUPER
cedes all others and he who will not ac-
cept the situation must be left by the
way side in the march of progress, AMI
the community, though rich in natural
resources, that will not by the accepted
means, put itselfin communication with
the world, and thus advance its materi-
al wealth, by making available, that
which nature has lavishly given, must
in common parlance, ''be left out in the
cold"
Now. is this proposed improvement,
practicable? VIII it, if pnshed to COM
pletion, be productive of beneficial re-
suits? Will it be an available means of
advancing the material wealth and pros
perity of the community through which
it passes? Will il in its resulting advan-
tages compensate the necessary expen-
ditures for its completion?
These are practical questions. Every
enterprise whether public or. private,
ought to and does proceed upon the
principle of material profit, having in
view the advancement of individual
and aggregated interest, thus securing
a higher civilization, and higher NOR
al and social development. All enter
prises which secure these ends in their
completions if attainable through OF
dinary human agencies, are essential,
and cast upon individuals and commu-
mites high obligations to labor with
energy and liberality, as promoters of
the general good, in securing the highest
material prosperity.
But viii the promotion of this enter
prise secure this desired end? We may
say like causes always produce like re-
suits, and from ahalogies of the past
draw important differences.
Twenty years ago, in our own county
those communities, enjoying the best
natural advantages, led in population
and wealth, and with like means ofcom-
munication with the outer world, would
still outstrip less favored communities
in the march of progress. But how
stands the matter now ? The less favor
ed Of nature bave broken down the ma
tural barriers, and by their keener per-
ceDtl0n OF tnelr wants, anu q StlmulateQ
enterprise have established artificial
communication with the great centers of
population and commerce of the world,
and thus have outstripped their more
favored, and slothful neighbors in the
great struggle for wealth and prosperity.
Your duplicates of property and Gen.
sus returns, show these facts, increasing
wealth and population for energy and
enterprise and diminishing wealth & po-
pulation, for those without the modern
Rail Road improvements and facilities.
l meanlion these as facts from which
you can draw your own inferences.
Population is wealth; without it pro-
gress is tardy and the journey to pros
perty is tedions. Sparsely settled
countries are never wealthy countries
Come and help us, is the cry from pio-
neer settlements. Tney want the essen
tial element OF progressive population.
Listen to the hum ofindustry all about
you. Look to the sails of commerce
that whiten every sea, the steamboats,
that ply upon your inland rivers, the