The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-02-09
New Route for n Railroad from Pitts
burgh Through West Virginia.


We see an article published in the In
TELLTGENCER Of February 9Th, copied
from the Pittsburgh Commercial, over the
initials A. F. B., endeavoring, evidently
designed to divert and bias the public
mind, toward the probable Inducements
TO build railroad, on one fAYOrite route,
md avoid an examination on the others.
The author the article referred 10, states
the following extraordinary, and hereto
fore unhehrd Of, '..tactS" that there Is a
barren &IhGm dcSert," in Grecnbrier and
Monroe counties Of West Virginia. He
farther says: IN this communication |
have given you truthful, reliable facts,
having personally Travelled over con.
sitIcrablc:pOrtion Of this Eastern route, and
often over the Western" II am familiar
with the topography Of the country, and
know to q certainty Of what speak
Now we propose to test Mr.. B. veraci-
ty by n few stubborn @faces." Those two
routes divcrge in Marion county; the
Eastern route passing thence into Taylor
county, rich, fertile and highly cult.
waited county, Of 7,403 Inhabitants, ten
yearS ago Leaving Taylor comfy, we
pass up the beautiful Tygartts Val
ley river to Barbour county, Of 9,958
inhabitants, ten years ago, and also
II productive county. Next We come
10 Randolph county, with broad beau.
ifll valleys and rich hills, table and
mountain lands; with a population
Of 1900 inhabitants tch years ago.
Those counties named possess inexhausti-
bic treasures Of coal and other valuable
minerals. South Of this we reach Poca-
hOntas county, rich fertile valley Of
8,05S inhabitants, ten years ago. This
county AbOunds with u vast sylvaniaS Of
the hest md greatest variety Of timber to
be found in the great Mississippi valley,
and much of the richest iron orc to be
found in the United States. Thence we
reach Grcenbrier and Monroe counties {;
the "ISIhGrd," with population, ten years
ago of 99,0G9. Those last two named
counties consist Of much Of the best lind
and wealth Of the State, and arc in high
state Of cultivation. If the writer means
Craig county on the southern portion Of
the road, he Ii still slightly mistaken, as
moro than 1000 human beings subsist
even IN this "blrrGH Sahara" Now, DR..
BIS. figures are stubborn facts. There
arC living along the line of this
Eastern proposed route and sahara"
in West Virginia, moro than sixty
thousand men, women and children.
nm native Of POcahOntas county, West
Virginia, and have spent tho greater part
Of the forty years Of my life travelling and
surveying through the hills, mountains
and valleys, Of my native State. l have
frequently passed over those proposed
routes for the railroad, with an eye to the
practical route for a railroad, but never
saw DR.. BIS "Sahara" or desert, always
thought It was poor way for man to
advertise his own favOritG scheme by Ills.
paNging Others II shows energy which
can only arise from secret respect l
think iElhe Doctor would look along down
Elk river through Clay county, with her
1857 inhabitants, through which his
ihVsrite railroad Is 10 pass, he will
find IL slMrsely settled barren coun.
try. The DR.. surely has been dream.
Ing, and imagined himself away down
south, mot In Dixie hut IN Africa,
amongst tue SONS Of IshmRcl, the land Of
camclS and sand, where no vegetation
grows, or springs Of water 10 QuenCll tho
weary travellers thirst. Come Dr., wake
up! and dispcl your dreams Of tOrid zones;
burning sandy deserts. "harrcn SahaEas,"
SCOme over into our beautiful green
valleys, and We will show you an inviting
oasis Of shady groves, cooling springs Of
crystal waters, where evening zephers
viii cool your heated and mistaken brain.
Here On the Eastern railroNl route.
..... 3, Y,
Where, Full many flower Is horn to blush I'M
/ seen,
Aud waste It's sweetness on the desert air"
P.S-Dr. you hurrah for your route
aud will shout out for mine. But lpray
thee, there no no strife between me and
thee, nor between thy route and my
Sahara" for We be brethren. "Let us
have Peace" y.