The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-08

GILNER HAS THE FLOOR,
GlESyILLr, W. Va, March 80.

NORTHERN anu southern west virginia
Railroad, was not in or near au air
linz from Weston to Charleston. But
Mr.. Squires has wholly failed to under
stand or comprehend them, and dcyotes
the most Of his letter to ScurrllOus cpl
thets, as arguments to relutO my prop
osilion. TO these ! shall not reply. J
lie further states that Ibis sole purpose
in bis communication was to disabusc
the minds Of any and all readers of
Tue DGNocRAT who reside ut dis
lance out of tho State, 40" which
meant, suppose, to prevent capital
lists who reside out Of the State, and
who might subscribe to the capital
stock of the company, from inycstiga-
ting any other than the Elk River
route. I.only suggested in my lettel
that the lines of the two routes be
tested by actual survey, which my
friend does not incline much to favor,
from the tenor Of bis communication.
In bis reply to my letter he refutes
bis own proposition. He asserts that
an air line from Weston to Charleston
will run parallel with Elk River, rs
miles, aud on Mc south east side ofhe
same. Now, sir. take your scale and
dividcrs and measure the distance on
the map. and you will End that an air
line frCn Weston to Charleston is o
fraction under 70 miles. While the
route, as surveyed up Elk River, is
1921 miles. Admit that ELK River
runs on the air line 10 miles, then, au.
cording tO.tle survey made, you are q
distance of 57H miles from Weston,
When, on the true air line, you would
be within one mile of Weston. Nov,
III, as Mr.. Squircs asserts. Elk River
is to run Is miles on the air line, then
the River must DO within one mile OIL
Weston. ! will leave this proposition,
as well as the great increase Of distance
over an air line, for Mr.. Squires tc
explain.
To prove that the route through
Gilinsr and Calhoun is shorter and
nearer tho air line, take Mitchel's
Map, aud draw straight line from
Weston to Charleston, and then meas.
ure tho distance from GlCuyille (thc
farthest point north on the route
propoSod) to the air line, and you will
find the distance to DO abou. 8 miles.
Then measure the distance from the
mouth Of Otter to the nearest point on
said line, aud you will have II miles.
Then measure the distance from Ar
noldsburg TO where tho road would
cross the West Fork of the Little Ka.
nawha River to the nearest point Oh
.aid line, and you will fnd the distance
s miles. Then 90 to point opposite
this and measure from sud line to the
neOres, point ON Elk River, and the
distance is about 10Y miles. II this
proposition be true, which is very
nearly SO, and II any person doubts il
they can prove its correctness by o
calculation from the map. would
further request Mr.. Sqaircs, before
writing again, to test the matter in
tho same way, and perhaps he will
come to the conclusion that my prOpo-
sitioa was not SO absurd as lie had
supposed, aud that it will not be neces.
sary for me to change the geography
ofthe country to make the route | ad-
vocate nearest tho air line
know as well as Mr.. Squires does
that by the map ! refer TO, that the
air line will pass through but small
portion Of Giincr county, but at the
same timn | further know that 1t docs
not run iartherin any portion ofBrax.
ton county than tSo miles. and runs
almost parallel with the Braxton and
Gilmer county line TO Calhoun aud
Clay counties. So Mr.. Squircs will
now see that do not admit the Elk
River route to DO nearest the air line.
have taken some trouble to ascer.
tain the known distances on the route
through Gilmer and Calhoun, and for
the information of Mr.. squircs, will
give them, aud il necessary. can prove
what ! state. This route is not on the
one given as surveyed by Colonel
lays, because | have not the accurate
distances from place to place GU the
route. The distance from Weston to
Glcnville, by tue turnpike, is ~ miles.
From Glcnvillc to Arnoldsburg %
miles. From there to Mr.. John
Stones, ut the head Of Pocatalico, IL
miles, and fiom Mr.. Stones to Charles.
ton, IS miles, which makes this route
liz miles 1t is a well known fact
that Railroad on the same line will
make the distance less than turnpike
or other road. So it would be safe to
calculate las stated in my last letter.
that Railroad on this line would no,
exceed one hundred miles. Now it is
evident from these knowa distances as
above stated that this route must be
nearer the air line than the Elk River
route, as surveyed, according to the
map referred to, which does not agree
with some other maps. The large map
of the State Of pirginia, furnished the
Clerks Offices by that State, prior to
the war, was no doubt more correct
than auy other map We have. That
one makes the air lina near the mouth
Of Sand Fork ofLltlc KanaSha River,
to which, Mr.. Editor, refer you to