The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-18

communication, makes It necessary Tor
me to reply.
In my former communication, my
object vas simply to call the attention
OF the public, By a statement of facts,
showing that a much shorter and
cheaper route for the Northern and
Southern West Virginia Railroad from
Weston to Charleston could be had
through the counties Of Gilmer and
Calhoun, than the Elk River route,
whish had already been surveyed /;
and to show that justice also required
that said rsut c should be examined and
surveyed, as was understood at the pas.
sage Of tho act Of the Legislature,
making an appropriation for prelimi.
nary survey for said road,
In Mr.. Squircs' communication he
charges me with ignorance as well as
falseboOd in my statement, and also
with the absuTdity Of making au argu-
mOnt to prove that crooked line be-
tween two given points was shorter
than n straight one. But he kindly
proposes, for the sake Of junticc to
liraxton county, to correct a mistaken
idea of "Gilmrr' and the readers of
TnE DEMOCRAT generally, But, Mr..
Editor, let my ignorance be what it
may, think shall bc able to show
that my statements were substantially
true. | have again looked over my
former communication, and fail to see
tho argument mentioned by Mr..
Squires as used by me to prove that a
crooked line between two given points
is shorter than n straight one aud us
lhad not stated the air liuo distance
between Weston ahl Charleston, be
was therefore wholly unjustiiablc in
charging me with such absurdity.
But as he evidently had in his mind the
Elk River route when he compared the
route through Gilmcr and Calhoun,
with straight line, | will engage to
prove the absurdity he charges upon
mc-in other words that the route
through Gilmer and Calhoun is shorter
than the Elk River route by at least 80
mics.
According to ColtOu's largo map Of
West Virginia, the air line distance
from Weston to Charleston is not over
&C miles. The Xix River route, MS
suGtyed, is found to DO 1924 miles,
being an excess ofjGl miles over the
air line distance, or about 70 per cent
longer than straight line.
In my communication referred to, !
stated that the distance Of the route
from Weston to Charleston, through
the counties Of Gilmcr and Calhoun, as
surveyed by Colonel Hays for State
road, was. from the best information,
only ninety.eigh miles. Since that
time, have couversed with several
persons acquainted with the route, who
all confirm the statements made as to
the distance. For eraci information as
to the distance Of said road, refer to
the Map Of the same, filed with the
Board ct Public Works, III the city of
Richmond.
And We claim that Railroad can
be made on til. general route of the
State road above referred to, that will
not probably exceed the distance oflOO
miles. Thus it will be seen. by u
comparison of tho Elk River route, as
surveyed, and the route proposed
through Gilmer and Calhoun, (tho dis.
lance Of which is known to be very
nearly as above stately that the differ
enco between these two routes is ut
least thirty miles in favor of the latter,
and hence that the sum of at least
81 900, 900 can DO saved by construct.
lug the road on the route through Gil.
mCr aud Calhoun in preference to the
Elk River route. Thes. facts afford
strong inducements to the stockholders
in the road to construct it on the route
through Gilmer and Calhoun aud
further shows that justice to these
counties, no less than than the interest
of tue stockholders and the public re.
quires the road to be constructed on
this route.
In the foregoing statement, have
cndcayoredio do no injustice to our sister
county liraxton, but simply TO do jus.
tlcC to Gilmer By truthful statement
Of facts. If the facts are in our favor
we are entitled to the benefit Of them,
and hope it will be awarded to us.
We do not pretend to say which Of
these two rival routes is farthest from
a true air line, neither does their COM
parativO distance depend upon this
circumstance, but the obvious reason
for the greater distance Of the Elk |
River route is owing to the siuuous or
crooked course Of tho Elk liivOr,
which increases the distance and con-
stitutes an obstacle that can never be
overcome. l have extended this COM
municatiOn too long; but have con.
dcused it as much as it was possible for
me to do. As to our coal and mineral
wealth on this route you will hear
from me hereafter. LEVI JOHNSON.