The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-27

h'o' AZ eucCt tncee Cnangeh money
was needed, and money flowed in to
meet this need. All these thinge crea.
ted demand for labor and capital
and some of our most active and en-
ergetic people responded to the demand
by emigrating from their old homes
among us, carrying with them the
wealth here accumulated, to our more
enterprising sister. States. They emf
grated not in a mere restless spirit fol
the sake of change, but with the ex
pectstion of finding advantages OIL
means Of acquiring wealth which they
had not at home. How much of the
wealth and the enterprise of the great
West has been contributed by the in-
telligence, energy and resources oil
former citizens of this State would be
q difficult problem to solve. 1t is the
province of the present generation to
endeavor to revise the old order OF
things-to retain our own population
and wealth, and to turn the tide OF emf.
grafton from other places towards US.
We must either keep pace with the inn
provements and progress made by our
neighbors, or content ourselves with
occupying relatively an inferior posi-
ton, notwithstanding We have equal or
greater natural resources. What do
our rich, lands, heavy forests and mex
haustible coal deposits avail if the lands
must remain uncultivated, the forests
in their primitive state, and the coal
deposits untouched simply for the want
OF market for their products? Mar
kets, however, are not to be found at
every mans door and unless facilities
are afforded for reaching them practi-
cally the effect is the same as if we had
none Of these resources. The State cam
not engage in the work OF ioternal i'm
provemeut, for she has not the means
OF doing 80, and the disastrous exper-
iments OF other States ought to deter
her from undertaking them. Private
enterprise, however, has constructed two
lines OF railway through the State, both
Of which will become leading thorough
fares of the country; and il is earnestly
hoped that another line running north
and south, through the centre OF the
State, will also be built within a short
time. Railways do not create wealth,
but they stimulate the production
OF all articles which the
country is capable of producing
through which they pass by atfJrding
certain, cheap and rapid transportation
10 points where there is a demand for
them at remunerative prices. Thus a
strong incentive is offered for constant
labor to all who desire to improve their
condition 10 life, active business springs
up, aud wealth gradually aceumulates,
But the benefits o. these railroads are
greatly circumscrbed or limited, unless
there are 2ovG roads leading to them
from the surrounding country. In sec
lions remote from these railroads the
necessity for good roads l. even great
er than in those living near them. And
it will generally be found that the de-
velopment OF a district OF country goes
steadily on with the improvement OF
it's public roads. The fact that we are
not able to put our public highways in
complete order at once ought not to de.
ter us from the effort to improve them
gradually. l, therefore, invite your
special attention TO the laws concerning
roads, with the view OF securing, IT
possible, greater efficiency in this
branch of the public service. If the
present law were strictly enforced great
good would result theretrom. AS the
labor is compulsory and without remu-
neration surveyors OF roads, from mere
kindness OF heart, exact az little labor
as possible from their heighbors and
friends, and il one should require more
labor than another, he perhaps sub
iects himself TO the charge Of officiou>-
ness or petty tyranny. The result is a
too great relaxation Of the demands OF
the law, and apparent negligence on
the part Of the surveyors.
On the other hand, if surveyor ne
elects his duties the only penalty is an
Indictment and possible fine; but his
neirhbors are unwilling, from good feel
ing, to enforce this penalty by going
Voluntarily before Grand Jury
to procure an indictment against
him. Require these sur
vevors annually to report to the county
court the amount OF labor performed on.
and the condition and wants OF their
roads, with authority in this court to
procure indictments against surveyors
who have been dereljct in duty, and
there will be far less complaint about
bad roads in the future. TIE county
court appoints the surveyors OF roads,
and il should see to itthat they do their
dutv. Under this system, surveyors
would feel lar less hesitation in demand
ing from all citizens he amount OF la
Dor required by law, aud the people
would cheerfully respond to the de-
mand; for no people in the world Will
Weld q more ready obedience to laws
founded on justice and equality than the
people OF this State.
A a general rule each county has
one or two main roads, or thoroughfares
which are used by nearly ali the people
These roads are established not 30 much
for the convenience of the people living
near them, as to give an outlet to some
poipt in an adjoining, or perhaps re-
mote county. From necessity they pass
through sparsely settled districts and
over rugged. uninhsbited mountains,
and therefore where the mostlaoor Is re-
ou,red, there are to be found the
lewest persons TO perform the labor.
should it be your pleasure to
retain the present provisions OF the law
authorizing the levying of taxes for
road purpose, does it not seem but just
| 10 require them to be aPpropr sted
msiuly to the improvement OF these
main roads? l am aware that l ad'
dress myself to gentlemen more familiar
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