Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-12-23
THE CAPITAL At MARTINS.
BURG.

THE CAPITAL AT KARIIRS-
BURG.
Shall we prepare for the reno
val of the State Capital to Mar
tinsburg, at some day, in the near
futures If so, let the people of
Berkeley, and the counties Of the
Eastern "Pan Handle" be up and
doing; thoroughly alive to the i'm
portance of the occasion, in their
efforts to accomplish the end de-
sired. "Set our (city and) houses
in ORDER" prepare in every way
possible, the inducements, and
show the superior advantages we
possess for its permanent location
in our midst, e'er we send out the
invitations to the guests to assem-
BILE, to receive our cordial welcome,
and partake of cur hospitality.
Charleston, on the beautiful Ka-
nawha, had few advantages, and
many disadvantages for the loca-
ton of the permanent seat. That
portion Of the State being newer,
more sparsely settled, and whilst
the will of her people would cheer
fully do, their means and facilities
for doing were far inadequate to
the task of accomplishing. Vast
outlays of money was necessary to
pierce and surmount her rugged
mountains-though rich they are
in mineral wealth-to reach out
the iron arteries of communities
ton, travel and traffic centering
there, that should not be closed
by Summers heat, nor winters
cold"
The city of Wheeling, in the
Western "Pan Handle" of the
State, Situated some forty miles
North of the Southern boundary
line of the State of Pennsylvania
presents few inducements, whilst
many objections obtain against it's
being the proper location for the
Capital of our growing little State.
It's location can almost be said to
be out of the State geographically,
whilst in it; too far removed from
the great emporiums of trade and
exchange with the seaboard /;
whilst from it's location it would
almost seem to belong more to
Pennsylvania or Ohio than to West
Virginia. Clothed with the hab-
it's and manners of those great
States, acting and influenced more
by their acts, manners and habits,
than with those of the people of
our own State we suggest such
might be the case in time,
that such influences and
surroundings might, for veal or
woe, be Swallowed forth and cast
their reflex upon the legislature of
our State. Objections that OBJ
tanned against Charleston most Sc
riously, obtain also against Wheel
ing, as being the proper place for
the permanent seat of the Capital.
With only one avenue of travel
open to the people of the second
and third Districts to reach Wheel
ing, and that a long and tortuous
one, for the third particularly, your
rivers being already blockaded by
the congealing breath of the ice
king, and no present nor future
prospect ofhaving opened up other
avenues Of travel into the interior
South and Southeastern portions
of the State, does it not then pre-
sent the same most serious obiec-
tons, on this point, as Charleston =?
We point these facts, actuated
by no feelings Of resentment, jeal-
ousy, nor unkindness to the peo-
pie of either of the Districts or
cities named; but as independent
journalist we register the facts as
they appear to us, and desire to
call the attention of the people of
the State to the facts set forth and
in advocacy Of the city Of Martins
burg as being the most convenient
and proper place for the perma-
nent location of the Capital We
further believe that, laying aside