The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-15
TIE THIRD DISTRICT.
What has been Done for II by the
State and National Govern

What has been Done for Il by the
State and National Govern
mentS.
From Hon. Henry s. BrAnnon's Speech at Weston,
on the Capital Question.
The Third District had received dow.
~ vastly richer to the whole District
than the few small institutions in the
others which benefited only small local.
tiles around them. The State, to accom-.
plish the building OF the Chesapeake &
Ohio railroad, which now runs 200 miles
through the Third District, through the
heart OF It's timber, coal, iron and salt re.
giOn, every hour, day and night, bearing
its products 10 market, blessing not
few like any asylum or other local insti.
tuition, but serving the whole population,
GAVE AWAY to the company constructing
il one million and . half dollars in work
already done and owned by the State on
that line, with right Of way, franchise
and property. He showed from the OIL
cial report Of the chief engineer Of that
road, that up to November, 1857, there
was expended $65O,O00 west Of Green.
brier, White Sulphur, and $500, 900 east
OF it, chiefly in tunnel wholly or
partly in this State; that balance
Of 100000 was, at the time Of the
report, being expended in West Virginia.
Then came the appropriations OF
March, 1858, Of $SOO,O0O, which was
wholly expended, then 100000 in the
spring Of 1860, which was about hall ex.
pended. No report at hand showed cx.
aCtly how much Of these appropriations
were expended, or how, but it is safe 10
Jay that at least 81, 50l,0O was expended
In this State. This was valuable prop.
erty to the State-it was permanent,
heavy work, as the engineer states, hold.
ing the right Of way and the only route
which could be adopted, and rich north.
ern capitalists were determined to and
did build it. In addition the state ex.
empled the property OF this road from
taxation until its profits should realize
10 per cent on its stock. 1t has 200 miles
OF road, but has never paid dollar tax,
and never will. The Baltimore road
pays about S25, 900 yearly, besides county
taxes; this road nothing. Its release
yearly amounts TO not less than $4,000
State tax. The Third District asked this;
said that withthat railroad completed its
fortune was made; yet we are now told
she has received nothing. But outside Of
this rich bounty, though true the lat and ID
Districts have more public buildings than
the Sd, it is also true they have paid for
them. This is proven by the fact that il
We take the large exceaI Of taxes paid by
them over the Third, multiply it by the
number Of years the State has existed,
and the product is colossal sum, more
than enough to build all these buildings
and maintain them besides during their
existence TO this time. II We have these
buildings We have paid for them. Then
the Federal Government spends large
SNms to improve, and is now locking and
damming, the Great Kanawha. This may
he a. properly charged to the Third rs
she charges the Morganlown College to
the Second District, for the United States
endowed il 100000, and it has received
hut little from the State for construction.
IN the light Of these facts, what becomes
OF the plea so much urged by Charleston,
the only one wearing at first view a plau-
= si6le look, that her section is not equal
with others?
Charleston, by her distinguished advo.
cate, Judge Ferguson, here to- day argued
that the Capital should be placed near
the centre and in section needing deycl.
opment. Why then did not Charleston
hxa point in BraGton, the real center, a
field needing development, and in the
Third District; and where there would be
necessity to build a railroad, il having
none now, not At point already satisfied
with railroad, and call on the people Of
our section TO adopt it as compromise
point, after the long years Of agitation Of
this question. There never had been q
more favorable moment Tor this than lasI
winter. But this would not do; it mus
be Charleston-nOwhcre else. Charlestor
always cries TO the Third District iol
help, and now calls on BraxtOn to dror
her own real, true and substantial inter
est to help her; but she has never though
OF giving this Capital prize TO any othel
point in the Third. She always nomi.
bates herself. Charleston promises thl
KoNne, jackson and Wood people L
build road TO interchangeable people
OF this section to build up Elk-she ever
says she will build tho Washington enc
Ohio. This is M Cleclioneering hobby
Constant efforts have been made sine,
1852, during flush times, to build eros
road. a few spades Of earth were throw
up in 1871 atCharleston to save the char
ter, and there 1t rests. However earnes
and sincere Charleston may be in he
railroad promises, they are mere prom
iReF for she has not means adequate |,
redeem them, nor has any other section