Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-07-07

w washington are All Wlthln Il lew nouns TeaCn
by railroad, and are connected, of course, by
telegraph.
Were Martinsburg tie Capital Of West Vir-
GINA, it would need only the time tables Of
railroad companies and the actual experience
Of the people having business with the seat of
government, to show that it was more accessi-
bic TO the greatest number, than any town or
city in the State. Ia connection with this as
serliOn, few figures may be invoked as wit
neSses. Martinsburg to Baltimore via the B.
& o. Railroad, 80 miles; to Washington, via
b. Il o. and Metropolitan, so miles; to Bati-
more, via MartinShurg and Potomac and Wes-
tern Maryland, l02 miles; to Harrisburg, Pa,
100 miles to New York by any route s hours
to Boston, "a hours, and so on, connections
being arranged with every part of this Couti-
nent aud the Continent Of Europe.
The Town
Has, as before stated, about 1000 inhabitants,
and up to the period Of general depression in
business, was increasing. Even financial diff
cultes have failed to repress the energies Of
our people, and within the past year a number
of new buildings have been erected, which add
to the wealth and the architectural beauty Of
the place.
Martinsburg is lighted with gas and sup
piled with the purest water from limestone
spring through the Holly system Of water
works. This affords almost absolute protec-
ton against fire, as every -plug-and
they are 43 in number has the power and ca
pacity of an ordinary steam fre-engine. There
are l churches, and a number of excellent
indeed, elegant-school houses, with capaci-
ty for $500 pupils.
Hotel Accommodations.
Manifestly, nothing can be more important,
in determining the location Of State Capital
than the means a town offers for the comfurta-
ble accommodation Of the Legislature, officers
Of State, the Courts and the necessarily large
number Of visitors who must be provided for
Martinsburg has hotels, besides good private
boarding houses. Among them is a new hotel,
nearly completed with all modern improve
ments, which has rooms for 800 guests. An
other hotel, lately finished is in operation,
while still another has been remodled and
largely increased in its dimensions Those
which arc older and have been long established
have been thoroughly refttcd. 1t is not too
much to say, on this point, that no town in the
State-not even excepting Wheeling-can Of
fer the same facilities for the comfort and ac-
commodation Of all who may come to it.
Manufactures.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shops and
the large Huntsville DiStillery and Mills, to-
gether with other enterprises just started, give
the town that benefit which comes from the
expenditure of large sums Of money in its
midst, brought from elsewhere and injected
into all the veins and arteries of local trade
To this cause alone can be attributed the con-
tuuation in these days of business depression,
of much Of that enterprise in building, &c,
which has elsewhere laugrished to the point Of
actual cessation.
The People.
OF course, a eulogy Of the people Of Mar
tinSburg and Berkeley County would be out
Of place. 1t is enough to say that they are an
honest, thrifty, careful race of people, who
find profit and pleasure in attending to their
own affairs and letting others business alone.
They claim no superiority over our friends of
Kanawha aud Iarrison-they certainly admit
no inlerioriiy.
Conclusion.
This brief statement will serve the purpose,
it is 10 be hoped, Of directing the attention of
tue voters OF lHt S(ate 10 MdIllusCurH. vi
course, it would be out of place to attempt a
full and complete detail upon every point
which may be the subject of inquiry. Each
citizen will cast his vote, it is assumed after
such examination and investigation as will en-
able him to decide Justly and with an honest
regard for the best interests and advantage of
the greatest number. S0ch examination is
earnestly invited and it is particularly asked
by our people that the question Of accessibility
be carefully considered.
With the railroad facilities which have beeu
stated, we repeat, that it is easy to perceive
a far larger portion of this State, considered
territorially, or with regard to population, can
find convenient access to MartinSburg than to
either Charleston or ClarkSburg.
Members of former Legislatures can testify
on this point since it has been their fortune to
pass Martinsburg going from the Northwest
to CharleSton-a compliment returned by the
Kanawha delegates when frozen rivers drove
them by the Valley and Baltimore & Ohio
roads to Wheeling. Martinsburg was a CEN
trail point to each section--it is the same now
and as a railroad centre it is actually near
er, in time and travel, to more than two-thirds
Of the State, than either Of its competitors
BY ORDER OF COMMITTEE.