The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-11-10
r. r. MEETING.
REV. j. II. THOMPSON MAKES
A RAILROAD SPEECH.
The Proposed Plan for Construct
ing the Road.
GREAT ENTHUSIASM on TIE
SUBJECT.
The People Determi ned 10 have
an Railroad. .-S u bsc riptf0ms.

IN Railroad. .-S subscriptions.
The railroad meeting at the court
house on last Saturday evening was
largely attended, and indicates spir-
it of enterprise amongst onr people
that has not heretofore prevailed to
any considerable extent The court
house was filed with gentlemen who
represented a large portion of the
wealth of our county, and, if appear
ances indicate anything, they were in
earnest about the construction of
railroad to Morgantown.
The meeting WIS presided over by
Hon. w. 7. Wiley, and the editors
of all newspapers present designated
as secretaries.
Rev, j. r. Thompson, president Of
West Virginia University, was called
upon to address the meeting and IT.
spondcd in his usual eloquent style.
Mr.. Thompson presented the plan
proposed by the Pittsburgh, Wash
ington and Castle Shannon Narrow
Gauge railroad company as he OBJ
tanned it from Mr.. Mille., secretary
of that road, at the meeting held at
Mt. Morris on the preceding day.
That company proposes to construct
this road to Morgantown if the peo-
pie along the route subscribe suf-
ficient to grade, bridge and tie the
same, amounting to something less
than three thousand dollars per mile.
The distance from Mt. Morris to Nor
gantown being twelve miles the
amount of stock necessary to be sub
scribed in Monongalia county would
consequently be about $50, GOO. This
stock may be subscribed in such way
as to make the holder entitled to deal
it out in freight or travel over the
road when constructed. The sub
scribers also having an opportunity
of paying their stock subscriptions
in labor, cross-ties, dc.
Mr. Thompson, after presenting
the proposed plan, forcibly presented
the great necessity of the road and
the hopeless condition of our town
and people without it. He especially
urged the importance of the work
when viewed in connection with the
University in which he was especial
lv interested. The occasional sallies
of wit at the expense of Caney Bright,
his old hack aud the mud road be-
tween this place and Fairmont never
failed to bring down the house. The
orator closed with an eloquent appeal
to the people to give their united en-
ergies to this needed enterprise.
Short speeches were also made by
other gentlemen present and all were
apparently wide awake to the impor-
lance of the proposed work.
On motion of Jos. Morclahd, Esq,
a committee Of five were appointed to
take into consideration the feasibility
of the proposed enterprise and also to
do what they thought proper and nee
essary to carry out the proposed plan
and report at future meeting.
On motion of Geo. c. Sturgiss, Esq.
a committee of five were appointed to
solicit stock subscriptions.
The following subscriptions, as far
as we can learn, and which amount
ed to $4,000, were voluntarily pledged
at the time: President Thompson
$500; Geo. c. Sturgiss, $3.50; Ash
bel Fairchild, $500; A. L. Wade, $500;
J. c. Wallace, $500; A. w. Lorentz,
5000; w. T. Wiley, $3.50; NJ. Hayes,
$3.50; w. S. Cobun, $3.50; N. N. Hof-
man, $3.50; f. Shisler, $3.50; J. V.
Boughner, $500; Joseph Moreland,
800; J. B. Wiley, 800; Clark
Wade, 800; Spencer Wade, 800;
George Hall, 800; George Semans,
800; w. I. Sergeant, 500; F. S.
Lyons, 500; F. II. st. Clair, 500;
Jas. Wright, 800; James Bell, 500;
j. NJ. Kern, 800; Cyrus Fife, $50;
Ralph Harris, $50; C. A. Basnett,
$50; Geo. Vance, $50.
The meeting adjourned to meet at
the call of the President.