Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-05-15
THE STATE CAPITAL.

The Wheeling Register in column odi-
torial ON the location of the Capital, after
discussing the reasons why the Capital was
removed from Charleston in 1875 says:
Under the bill of last winter locating the
Capital permanently at another place than
Wheeling after the year 1885, the choice is
virtually restricted to either Clarksburg or
Charleston. Let us apply the above guage
to the two aspiring towns. OF the two,
Charleston is considerably the largest. She
has not only greater population in number,
but her population is by far more enterprise
ing and public spirited. She has fine BUSH
ness blocks and more extensive business
houses. She has taken more active steps in
manufacturing enterprises. She has widened
and paved her streets; built costly bridges
across Elk river; erected gas works in which
she makes as fine article of artificial light
as is manufactured anywhere; she (kaIawha
county, subscribed large sum of money to
the building of tho Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, and nearly quarter of million of
dollars to build q road to connect this part
of the State with that Valley. In her pros,
tration and poverty after the close of the war,
with her salt furnaces in ruins. her coal trade
broken up, and the blackened walls of her
lately best business blocks marking the raw
ages of recent fires, she contributed nearly
one hundred thousand dollars to furnish the
people of the State with Capital building in
which the public business could, for the first
time in the history of West Virginia, be
transacted with decency, and the public re-
cords could be safely preserved. She also
raised money and built, for the accommoda>
ton of those citizens whose business called
them thither, the best hotel within the
borders of the State. She established daily
newspaper; and at this time supports the
only paper that is printed in the State out
sile the City Of Wheeling more frequently
than at weekly intervals. She has ele-
giant commodious Opera House and her pub
lie entertainments are generally of high or
der and we'll patronized. The opening of
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and the
improvement of the Kanawha River by the
General Government, have given such an
impetus to the development of the coal, iron
and numbering interests OF that section as to
add greatly to the wealth, enterprise and pop
ulation of tho southern half of our State.
Before tho year 1865, taking the past few
years as a guide, not only will Charleston be
the largest city OF the State, except Wheel
ing but she will be the center of the great
est population, the greatest thrift and the
most active and best directed enterprises
Before that time railroad will be pushed
up Elk River, through region Of country
rare in its mineral richness and its timber,
bringing the valuable coal, and iron and lum>
Der of that vast interior country to our very
doors in Wheeling, and placing US within
few hours ride of the Capital at Charleston.
1t will open up to our merchants and manu>
facturers a new field for their wares, and will
pour into our midst harvest of wealth.
Charleston will then be connected with every
section Of the State by rail. She will be
directly on the great through line between
the Pacific and Atlantic oceans viu the Texas
Pacific aud the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
roads, and tho great water line of cheap
transportation connecting the East with the
West, which the Government is now engaged
in constructing.
When the Capital leaves Wheeling in 9S5,
it will go to The only city in the State that
will be making rapid strides in her path of
population, wealth, enterprise and intelli-
gence. At the election on the It'll day of
August next, the people will so direct.