The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-05-26
'T9EDE&OCRR5
SNtWrANY M0N 96
The Capital question.


one Of the organs Of public opinion, j, is
proper Tue DENOcELr should speak cut.
We therefore declare Tor Clarksburg
The reasons which call US to this posi-.
Lion are 30 numerous that wo need 20,
at length discuss them separately.
Clarkl6urg is Ouly % miles from Wrs.
ton. When our liaiIrOaL. now actively
progressing in construction, shall bu IL
operation, ClarEIburg will 30 At our
very doors. This Railroad will also
bring UpSbur, BTlxlOD, Gilmer, and
part Of Webster, uear TO Clarksburg.
There is no doubt but that the Capital
will draw 10 whatever section in which
itshall be fixed immigration enterprise
prominence, increased value ~ land,
promote buIiucSs an Improve the geo.
eEal tone Of tho people Strangers 90 10
the Capital, aud from il rs tho center
they spread out in quest Of land, homes
and places Of business Lands already
high 10 Harrison will become more 10,
thence population will spread to Lewis,
thence seeking cheaper homes aud mvrs
room, it will dill up tho now tbiuly ret.
tied counties Of Bra1Qu, 6ilmer, Cal.
hOun, Webster aud upper UpIhur. This
is now occurring, but tho Capital at
ClarkSburg will hasten it Place :hC
Capital there and the influence flowing
from it will populate and give wealth
and value to the whole OF central West
Virginia. This result may be slow, but
it will DO none the less sure. We tLiuk
itI effects would DO rapid. This has
been tho experience iu other States. It
is FROM the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
section that population and business viii
come to Us. We need look to no other
quarter. 1t is only that road that hss
built up this country. We have never
Jet realized any growth from any other
source. Why docs Charleston want tue
Capital? She tcllI US il is u build up
not merely Charleston, but large Cur.
cult around her. The same reasoning
applies 10 Clarksburg. We have 10 un
kindness, not tho least, for Charleston.
but in Importing Clarksburg, We aro
supporting That WO Candidly believe to
be tho truo interest Of the section iu
which our lot is east. From the Cspi
tai 4! Charleston, our section would not
fool single pulsAtiOn or impulse Of lite,
because it is too far remOyed-ws have
moi even good turnpike to it, and nu
business intercourse whatever with it.
That section trades with Cincinnati ;
ours with Wheeling, ClarkSburg aud
Baltimore always passing through
ClnrkSburg to get out to tue world. We
tried the Capital at Chal lesion and vur
citizens had to travel to it either on
hOrICbnck, without roads, in The most
Indictment season, or to reach it through
other States by long, co,tly aud low
trips. 10 the winter. communication
with it was cut Of BY ice, in summer by
drouth in the rivers. Very few Of u,
vent there except by con pul,iOn. Il
at Clarksburg, our people could reach
it whenever business or pleasure called
thcm 10 few hours, at most, aud al
tTiaiug coat. Why shall we by our
votes place it 1875 miles rather lia= %
miles from usI Where is the good
sense in SO doing? Is there any chlucr
for railroad through tho Spac5 Of l7O
miles between Clarksburg and Charles.
toni None within auy reasonable
tins, il fever. lfeT,r built, the Capt.
tai will not build it, il will be built OF
rot built, regardless Of tue Capital, for
the Capital will not BE- sufficient induce.
mcnt for the expenditure necessary for
10 miles Of railway. Efforts were
made to build il for several years while
tho Capital was there, but failed. In
these times Of depression, whence is the
money to come for lie construction :?
Il is easy to talk railroad, but 1 diff g.
cult thing to bVRd railroad
And Sgaiu: Charleston toll,
ROauO, Jackson. Writ aud Wood that
the read to connect with the Baltimore
aud Ohio road will pass through these
counties. distance Of about 50 miles,
to ParkerSburg instead Of through
hero to Clarksburg, a distance Of 10
miles. This would cut US out. Or
will two roads b. builti
CharlOston'S plOa il, tbs. all the OK.
psndiIurss for public buildings hay,
been in tho Northern aud Eastern SC
lions Of tho State. But lei It nut nr
forgotten that the State gave away the
frsucbiI', charter, right Of way snd
work already done on what was known
- he CoviSglon aud Ohio railroad.
The work Of construction in the shape
Of grading and cuIvertS cost VirsuiI,
within what is now West Vhgiuiu,
upward, Of one million and 4 bali dol.
lars, and It became the property Of,
this SIAtO when formed. This wa, on
what. it is shid, Washington prououu.
cad the best route fTom the West to
the Sea. On it railroad bad bscn
finished from Richmond to Cuyiugton,
and 4 CON pany Of rich Northern Gapl.
tHlislS determined to finish it to the
Ohio river. The State TO further this
great work, at the appeal Of tue South.
era end Of the State, gave away oil Der
property IL 1t, aud at oucs tho tplru.
did Chesapeake aud Ohio raiIioa!
stretching from the Ohio TO Richmond.