The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-14
GRAFTON CORRESPONDENTS,
GRAFTON, W. Va, Feb. IL, 1878.

Edltorl lntelIGenesr:
Our place i suffering from the hard
times OF the past three years and l have
to record Tie failures Of Alex. spriggs
planning mill and lumber, who last week
went int9 bankruptcy, and George W
Brown, yierchant, who at the same time
made An assignment in favor Of ii.
creditors. We trust we shall have nc
more such dismal news to write. The
B. 4 o. Railroad having done a fair
freight business this fall and winter
our laboring class has not suffered FOL
food and clothing as in many other places
and from the way the company are now
rushing ireightea east from Chicaso-at the
rate OF over 800 sara every "a hours
their employees ara making double time
and it looks as though all those connected
directly OF indirectly (and none Of us III
this town but what arel, with the rail
road will be able to bridge over the win
ter comfortably, II not e%xtraSagantly, and
when gentle spring comes with heI
warmth and bright flowers, and With
the Democratic palladium Of all our
financial woes, the silver dollar Of our
daddies and free trade, the poor IA then
rejoice that their cold suffering and want
oil money ia over.
In this section OF the State the wheat,
Of which a large are was sown last fall,
looks fine, With every prospect Of March
not injuring It, and the present intention
OF farmers is 10 put 10 large crops oil
corn and oats In the spring-just what we
want; more cereal and less hay, more
hogs and less cattle, will result in "more
money and less misery"
Our city Is passing through the usual
excitement attending the building Of a
railroad on p1per, which a easily be
done by talking, but IL takes money to
build Il on the ground. 1t is proposed to
make the road a narrow gauge, from
Norganiown TO this point, about thirty
miles, at a cost Of 100000, and our county
Is asked to vote bonds Of not less than
100000 for its construction, | am op.
posed to this, for several reasons. We
have about succeeded in compromising
the tax question with the Baltimore and
Ohio company, and they, in accordance
with the agreement therein, are enlarging
their shops here and are now put
ting In valuable wood working ma.
chinery, aud will doubtless increase
their force here, and l fear any active
efforts in opening up n route 10 Pitts
bnrgh, may have some effect To stop the
Baltimore and Ohio Company from doing
in this direction what they now contem-
plate. This tax question has deferred
the company from improving the natu.
raj advantages our place affords them
and l do think we I'll mean the
people OF Grafton and Taylor county and
not the merchants and cattle dealers now
stand in our own light, when the Baiti-
more and Ohio show by occular demon.
stratiop, q disposition 10 build up great
works and shops here aud thus largely
increase our population by favoring
what many claim for 1t, an opposition
line 10 that company. l grant that
while the marrow guage was being built
It would afford employment for a short
time to needy labofers, yet when finished
I fail to see how 1t 4 permanently
give employment to u large number Of
men 10 our place or country, for ia shops
and repair houses would certainly be
located In Pittsburgh.
Again, IL II prudent, at this time, when
nearly every one Is trying to get Out OF
debt, for our county TO go 10 debt when
our local taxeS are enormous, and the
State taxes, under the sham cryof re.
form and retrenchment,n will have to be
increased still higher, TO say nothing OF
some day 10 the near future when we shall
be made responsible for our share Of
Virginia's debt or suffer the odium OF
reputation.
The cry Of coal, iron ore and saving Of
freight isa delnsion. Itmnst not he Tor
gotten that within a raliua OF 30 miles
Of Pittsburgh there IL enough Of those
minerals 70 supply the United States for
100 years, and, moreover, should We be
asked.to tax ourselves for The particular
benefit Of q few merchants aud cattle mem
l think not.
Our people should act reasonably and
not raihly over 4 question Of giving
money into the hands OF spectators for
the benefit Of only 3 few Of our commu.
LG.