Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-16
LETTER FROM COLUMBUS.
The Belmont County Seat Mat
ter Still in the Hands of the
COmmittee-Brief Summary
of the Status of the Affair.
So, cial Correspondence of the Register.
COLUMBUS, April 10, 1879.
THE BELMONT COUNTY SEAT.


THE BELMONT COUNTY SEAT.
There is now pending before the Leg
islature of Ohio, as no doubt majority
OF your readers are aware, bill to au-
thorize the holding of an election in
Belmont county to decide whether the
seat OF justice for that county shall or
shall not be removed from st. Clairsville
to Bellaire. The bill was introduced in
the House some weeks ago, by Hon.
Harvey DanfOrd, one of Belmont
county's Representatives. Mr.. Danford
is an enthusiastic friend OF the propo
sition, while his colleague, Mr.. Alexan-
der, is undisguiSedly a partisan OF the
interests OF st. Clairsville.
In 1857, when Bellaire had less than
one thousand inhabitants, this question
was first mooted, the ambitious little
village claiming that the superior facili.
ties as to accessibility by rail and river
entitled her TO the seat of government
of the county. Again, i'll 1860, when
Bellaire was fast assuming the rrOpOr-
tons of city, and had quadrupled her
population, she renewed her claim more
vOciferously, but as vainly; and now,
with 5000 citizens, in round numbers,
with a city corporation and many of the
cOnveniences OF city organization, she
demands the removal with imperative
force.
st. Clairsville, with the added con-
venience of her narrow-gauge railroad,
relies upon the fact that the county is
the possessOr of buildings, as she
claims, amply sufficient for all the
needs OF the business of the county
in years to come, and that the people,
already burdened with taxation. are re-
luctant to add to their load, for security
against the pleas OF the removalsts.
The bill has been in the hands OF the
House Committee on New Counties and
County Affairs for several days, and the
representatives of both places have pre-
sented their case to the committee. 1t
was expected that the committee would
report yesterday (Monday), but from
the fact that Mr.. SeXtrO, chairman Of
the committee, is absent from the city,
the report will not be offered before to-
day.
The county has been thoroughly
canvassed, and the result on the
face OF the papers presented is
as follows: Number OF persons
petitioning for the passage of the bill,
1850; number of persons signing the re-
monstrance against its passage, .6j94. 1t
is claimed by partisans of st. Clairsville,
however, that of the signatures to the
petition, upwards of |, 800 are not petit
TONERS in accordance with the law.
Some Of these, it is alleged, are not GER
titled in the manner prescribed; in some
cases the number of names certified 10
are greatly in excess OF those really APP
pearing on the petitions; some petitions
have lists of names which are pasted on,
instead of all being written on the one
piece, as required.
The other side present a number of
supplementary petitions, the signers OF
which, in addition to praying for the
passage of the bill, certify that they
have previously signed remonstrances,
but did so under misunderstanding,
and desire to have their names erased
therefrom. These number somewhat
over 1000, which is to be taken from
the number of fremonstrants. Allowing
the claims ofbOth sides in these respects,
the number of petitioners is still in eX-
cess of the number of remOnstrants.
When the matter first came up, Mr..
Alexander proposed that il the petit
tiOns received greater number of sign
afran nf Ia N
should not be offered but the hill be
passed without opposition, and that II
the remonstrants exceeded in number
the petitioners, the bill should be al
lowed TO 20 by default. This he claims
was proposed in the interests of
peace in the county, and is
the only foundation for the state
ment that he has said that he would
favor the side which obtained the greater
number Of signers.
In later letter | desire to GO some
what more minutcly into the matter
than the brief time now At my disposal
will permit. Mr.. Alexander has kindly
placed at my disposal the petitions and
remonstrances, and all parties interested
are very frank in telling all they know
on either side OF the question. Mr..
Wagner, the Senator from the district in
which Belmont county is, is doing good
work for Bellaire in the matter, and the
other party have valuable champion
in Capt. Alex. Cope, of ST Clairsville,
Chief Clerk in the office of the
Secretary OF State. Hon. J. J. Burns,
State Superintendent of Public Schools,
is also an enthusiastic friend OF St
Clairsville's cause in great way This
is natural, as Mr.. Burns was identified
with the FIVE schools of the present
county seat for a number of years, and
looks upon that village as his home in
some degree. Mr.. n X. Kennon, OF
IT. Clairsville, young lawyer and a
general good fellow, is here on other
business, but is keeping one eye on the
working OF the project. II. II.
A Later Letter.
caas q