Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-12-23

but what any other place simi-
larry situated would naturally do. In
fact, it was a geographical necessity that
she should connect herself by railroad
facilities with all parts of Belmont coun-
". Bellaire would have done the same
thing in her place. As long as she did
not do what she has done Bellaire had a
ground of complaint against her in IA
vor of the removal of the county seat,
as had other parts of the county. In
providing railroad connections St.ClairS-
vile has weakened the position of her
rivals. In doing so she has, as We have
said. at the same time opened an ave
nue. to her own people to come and go
cheaply and eXpeditiously, and hence
her trades people are necessarily brought
into more active and closer competition
with such places as Bellaire, Bridgeport
and Wheeling. Bellaire has no reason
to complain, inaSmuch as she is really
more benefited than Bridgeport or
Wheeling by one of the roads built by
st. Clairsville. Travel from st. Clairs-
vile has thus been diverted to Bellaire
that would otherwise have come over
the National road to Bridgeport and
Wheeling. To this extent Bellaire has
been peculiarly benefited, and certainly
there should be no ground of feeling on
her part against any of the other places
because railroad is about to be opened.
As to the benefits to all the places
named, Bellaire, st. Clairsville and
Wheeling, they are certainly reciprocal.
What are these places at last but parts
of one community. Wheeling is large
consumer of Belmont county products,
and she in return sells certain amount
of merchandise to the people of Bel
mont. The money made is invested Oh
both sides of tbs river, and Bellaire has
received her share in this way. There
is no need of any jealousy, for we are
all one in many respects, and yearly be-
coming more so. Bellaire, Bridgeport,
and Martins Ferry will in time be one
solid town, and Wheeling and Benwood
will be one, and both sides of the river
will at least closely resemble Pittsburgh
and Allegheny City. Each side will give
and take, and the money made in the OPP
Grafton will be reciprOcally invested for
the prosperity of the large community
as whole.
As for st. Clairsville, she is the poor
relation" of us all, and we ought all to
feel kindly towards her. We do not
mean poor relation" except Ill 6gura-
tive and geographical sense, for her peo-
pie are as we'll to do as most of US, but
simply that she is little further away
and has not the same elements of growth
to rely on, and hence her pluck and spi-
rit in holding on to whatever advanta-
ges she has ought not to excite anybo-
dy's jealousy,but rather their good will.
As for Wheeling, she has naught but
good will for all her neighbors. AS they
are fortunate she can afford to rejoice
with them, knowing that, after all, it is
bone of her bone and flesh OF her flesh.
As they all grow we all come together.
We are all bound to prosper together.
Bellaire, like Wheeling, grows by virtue
of her foreign trade. The two places
bring money into this region from all
parts of the country, and dispense it
here for mutual up building. This is as
it should be. We form connected
community of 10000 people, who are
consumers of agricultural products rails
ed on both sides of the river, and hence
town and country on both sides are thus
connected together in the bonds of d
common prosperity and common destiny