Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-30
A BOOM WORTH BOOMING


Allegheny Railroad Being Ex-
tended Through West Virginia
What the Vice President of
the Road Said About 1.-THE
Pittsburg Southern Must Hur-
ry Up, or Another Road WIN
Occupy Its Bed.
Correspondence Of the Register.
The recent transfer OF the franchises
Of the old James River and Kanawha
Canal Company to the Richmond and
Allegheny Railroad Company is an event
OF the greatest significance, not only to
the State of Virginia, but also to West
Virginia. The fact that the new rail-
road company is backed by an immense
capital and is under the management OF
experienced railroad men, is the amplest
assurance that the enterprise will be
pushed through with celerity. There Is
that much comfort in it for Nirginlans.
Commencing at Richmond and following
the fertile James river valley 10 Clifton
Forge, at the western boundary OF the
commonwealth, it will necessarily de-
vclop the most important region OF the
Old Dominion, and will give the Ohio
and lower Mississippi valleys more
direct route to the eastern seaboard than
any heretofore opened up. Now look at
the prospective advantage to West Viz
glnia.
A little over year ago ! met with
Capt Chester Parsons at the National
Hotel in Washington. He was then at
that time IN business connected with
this enterprise. In u conversation with
him upon the subject inquired whether
or not 1t was the purpose OF the pro-
jectors OF the new road, II they sue
cccded in getting the Legislature OF Vir-
giuia to turn over to them the James
River and kanawha Canal, to stop with
their road when they reached Clifton
Forge His reply was that they did not.
Then, | cnquired, how do you pro-
pose To- get West, as the Chesapeake and
Ohio road is already in possession Of
the New river route, the only practlCa-
Bile way that know OF,
"Ah," said he, "you don't under
stand what We are driving at. We don't
propose To- strike the Ohio river in that
direction at all. We intersect the
Chesapeake aud Ohio road at Clifton
Forge, and We have all the facilities for
the Western and Southwestern traffic
We desire over that line. We propose
to strike the Ohio river with our road,
but VT will strike it at its head, at Pitts.
burgh, and in that direction reach for
the trade Ol the great Northwest, rs well
as ind IN Pittsburgh market Tor the
immense deposits OF iron ore along the
line OF the Richmond aud Allegheny
road, on the headwaters Of the James.
our enterprise is OF some interest, YOU
see. to you West Virginia people. BY
looking at the map you will see that we
have direct route, and one that Ma
turc has provided across the mountains,
tn Pittsburgh. Leaving Clifton Forge
We pass through MCtiraw' : Gap aud fall
ON the waters oi JaCkSon's river, IN
Bath county. Then, you SEQ, Back
Creek forces passage for us through
the Jackson river mountains and lets Us
10 AllG hlNlAl ftNkAaHN ~ INV llNdNA w
the waters OF Back Creek, where Nature
has bowed the Allcgnany mountains So
that We cross into Pucahontas county,
in West Virginia, without tunnel or a
deep cut. Thence We reach the head
waters OF the Munougrhcla and follow
their course To Pittsburgh over the line
oi the projected Pittsburgh Southern
road.
Mr.. Parsons having been elected Vice
President OF the Richmond and Alleghe-
ny road at the recent meeting OF its
stockholders, his words are entitled to
due consideration. Ills opinion shows
that over u year ago those who were in
tcrrstCd IN the enterprise projected
continuance OF the road through an i'm
purtaut section ui West Virginia. And
now that the projectors have secured all
they want from the old Commonwealth,
aud are ready tn go To- work and build
the road through its territory, is 1t not
reasonable to suppose that 10y 4 proper
effort Of our people it will he extended
through this State. The iron men OF
Pittsburgh are alive to tue necessity Tor
ROAD to the iron deposits in this region
of the Nirglnias. Wheeling has a
similar interest The people along
the liuc oi the road have the
greatest reason to arouse themselves and
DO something toward developing their
buried wealth Our public men should
initiate the laudable example OF GOV.
Matthews, who went To Pittsburgh and
laid before the business men OF that city
a statement OF our vast resources, and
urgcd upon them the Importance OF
making an effort to developc them.
Agtatc, AGI,ate, That is the way IN
start the ball and keep 1t moving. The
opportunity is here, let us seize IT, Might
il not bc an excellent idea for the West
Virginia people along the line OF the
projected road from PoCahontas to
MOnungaila, To meet in convention and
adopt some organized plan, anI 70 at
the work systematically AMI IN csrnesr
Our people viii hc absorbed IN poll
tics tins year, stall We can ahurd 10 do
vote some time % our material interests,
The development oi our material re.
sources is surely OF equal Interest with
filling political offices. Ii Is an encour-
aging sign TO see all the political parties
disposed tu bring forward rs candidates
for public places men who are identified
with enterprises looking to the develop
meut OF our vast resources. IL Is evi-
deucc Of a desire on the part OF the pcO-
pie for practical statesmauship. Ii Is a
"ncw departure" II the right stripe,
and exhibits healthy symptoms OF the
body polite. 1t is boom worth
booming. While this spirit is upon
them let the people be aroused TO full
Importance OF the opportunities pre-
sented 10 not let US sink back into
the old time lethargy and indifference,
and remain forever what Virginia was
Tor ~ many years, a monument of
wasted opportunities G.. II VI.
GJrTi,ri, Nar,t p 1850