Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-01-27

was put and carried, and the House ad-
JUN d. Under the rults s of the House
this action put the bill upon the table,
whence it could not be removed except
by two thirds vote. Neither side was
fully satisfied with the result. ST. Glars
vile people thought the bill would be
fairly beaten if vote could be reached,
and, although it was then bevond the hope
of resurrection except at the hands of
its enemies, urged that it be taken from
the table the following morning and
voted upon.
On the completion of the reading of
the journal Thursday morning DR.. Scott,
whose motion tabled it the previous
evening, moved to take it from the ta-
ble. The motion was understood by the
opponents of the bill, and it prevailed.
Thereupon the debate was again opened
up. Sundry amendments to the bill
were offered and disposed of. The dis
position of these amendments indicated
clearly the temper of the House on the
main question. Mr.. KoOns, of Knox,
spoke in favor of referring the question
TO the people of the county. Mr.. Sulli-
van, of Miami, spoke against the bill,
hut the writer VS. unable to distinctly
hear what he said. DR.. Greene, of the
Committee on County Affairs, said he
had visited Belmont county with the
committee last winter. The county
buildings, although old, are in a good
state of preservation. At one time,
said he, there was complaint that ST.
Clairsville was inaccessible by rail. She
has built two railroads at her own ex-
pense, and there Is nuw 40 good ground
for that complaint. Tie bill should not
pass. Mr.. Bloom. of Richland, made
strong speech against the bill, taking the
ground that the friends of the bill had
uOt presented a case which called for
action at the hands of the General As
sembly. The property holders of st.
Clairsyille and vicinity, he said, have
vested rights, which should not be dis
turbed except great public necessity de-
manded it. Mr.. Bloom spoke with great
power and eaTneStnesS, and his speech
made deep impression upon the House.
Judge Estill, of Holmes, took similar
grounds, and asserted, also, that, prima-
rily, the people of a county should have
good roads to get to the county seat by
private conveyance. In his county, al
though railroad runs through the
IOhH IhO CulllC
width of the county, comparatively few
of the people of the county choose that
means of going to the county seat. Peo-
pie who prefer other modes of convey
ance should not be compelled to patron
ize railroad. Judge Estill and Mr..
Bloom are among the influential men of
the House, and their words have great
weight in that body. Mr.. Mccullough,
of Allen, said he had visited Belmont
county for the purpose of satisfying
himself about the matter. He can see
30 good reason for removal. While
st. Clairsville is reached by good roads
from all parts of the county, has rail-
road communication with the Baltimore
and Ohio, which runs through the central
part of the county, is, as he is informed,
ready to lay the iron upon road con-
Meeting with the Cleveland road, run
ming through the northern part of the
county, so soon as the weather will per-
NIT, while sixty miles of turnpikes radl-
ate from that town to various parts of
the county, and while it is within four
miles of the ge, 'aphical center of the
county, and within one mile, probably,
of the center of population, Bellaire is
destitute of means of communication
with the county, except by rail, no good
roads can be made there, except at
enormous expense, and that town is on
the extreme eastern border. Mr.. Letch-
er, of Williams, made logical and able
argument against the bill, and was
closely listened to. DIR. Scott. of War
rem, the Nestor of the House, and the
stern watchdog of the treasury" man
oAunnafino ut
he thinks wrong, ever ready to fight for
the right, respected by all who know
him, not afraid of anything or anybody,
saw that the bill, if passed, would work
great and unwarranted wrong to the
people of St. Clairsville, moved the pre-
vious question, and when he did that he
knew it ought to be the end of it, and it
was. Mr.. Cole, of Scioto, wanted to dis
cuss an amendment. The Speaker read
rule SO, raped with his gavel, and then
called out, "Shall the bill pass? The
Clerk will call the roll" 1t was a mo-
ment of supreme anxiety to the st. ClairS-
vile men who were present, notwith-
standing they felt sanguine as to the re-
suit. The responses to the Clerks voice
involved momentous consequences to
their property. Around this dear old
town clustered the fondest recollections
of their lives. But the suspense was on
ly momentary. Quickly followed the
sharp. clear voice Of Clerk Edwards,
"Allenp and promptly responded the
member from Fulton with a hearty
NOR Then came Atkinson aye, fol-
lowed by Beman and Bishop, and Bloom
with noes. Thence down the roll until
MI. Critics, of Tuscarawas, was called,
the bill got few scattering votes, and
then thirty-tive names were called, with
only two out of that number voting aye.
On the completion of the roll-call Speak
er Cowgirl announced that the bill had
received 22 votes, against II.
Following are the ayes and noes: