The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-06-10
Communicated.
r ailroads in West Virginia by
West Virginia Capital.

eOAi3NO bii% lOdiAAe@blOI vi liz w III
Virginia University and the free
school system, fifteen years of
noble work have been done in the
State; work which will tell in the
distant future. A vast number of
the young people of the State
have, within that period, acquired
at these fountains of Knowledge
an education inferior to none ac-
quired elsewhere in the United
States. And now, for the first
time this commendable and gener-
Gus work is producing its legiti-
mate fruits Hundreds Of enter
prising. intelligent young men from
the Potomac to the Ohio-from
the Monongahela to the Big Sandy,
have awakened all through the
rich hills and the smiling valleys Of
our little mountain State, a spirit
ofinquiry, a spirit of unrest, dis
satisfaction with the old-time order
of things. Change and progress
are now the watchwords, and these
talismanic words are echoed all
over the State by these young,
restless, resolute, inquiring minds
to whom we shall be indebted for
our real substance, progress and
development for the next half cen
fury First and most prominent
in this onward movement is the
fact now ascertained to be unques-
tionably true, that West Virginia,
in proportion to the extent OF nef
of her territory, has more sub.
stantial wealth within her limits
than any other State in the Union.
Our young biologists have reveal
ed her hidden treasures and utter
no uncertain sound in regard to
their extent and opulence. Mind
is winning its victories over matter
The values ofearth, air and water
are being weighed, measured and
calculated. Mind always triumphs;
its victories may be slow. Igno
rance and superstition, old chrou'c
habits, caste. the entrenched power
of wealth, family influence, and
the pride of great names must be
overcome 1.-The old must be
rung out and the new rung in.
When it does come, it comes to
stay. The progress of intellect,
like revolutions, never goes bach
ward it stamps its signet on the
brow Of Uncomfortable forever.
1t lives in the pride Of its power,
giving light and glory to the world
down the far away centuries. 1t
has awakened for the first time in
West Virginia, a sense of the want
her people have but dimly seen
and family felt since our State o.
ganization. That want is rairoa
connection with the outside world /;
a want which will only be Statistic
when each county of the State
connected with every other county
and by railroads. Less than a
quarter of a century will see this
CONSERVATION so devoutly to be
wished, an accomplished fact. It's
beginnings are already seen in the
road from Clarksburg to Weston.
On the 18th of December next
Weston and Buckhannon will be
joined by bands Of iron. Barbour
will break through her Chinese
wall to the outside world down the
Tygart's valley to Grafton. Pres
ton bids that outside world welcome
to the grand panorama of nature,
enthroned upon the circling mount
aims around her capitol; and the
wasted invalid to come and cool
his fevcred brow and renew his fail
ing. strength amid her balmy
breezes and beside her sparkling
fountains. And Monongalia crown
ed with more than century of
years, of eventful history, Of endur
ing fame. in whose midst arise
those classic halls. whose light is
her glory and beauty. The inspi-
ration and hope of West Virgin a
is only awaiting the fiat of her
electors at the ballot box on Satur
day next, tojoin her sisters, Mari
on and Harrison, and open THROUGH
her beautiful valley an interstate
highway. Shall her standard be
lowered? Will her people chain
the wheels of progress VIII we
continue to lose our political pow
er and prestige, and sink into the
insigni6cance of a lakewood S
country? Will not the loss of ore
representative suffice? Shall our
sons carry their culture and learn
ing and possibilities of glorious
manhood; and our daughters their
grace, beauty and refinement to
enrich and bless distant states and
territories2 No, no! thousand
times no.
Let us then cherish our native
State. glory in her past history, her
increasing wealth and population,
4 II 4o,,I -, r,-o