Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-02-07
RaIaSrISG ruE STATE.

The successive failures that have Oc-
curredin Monongalia county to procure
q favorable vote Of the people Oh n sub
seriptiOn of a proportiOnate share by
that county to the railroad projected
from the Pennsylvania line to Clarks-
burg, has not discouraged the trends of
that enterprise, and the voters Of Mo-
mongolia county are about to express
the mSelves at the polls on another prop
ositiOn for the same purpose, and this
time, it is confidently believed, will
pass it.
There are many reasons why this
road should be built other than those
which relate To the immediate benefits
which will accrue To the counties
through which it IN The whole
State is, in u large measure, interested
in the result. The State needs the road
for, what we may term, the purpose of
balancing the State.
We are rapidly growing big at one
end. The large number of miles Of rail
road that have been constructed within
n few years Over the southern end Of
the State, and the lack of any railroad
facilities in the northern end, have had
the effect of rapidly developing and pop
ulatingthe one section while the other
has stood still or been retrograding. The
natural and necessary effect, we say, is
to make, and continue the process Of
making, the State big at one end.
1t is far better that q State should
grow unequally as regards its territory
than that it should not grow at all; but
there are many disadvantages ariS-
ing and that will increase rs this
tendency progresses. IT brings about
envy and jealousies between the differ
ent sections of the same State hat are
not only unpleasant but detrimental to
its welfare. 1t makes politics sectional
and bitter. The section that has the
most votes and the most strength in
the legislative halls and public conven-
tons will combine against the weaker
section, plt its men in the fat positions,
vote itself the appropriations, and gen.
orally bag the biggest game in the dis
position Of the public patronage. The
consequence is the weaker section con-
tinues to grow weaker, and as it grows
weaker it grows more bitter until a pos
tive feeling o fenmity is established be-
tween the people of the same State. We
suffered in West Virginia from this thing
when we were a part Of Virginia. We
have not rid ourselves entirely from
the effects Of it yet. Ii is at the bottom
of tie contest over the old deOt. 1t was
the determining matter that effected
our separation f:om the old State. Aud
the same feeling, the same unseemly
strife, will soon beget itself between the
two sections of West Yirginia's present
territory, if we continue to develop I'M
equally as VI are now doing.
The only way to avoid this is for the
northern counties ofthe State to build
themselves railroads. They are the
only means of progress and competition
with the growth of the southern coun-
ties. Ifthey don't want to be left be-
hind still farther; if they don't want to
be made to take back seats and pay uu-
willing and unequal tribute to a more
progressive and stronger section they
must quickly possess themselves of the
only means of representatives.. For
tbese reasons the whole State Is solicit
tous for the success Of the railroso
project in question.