The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-02-17

Wheeling Register
Monongalia county has appointed
next Saturday to take another vote on
the proposition to subscribe to the
railroad projected from the Pennsyl-
vania line up the Monongahela river
to Clark sburg.
We believe this is the third attempt
made in that county to obtain this
subscription. If this attempt fails
Monongalia will retire into perma-
nent winter quarters. There will be
no salvation for her. She will have
discouraged every opportunity for
obtaining railroad. Refusing to
help in building one, nobody will
build it for her. Other counties will
build around her rather than through
her territory Railroad companies
will avoid her as hostile territory.
She will occupy q dog in-th emanger
position and be set up before the
country as the impossible barrier be
tween two States, refusing to have
an outlet for herself or to allow other
counties to have it.
Monongalia is naturally a rich
county. There are some enterpris-
ing people in it. There are enough
of the narrow gauge variety, however,
to make three ffths majority for q
railroad subscription an exceedingly
hazardous undertaking. The county
possesses one Of the States most inn
portant public institutions-the Uni
versity. 1t cannot be reached ex
cept by about twenty miles travel
over a mud road, which for about
six months in the year is nearly i'm
passable. This is, of necessity, a
great drawback to the institution.
The town is a good enough location
for college when it can be reached,
but its isolated condition is out of
harmony with the times and creates
dissatisfaction among the friends and
patrons Of the institution.
Moreover, there is not an interest
of any kind in the county that is
not dwindling and decaying for lack
Of the life and energy which only
quick communication and coverient
modes of travel can give county.
Even the population is decreasing.
The farmers are getting poorer, The
lands are unstable. Business is
confined to trading on a small scale
between residents Of the county.
There is little incentive for producing
more in any department of industry
than the producer needs for his own
use and consumption, for there is
no market. The native energy and
ambition of a people naturally pines
and dies out under such condi.
tlons. And this is the situation in
one of the old, prosperous, and once
ambitious and wealthy counties of the
State.
Two or three other counties are
depending on the vote of Monongalia
for this important railroad line. 1t
is confidently asserted by those in a
position to know, that active wor..
will be begun toward the building of
the road almost Immediately after
! Monengalia gives her assent to help
it on. Indeed, that is one of the con
! ditions upon which the subscription
is asked. 1t is a genuine, bona fde,
business proposition. If Monongalia
votes it she can have railroad. Nor
is it unreasonable aid that is asked
of her. 1t is only a proportonate
share of the amount to be contributed
by three counties, and the money to
be expended on the work within the
! county.
1t will be death blow to the flu
ture prosperity of the county and to
the northern section of the State If
this subscription is refused. We are
Intercepted, almost every day about
the prospects Of this subscription
by people who have no special or i'm
mediate interest involved more than
every citizen feels in the opening ur
and development of this isolated
part of our territory. We can only
say that our advices are more ia.
vorable than they have been here
tofore in regard to the disposition
of the people Of Monongalia. We
shall be greatly astonished and dis
appointed if the proposition does r OF
carry.
Nnfiea fss ra'nx Dp,n