The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-02-10
RAILROAD REASONING
More Than A Scorc of Reasons
WHY Our People Should
Vote For The Subscrfp.
ton.

Justify the expense necessary to oh
tain them. If so, that time has gon,
by. What was once theory, expert
ence has proven to be facts; and WI
now have only to open our eyes, anc
look around us TO be convinced; no
only that they do pay, but that they
have become an indispensable neces
sity, in keeping pace with the onwar(
march of civilization and develop
ment that marks the century il
which we live.
Whether we look east, west, north
or south, we find many parts Of OIL
country checkered all over, by rail
roads. People have followed these
roads. Mark you, the roads have
not followed the people. Towns and
cities have sprung up, as if by magic
Emery, enterprise and capital, coming
from every quarter, have, in few
years. subdned whole territories
made the evidences to bloom as the
rose" and converted its loneliness in
to the abode of millions of happy,
prosperous people.
If we would see West Virginia and
Monongalia stand abreast, with other
states and counties, in the race for
wealth, population and power, we
must secure for them every means of
doing so, that others possess.
How is it with West Virginia, a
State possessed of all the clements of
greatness. With an almost unequaled
area, and variety Of Goals, iron ores
and limestone, and facilities for man
ufacturing, that would enable her to
compete with England in the iron
markets of the world--her fire and
potter's clay, salt water, oil, &c, DC,
together with her fertile soil, and al
most endless variety of hard and soft
woods. To-day large portion Of
her territory is an unbroken forest.
Thousands of square miles in the
south and south western portion Of
the State; Astounding in timber and
wealth, are almost "a land
unknown" Why is it so? We
answer; for want Of railroads. With
out them her hidden riches are locked
up in her bosom, and out from the
markets of the world; and are of no
more value to her people than if they
had never existed. For generations
of acres Of the finest timber
have only grown up to fall down and
decay, which they will continue to
10, until some means Of transporta-
lion makes them available.
For years we have heard of the
'undeveloped' condition of our State.
Her citizens have been charged with
l lack of energy, and progressive
spirit. 1t has come to be looked upon
is the home of the fogy, the
abode of the mossback and sang-dig-
ger. Such cpithets i'll become a peo-
Die possessed of such advantages
ct us prove them false.
1t is now proposed to build a
standard gauge road, from point on
he VIVA. and Pa. State line, through
Monongalia, Marion and Harrison
to Clarksburg; and a com
oanv has been chartered for that pur-
pose. In the future it it expected
hat this road will be continued from
Clarksburg, in southern course,
through the counties of Lewis, Brax-
on, Clay or Nicholas to intersect the
Chesapeake and Ohio road, at some
point near the Gauly Bridge, and per-
Iaps continue, in the same direction,
lntil it connects with southern roads,
and thus become an important link
n a grand thoroughfare, connecting
The Northeastern with the South
western States of the Union. This
will divide the bulk of our territory
near the middle, while a few roads
this from east to west,
would afford ready access to and from
every part of the State.
To aid in the construction Of this
road, the citizens of Harrison have al
ready voted subscription of $780,
300, and those of Marion 100000.
70 place the enterprise upon sure
footing, we, of Monongalia,are asked
to make subscription of 100000,
for the same purpose, and nothing
but an unfavorable response, on the
part of the voters Of this county, the
18th day of this month, will prevent
its being built, with the least posi-
BILE delay. A survey will be made,
on both sides of the river, and the
location made on the most practical
route, and the one most in the inter
est of the company and county.
We are also asked to subscribe
$50, 900 to aid in building narrow
gauge road, from Blacksville to West
Moreantown. There is some objec-
ton to this part of the proposed sub
sciption, on the ground that it will
be of no value to any part of the
county, (the east end especially ex-
cepting that through which it passes.
We think this great mistake. In
fact the two roads, will be better
worth 100000 to the people of the
county; than either OF them alone,
would be; at the amount we are
asked to subscribe for them. Sup
pose, that in a few years, this road
would be the means of increasing the
wealth and population Of that por-
ton of the county, twenty per cent,
which we think a reasonable calcu-
lation. 1t would then pay one fifth
more taxes: at the same per cent. of