The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-25
THE COUNTY SEAT
FIGHT ovEa THE RIVER ON AGAIN.
Acor,,.poparut Eaters llpl.a for the vII.sSOu
the aIll,-ss1ftal Lste Fatal AreIdsstsin
This vielnIty-N.ws ID Near Towns
andfrom the state atLarse.
ST.. C14la,v1LLr, O., January p, 1883.
To the Edltor Of tho lnlelllsQnccr.

To the Editor Of the lntelllgenccf.
slE:--The chairman Of the Committee on
New Counties and County Affairs has notified
Bellaire and St. ClalrsvilIe that the arguments
for and against removal OF the county seat
will be heard next Tuesday at Columbus.
St. Clairsvile will be represented by DR..
Henry West, Judge K Z. Cbambers, Major
W. s. Kennon, Judge G. W. Carroll, W. A:
Hunt and probably Rev. DR.. Alexander and
other preachers.
81. GlairsvilIe has never asked for new
buildings, but has always been satisfied with
the present buildings, believing them TO be
sufficient for all the purposes Of the county
seat The bill introduced BY Mr.. Wagener
proposes TO build new court house either at
Bellaire or ST. Clairsyille as the people may
determine. So the bill means that the people
OF Belmont county shall have 0 new court
house somewhere, anyhow; In any event
forcing tax for the erection OF new build.
ingS, upon the people Of the county, whether
they will or not.
The committee have but one question
under The Constitution 10 determine: "Do
the public necessities and exigenCies de-
mand a removal 10 Bellaire" 1t Is u patent
fact that st. ClairSville is within five miles Of
the geographical center, aud by the census Of
1880, Is within three miles OF thu center OF
population and taxation OF Belmont county.
Then the rapid increase along the O., I. V. &
W. r. R., will shortly make st. Clairsville
the almost exact center OF population.
Within the past few years, ST. Clairsyille
has built two railroads-one standard gauge
connecting with the O., r. Wa w. R2R.-
the other, narrow gauge connecting with
the B. d o. r. r., four miles from Bellaire.
These railroads cost St. Clairsville and yici-
nifty nearly $780, 900, and give the town faci-
lities OF access superior TO any other In the
county.
All the turnpikes-Warrock, Flushing and
Cadiz-centre at st. Clairsville, aud cost
about $4,000. Every. county road which
has been constructed during the last hall
century either points directly TO st. Glars.
vile or to the pixies leading thereto. Bel.
mont county is about thirty miles east and
west, aud Is traversed in that direction by
the National road. Thus farmer in the
western or northwestern part OF the county
must travel thirty-tiye miles to reach Bell.
aire, or must use two days instead OF one as
be now does, when having business at the
county seat. It would be great imposition
on the people Of those sections to be COM
PEELED 10 travel that distance, and the pres.
ent legislative committee will hardly report
In favor Of removing the seat OF justice from
the geographical center and center Of popu-
Iauon, or 10 uiStufD I0r all TIME 10 come Tue
values of St. Clairsville property without
sufficient cause. Although removal would
almost utterly destroy the value OF property
in ST. Clairsyille and Richland township, It
would not materially increase the value OF
property In Bellaire.
The sentiments Of the removalists are:
although we will not be benefited, we will
destroy you. We are larger than you are
and therefore will outvote you" The sits
alton was well illustrated by member OF the
Committee. Cincinnati" he said, might
say to Columbus, We are larger city than
you, and should therefore have the State Cap.
ital.'" St. Clairsyille only wants justice and
fair playand she does not fear the result.