The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-02
Let lhe Rnllroad como.

Senator Camden, in his letter 10 the
Gilmer county Railroad Company, pub
lished in part in yesterdays IsTELLloEScER,
devoted some attention TO well-considered
remarks on the matter Of county aid.
Having suggested that Gilmer county
could afford 10 subscribe 100000 for a
narrow gauge road 10 be run through her
own territory, Calhoun, Roane and jack
son to the Ohio river, Senator Camden fol-
lowed up hesuggestion with the very bust
ness like statement:
The annual interest on such subscription
would be 5000, and soy 81 500 70 create
sinking fund 10 pay the principal in thirty
years, making 1900 per year. The tax on
the railroad when completed would pay to
the county about ont-iourth OF the interest
on the subscription. The road would dis
tribute several hundred thousand dollars In
the county while building, and q considers
bic amount aoh year afterwards In It's main
tenance and operation. The value Of prop
erIy In the county weuld not only largely IT,
crtam, but the railroad would bring popula-
lion and purchasers. The increase OF taxa
bic values OF the property in this county,
and the increase OF population and business
enterprises, would In raNonable time, not
only reimburse the county for the amount TO
be paid, but leave surplus In favor OF the
county by reason OF the Investment. In at-
dition to this, each TAX payer would directly
or indirectly be more than compensated BY
the general advantages and thrift created by
furnishing markets for the surplus products
OF the county which are now wasted for want
Of transportation, and by the increased pro
H.. f.nt kkna mn tFAU In nF0nnCA.
R4sy transportation furnishes demand for
everything that Is produced and gives an ir-
centive 10 production.
will venture the opinion that the destruc'
ton and waite Of timber In clearing up lands
In Gilmer county would, Of itself, pay such q
subscription eacn year.
In other words Gilmer county can afford
to subscribe what seems to be large sum
Of money, make it all, interest and princi-
pal, out Of the railroad though it never paid
dividend, and have left handsome bal.
ance in the enhanced value Of every foot OF
land and OF every business enterprise in
the county. The came reasoning applies
to the other counties through which 1t is
proposed to construct this important high
way.
These county subscriptions would not
build the road, but they would help, and
they would perform the essential part
which induces outside capital to come in
and help those who show determination
to help themselves. AS Senator Camden
has well said, "Trunk lines connecting large
commercial centres, and requiring large
capital; are built without reliance on local
aid, but local roads must have local aid to
give security and confidence 10 outside
capital"
Gilmer, Calhoun, Roans and jackson
are counties well endowed by nature.
They need only frequent and rapid con-
Meeting with the great highways Of traffic to
to put them on level with the most favor.
ed. Their opportunity seems to have come.
It is to be hoped that they have the Cen
lishtened selGshness" to embrace, and
that promptly. Progress is knocking at
their doors, ready to enter and scatter its
bl.eo;pga nm every hand