Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-13
sATURDAY APRIL IS. 1889
The Rlacl, Diamond Railroad.

For want OF railroad West Virginia was
last 10 Virginia. when an opportunity oc-
cured forsplitting the old state 10 twain,
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
was the entering wedge; and the northern
Methodist Church was the hammer that
drove the wedge home.
We cannot recover the territorial rights
which we lost by the division OF Virginia
into two States, grumble az we may. We all
know Of course that that State has erected
In eontemptssous disregard OF that section OF
the Federal Constitution which piovides Tor
the formation Of new States; and that the
Republican sectionRlists who committed the
crime were fully aware of the fact that Vir-
gina had never given her consent to the
erection OF the new State Of West Virginia
The wrong Is one Of those which can never
be righted.
But we need not surrender our CONNER
eisl nights. We need not turn over our IN
terests In West Virginia to Baltimore, and
ait with folded bands musing upon the out.
RACES which we have undergone In the past
We can contend smicsbly for share OF the
trade Of the new State, and in the iull as
suranee that the daughter sympsthizes win
the mother az thoroughly as Canada sym
paibizes with England.
There ought TO be railroad leading from
the northwestern part OF West Virginia TO
Richnond-ssy from Grafton via Phllippb
Beverly, AID on through Pocabontas, &C.,
nm the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad Is
reached. IL would run through country
very rich ia natural resources, and would
bring large section Of that country as uesr
10 Richmond ss it is 10 Baltimore, and some
OF 1t nearer 10 Richmond than to Baltimore.
There Is railroad which has covered part
of this lIne and which will creep on, we
trust. IN this direction until that lovely land
which lies beyond the Aleghsnies Shall be-
come at least partially tributary TO the pros
psrity OF Richmond.
Whilst we are waiting for railroad to be
built along the line we have mentioned, one
crossing West Virgins further south VIII De
acceptable. Indeed. the Black Diamond rail-
road, a IL Is called, would benefit Richmond
and Virginia more than railroad leading
bither from Grafton. The Valley virgfnian
learns from the papers and "other sources I"
thst negotiations have been contaminated by
which the necessary means to construct this
important railroad have been obtained. We
quote from thai paper as follows:
"The Black Diamond starts st Parkers-
burg. on the Ohio river, and runs east
scross the centre OF West Virginia to Web
sier county In that Stste, aud thence through
Pocabontss, Bath, and Allegheny 10 Clifton
Forge. TO a connection with the Chesapeake
and Ohio aud Richmond and Allegheny
roads 1t that point. The proposed route will
ploueh right through the heart OF the coal
aud timber lands OF West Virginia, and open
UP maryeIlousiy rich virgin country which
Il DOW isolated. IL will accommodate an ex'
tensise grazing section, SbouDdiag In sheep
and cxttle, aud adapted as well TO corn, oats,
tobacco, and all kinds OF grasses"
This road would open up TO Richmond
one OF the finest regions in the Union.
Psrksrsburg is one hundred miles
farther from Baltimore than Grafton
ia. The proposed new road from Parkers.
burg. II It makes straight for Richmond will
pass from the western line OF Wood county
10 the eastern line Of that county, and then
onward through Win (the oil region), CAL
houn, Braxton, Webster, and Pocahontas
counties-ah in West Vrginia-to the west
line of Bath county, Va. This Is sregion OF
fabulous nstural wealth, and 1t affords us
much pleasure to know that there IS good
prospect of the opening Of that region at
day not very far distant.