Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-27
TO A REAL TREASURY
A Railroad Running South
From PittSburg Would
Cost lUt Little, and
RAPIDLY PAY FOR ITSELF.
Great Desirability of a Direct Route
to the Carolinas.
MEASURES THAT ARE NECESSARY.
Col. 7. P Roberts Explains some Features
of the Situation.
TIE RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA
THAT ARE NECESSARY.
Col. 7. P. Roberts Explains SOme Features
of the Situation.
THE RESOURCES OF WEST VIRGINIA

closer connection with Pittsburg by raj
and water has aroused considerable local in
terest in the subject The benefits of i'm
proved transportation facilities are every
where conceded. The pressing question is
one ofways and means
Colonel T. P. Roberts, the well-known
civil engineer, is an authority on West Vir-
giuia as upon most sections of the broad
area of which Pittsburg is the center. As
long ago as 1875 Mr. Roberts made q survey
for the Government showing he work nec-
essary to continue the slackwater in the
Monongahela above Fairmont In con-
yersation yesterday he said: '"There can
be no doubt as to the great need of Pitts
burg for more direct communication with
the South. This city is due north OF
Charleston, S. G. Yet when L wanted to
go there year or so ago 1 had to first
travel 200 or 800 miles either East or West
to Washington or Cincinnati. The Gin
cinnati people got together and butt road
at cost of $40, 100000, surmounting great
engineering difficulties, that has been the
making of their Southern trade.
There Are No Natural Obstacles.
From Pittsburg south through the Gen.
ter of West Virginia." continued Mr..
Roberts," there are no engineering diff
culties whatever. l surveyed a road from
here to Grafton some years ago The best
plan, though, would be to follow the Monon-
gahela until the section of West Virginia
which is practically a glade is reached
Here the country is so level that you could
hardly tell which wav the grades would
run. The idea would be to connect with the
Chesapeake and Ohio or Norfolk and West
ern. Either one of those systems would be
very willing to provide q connection for
Pittsburg to the seaboard. This would
make direct line clear to the Carolinas,
not only for Pittsburg, but for such points
to the north as Buffalo, Cleveland and the
intermediate places
''There being no natural obstacles such q
road could be constructed for $4,000 to
$4,000 mile, and it would pay for itself
nearly as fast as it was built Pittsburg's
building interests are positively suffering
for the lack of such lumber supply as the
West Virginia forests can furnish. The
coal freights, of course, would be a great
feature, and of that the supply is inexhaus-
tible. West Virginia is certain to be de-
veloped. If Pittsburg assists in the work
it will share in the benefits. II we stand
sloof we may create hostile and dangerous
rival.
A Dimculty to Be Met.
zone trouble with Pittsburg," said Mr..
Roberts, sis that it has little ground for ex-
pecting much from the management of the
railroads that now secure such great busi-
ness here. This is the most important point
on the Pennsylvania system, yet none of
the chief officials live here. They make an
annual tour of inspection, but the facts
called to their attention then do not linger
in their memories throughout the year.
Pittsburg people must take the initiative in
this work themselves There are plenty of
persons in West Virginia who would
readily join hands in the enterprise if the
proper encouragement was extended"
Upon the subject of the further improve
ment of the Monongshels, Colonel Roberts
referred to his official report. This recon-
mended the construction of six masonry
locks and dams, similar to the work at
Hoard's Rocks, at a probable cost of $780,
boo. But as prices have fallen since then
the cost for such construction would be
considerably less than the estimates of
1876
Mr.. Roberts, in describing the course of
the Monongahela from Fairmont to Nor
gantown, distance of q miles, states that
the fall in that distance is only So feet,
which is an average of about two feet per
mile, and that much the greater por-
tion of the fall occurs in
the lower half Each of the two
upper dams proposed has lift of 10 feet
and ponds back the river for distance of
nine miles. This fiat place on the river is
q marked and important feature. From
Morgantown to Pittsburg, distance of 1O2
miles, the course of the river is almost due
north and the fall in this distance is 80
feet
An Ample Supply of Water.
In seasons of drought the sole reliance
for water is Tygart's Valley and West
Fork rivers, and at such periods there is
always more water at Fairmont than at |
Morgantown, thus giving an ample supply |
for slackwater purposes On this point Mr.. |
Roberts says: GAS there need be no rush |
of business at any time at the locks, the |
dams will remain full, and 6-foot naviga- |
bic depth can be maintained in the Upper |
Monongahela at all times save when the |
river may be closed by ice"
Prot. ]. C. White, of Morgantown, is rec
ognized as a geological authority through
out the United States. He speaks with
pardonable enthusiasm of the mineral
resources of West Virginia In discussing
the subject he SAYS: "West Virginia has
been damaged somew hat by those who have
claimed too much for her resources There
is no need for such harmful exaggeration.
In view OF these facts it is necessary for the
benefit of our own people as well as for the
information of others, that a list of things
we do not have should be given. Those
who would seek gold, silver, copper, tin,
zinc, lead, or any other of the rare or prec-
ious metals should give West Virginia a
wide berth. She has none of these. Traces
there may be of all, but not in quantity
sufficient to render mining profitable, and
hence it can be trutbfully said, these things
are not among our possessions
Can Afford to Be Frank.
1--WE have SO much of natural wealth in
other things that We can afford to be per-
fectly frank about all those matters to
which we can make no honest pretehsions.
Pountifdl nature has given to West Vir-
rinia neither precious minerals nor precious
stones but she has lsvished upon us sech
an infinite wealth of common minerals and
common stones, and other common things,
that our heritage is vastly richer than that
of the people who can number the precious
metals among their inheritancek
aWhat we do have are these: Coal in
greater quantity and variety than any other