Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-06-27
AND POLITICS IN BRAX-
TON.v
Why the People of that County are for
Senator Camden.
To he Editor of he Wheeling Register

Sir, The Intelligencer IN It's issue OF june
Is contains all article on Business and Pol
itics" of Braxton and other counties of Gen.
trail West Virginia, purported to have been
written by a regular correspondent OF that
paper, but which, in fact, emanated at no
other place than Sutton.
In the article there is some attempt to
criticise Senator Camden for the part he
took in securing the West Virginia and
Pittsburg Railrosd, and also to speak OF the
generosity" in the management OF said
road with some degree of irony; both OF
which attempts show how little the lntelli-
gencer correspondent knows what he Is
talking Of
In the first place, had the Intelligencer
correspondent taken the pains to investigate
the matter, he would know that no one man
would invest enough money to carry oat such
great enterprise as that of building the
West Virginia and Pittsburg Railroad, even
if he had it, but that other capital must be
solicited in such On enterprise. In this case
the necessary amount Of capital to build the
road was solicited and secured upon the con-
dition that Braxton would give 100000 to-
ward the enterprise, and other counties other
amounts, and it was solicited by Senator
Camden.
This was the condition upon which Sena'
tor Camden asked the people of Braxton to
give 500, 900 to help build the railroad, and
they gave it and they got the road. Besides
every citizen in the county knows, or can
know, that the county has its share OF stock
in the road, and receives its share of the an
nual dividends as regularly as the year
comes around
In the second place, the Senator is spoken
of by the Intelligencer correspondent as be-
ing responsible for the high rate OF charges
over the said railroad and herein he shows
how little acquainted he is with business
principles. 1t seems to me that upon Sec
ond thought one ought to know that this, as
well as other railroads, is placed in the hands
of directors who choose a general manager
to conduct the business of the road, and
Senator Camden has no more to do with the
management of the road than any other
stakeholder, and could not, if he wanted to,
dictate the terms of freight or any other
business which is left to the general man
apement But Senator Camden is mention
ed in these matters as "philanthropist,"
and we are glad he is, because it brings to
mind a world of recollections.
Several years ago, in log cabin on lit
tie rivulet which empties into the Little
Kanawha river, near Bulltown, in Preston
county, far away from any railroad, school
or great cities of civilization, was born a
boy who was to do greater things for his ma
tive State than any one else had ever done
Born in poverty, and where he could have
no advantages of schooling, it looked as
though he could never rise. But first we
see him prosecuting attorney of his native
county. then we see him in the oil fields,
where he displayed that good judgment and
native ability which has always characterz-
ed him next we find him him helping to
secure. locate and build the turnpike road
from Weston, in Lewis county, to the eau
lev bridge, in Fayette county, the first and
only road then in his native county and
next we see his great heart swell when the
scores of Confederate soldiers were disiran-
chised, arrested and spirited away to Clarks-
burg. to be prosecuted in the court there,
without friends and without money to pay
their way. Here it was, | say, that his
great heart swelled to its true state OF great
ness, when he thus beheld his countrymen
helpless and in the throes of despicable
law. With a gentle hand and kind heart
he gave them money, lent his influence to
secure their release, and restored them TO
their liberties and homes. Legion are those
who now rise up and call him blessed Not
much wonder, l suppose, that Republican
politician would delight to steal into the
Democratic ranks to try to cause disserson
there against one whom he hated so much.
But as we 90 on, his next great scheme
was the construction of the Ohio River Rail-
road, which at that time opened up more
advantages to the State than almost any
railroad in it, then the Ripley and Mill
Creek Valley Railroad, then the Ravens
wood, Spencer and Chenille Railroad, then
the West Virginia and Pittsburg Railroad,
of which the Intelligencer correspondent
knows so much.
1 defy the Intelligencer correspondent, or
any other man, to produce a man living or
dead who has done so much for the devel-
opment of the State of West Virginia as
Senator Camden has done. Why should
not Braxton county people feel just pride
in such mar And why should they not
support him unanimously? This they
will do
Excursion to Asbury Park, ". j.