The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-03-14
wheeling as Seen by 81 Visitor,

The following letter to the Editor Of the
Romney htellgencer shows what at least
one visitor thinks of our smoky city
We would say to the people of Hamp'
shire county that the complimentary al
lusion to the course pursued and servi'
ces rendered by Mr.. COOPER is eminent
ly Just and we'll merited. He was one of
the most industrious membsrs of rhe
House of Delegates and stroye earnestly
to protect the interests of his oonsti,
tuents and of the State at large. He de.
serves we'll of the people of Hamp,
shire
WHEELING, W V, March L. 1866,
WILLIAM HARPER, ESQ.
DEAR SIR have BEEN III the Cap
ital of our New State for some days, 1t
Is truly d city of smoke-an evil at
tendant upon all manufacturing towns,
| where they consume large quantities OF
coal, and other fuel There is here a
large amount of smoke (what we call
smoke) which circumscribes the vision
| very nsiderably-much more than the
densest Indian summer lever saw. Be-
sides there are innumerable flakes of SCOT
| flying about at all times These flakes
settle on the face and hands, and if you
attempt to wipe them off you will soil
your handkerchief and streak your face.
/ was told lin jest probably,) that the
ladies, when they meet in the street, in.
stead of saluting each other with kiss,
blow each others faces-that being the
| most approved mode of cleaning off the
SCOT. Many trees and shrubs, common
| with us, cannot thrive in this atmos-
phere. But that stately and beautiful
tree, the Lombardy poplar, seems to
thrive, and is extensively cultivated
along the sidewalks. | was pleased to
see the old familiar tree that | loved so
we'll in my childhood These trees died
out in our section some twenty odd
years ago III one or two seasons
and scarce one remains, but here they
abound. We had n theory with us
which doubt. We know that Mr.. Jef.
ferson introduced these trees into Vil-
pipia when he returned from his mission
to France, and as they grew readily
| 1rOu luC Slp; lAON NSiO sum III thn'
way spread over the State They were
supposed to have common parent tree
and the way in which their sudden dis.
appearance was accounted for was on
the theory that when the parent stock
| II suppose somewhere in Italy, died. all
| the offspring went into decay. But .nur
servmen, orchardisrs, arboricultarists
and others may decide the question.
ONLY remember that almost ali east Of the
mountains, died about the same time
One might suppose that the smoke would
affect human health; but if it does, IL
has a favorable influence. Tho popula
ton has a healthy, robust appearance,
and l am credibly Informed that the
health of the place is excellent. But
the surest indication of health is the
great number and cheerful appearance o.
the children, and the hearty and bolster
GUS glee with which they pursue theil
outdoor sports of shiny &C., sc.
Wheeling is much larger and more
important place than we ever supposed
The town proper is some SIX miles long
It draws itself along the bank of Z.
Belle Ririer, being pressed hard upon i
bv q most savage, uncouth and sterile
looking hill which ranges along th'
eastern side In one place when the hill
recedes. the town widens out to eigh
streets, but to the north they are soor
eliminated by the eucroachments of thi'
huge hill which cuts of one afte
another till a single street is left anC
that at last goes of into a streak or {
single liue of houses ! suppose Wheel
inc must hereafter grow upon the Island
would suggest to the people o
Wheeling to plant the hill in vineyards
suppose the vines can stand tn
smoke 1t would form quite an orna
ment besides being euseful or they nigh
bore tunnel through and give vent t.
the smoke, or do both.
Il is said that il circle OF SIX mile
from the Court house there Is al least
population CT fifty thousand souls 1t i
frne this is not all in Wheeling proper
and for the purposes of voting and repre-
sentation, they may not be there Bu
the environs OF city may, and prooa
bly should be counted in for trade enter
prises and other purposes lhere is
homogeniety in the whole.
There is more dltivation and talen
! in the northwest than We Wot OIL
fact. knew nothing Of the north-wes
before this trip.
The manufactures Of the town ar
great, especially in iron and glass bu