The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-13

~ S.-l WHEELING, FcD. lVth, 1851.
I" - The town is characterized by
business and thrift. It's population is now
about 5000, and is chiefly composed oil
those who came hither from all quarters
to take the tide Of iOrtunea its flood, some
ten or dozen years ago. Before that
time, Wheeling could claim little impor-
lance, except US pile OF logs and brick.
The village was LAID out in 1888, and in
1890 contained only 1900 Inhabitants,
showing IN increase in Is years Of sou
per cent; pretty fair, considering we are
many. hundred miles this side Of the
"jumping.off place" Of the West. Very
few grey headed men are to be seen in
the place, while there are children enough
for two or three ordinary generations.
Wood is abundant in the vicinity; but
coal is the universally used article orluel,
and so ready at hand Is it, that in many
cases It is literally true that u man has
only to make a moderate use Of, q shovel
in his back yard, 10 supply himself with
fuel until d0Omsday. The hill In rear Of
the town Is full Of Coal, land it is under
mined and trayersed in all directions by
entries made for procuring it It is prin-
cipally in vein from Of tot feet thick,
bounded above and below by strata Of
shale. They remove the superficial earth,
strike the vein and follow it without fur
thcr trouble than that Of supporting the
tuperinCumbent mass ON dumpy. and mas
siye pillars Of the coal. The lower pOr-
sion Of the lead Is removed by appr0prf-
ate implements, and the remainder is then
broken down and removed easily. In this
way an ordinary miner will deliver at the
mouth Of the mine! 100 bushels Of coal
per diem. 1t is delivered ut any part of
lie city at 8 70 4 cents per bushel. have
been into two of these mines. or banks,
as they are called, 600 yards. The supply
Is apparently exhaustless, and several
manufacturers have their works so con.
veniently situated, that the coal may actu-
ally be thrown from tho mouth Of the
mines into the furnaces. This abundance,
cheapness and inexhaustible quantity Of
fuel give manufacturers here IN advan-
tage over Eastern men Of the same voca-
ton, whose facilities in this behalf are
vastly Inferior. The manufactures num-
Der about 100, driven by some so steam
engines, and consuming one million bush
els Of coal annually Of these, the princi-
pal are iron works, brass and iron GOun-
dries, glass houses, flour mills, brewcrics,
distilleries, cotton and wooden factories,
paper and saw mills. The commission
and forwarding houses do an immense
business, which is constantly increas-
ing. ,Sixty.Gve wholesale and retail stores
vcnd goods annually TO the amount OF
81 100000. But have no further time
for statistics of this sort. You know that
Wheeling is the place at,which the great
National Road strikes the Ohio, which,
Of course, is thrOnged with vehicles ofNll
descriptions Here, too, is the terminus
elect Of tile Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
which they'hope to finish in three or four
years. A bridge over the river is in con-
temptation, and the cornerstone is alrea'
DIV laid So that we are rapidly becoming
the market and depot Of produce and mer-
chandige Of eastern destination, Pitts
burgh m6cks our contemplated improve.
mcnts, and laughs at our exalted antiGi'
pations; but at heart, terribly cnvies our
growing prosperity. With the data al-
ready given, your fancy may, complete II
tolerably correct picture Of what Wheel
ing now is; but you must play morrily
and paint glowingly, or the dGlineatiOn
will lall short Of what will be presented
when the genius Of improvement has had
time to plume and expand his wings.
Wheeling Is rife with Indian reminis-
cences. It's name is Indian, and It's origin
was tort erected early in the Revolution.
aty war to protect this outpost Of Civiliza
ton from the inroads of the saVages, Some
Of the stirring experiences Of hardy pio-
neers may give you hereafter; but now
l will ask you to 60 with me to the top
Of the hill which TANKS the eastern side OF
the town, and comprehend Wheeling and
It's environs ut q single coup dOeil. 1mag-
inc the season to be the Indian summer.
Eastward and almost beneath you, two or
three hundred feet, winds the Wheeling
creek, in q channel so regular as to seem a
work Of art, and yet nGturaltzcd by the
wildnCss Of its banks and the forest clad
hills that mirror themselves in its Silly
bosom. Almost before you, on its farther
side, the retiring hill has spread ut its feet
beautiful level Of many acres, which the
creek embraces with graceful curve.
Hero stands snug little farm house en-.
bosomed in q charming garden, whose oc-
cupants, from our standpoint, look like
dwarfs, and a little beyond, the pulling OF
the engine of q paper.mill keeps time 70
the gurgling of the creek over its shadows,
Follow with your eye It's windings
through the widening valley. Broader
fields and fertile meadows occupy the
shores; the wooded hills decline into cul-
tivated slopes and swells, and the divGrsi-
fed country rolls rich scene Of beauty
before the eye, until enclosed by
the blue peaks of tho mountains
Of PENNSYLVANIA. Toward you from
the valley Is tho great road, leaving
tho CapriCious sinuositics Of its strcamy
companion, cleaving the points Of the in.
terposing hills, and laying its hard smooth
level along their sides. See Its white sur
face dotted with innumerable travellers,
Here pFances the Steed Of the dRshlng
belle with her bevy Of gay companions;
there fits the light pleasure carriage with
| its laughing cargo. With steady pace the
strong nsgs Of tue marketman drag the
numbering vehicles Of "at things" along.
With well stuffed panniCrs, at its side joys
the mounted dame, and chides the noisy
admiration Of the untrayelled urchins
pefched upon the sacks behind their faith
er. The frequent stage.coach, with It's
spanking team aud crowded sides, hurries
past you, and the foot.worn pedestrian,
with his staff and budget, trudges wearily
behind, Yonder unique NOtiOHGS OF
boards and canvas, with immense wheels,
hauled by six gigantic horses, each with
his chime OF bells, Is Pennsylvania bag
gage wagon. In these moving Bt0fehouseS
=. SS.....,iIl, ~ hhh cat and Innnk mn nv.