Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-08-11
GAS CELEBRATION.
A Splendid Affair.

evenings, previously, trial was made
of the lamps on the streets and il
the stores and houses, hut on Mon
day, just as night was beginning tt
fall, the city was all ablaze, and th'
pale moon, although nearly at hel
full, was shained toinsignificance by
the brilliancy of the display. Few,
if any of our citizens, can remember
such turn out as the occasion gave
rise to; the streets and street cor.
ners were literally crammed with
spectators, many OF them from dis
tant parts of ths county and else
where. The Fire Company turned
out in full force, having their hose
carriage and engine decorated with
flags, and the latter surmounted by a
very beautiful young lady represent
ing the Goddess of Liberty, holding
aloft the "Star Spangled Banner" In
this connection it must, in justice,
be remarked that the appearance and
conduct of the members and Off
GERS of the Fire Company, 40 in num-
Der, the regularity of their move
ments and the control under which
they appear to be kept, reflects great
credit on the Captain, Mr.. j. c.
Reeves, and indeed, on the Lieuten-
ant, Mr.. King, and every member of
this useful and necessary institution,
which gives promise of efficiency
and promptitude, in the event of
any emergency requiring their SER
vices.
A procession of citizens, headed by
the Fire Brigade, as above referred
to, the whole under command of Col.
j. L. Vance and Mr.. r. AIeshire
Jr., as MarshaIs, formed at the Gas
Works, and proceeded, through the
principal streets, to the Court House,
where large concourse of persons
were assembled to listen to address
ses appropriate to the occasion. S. A.
Nash, Esq, first addressed the meet
ing, and after some remarks show
ing the usefulness of Gas, diverged
into matters connected with the rail-
way, which he handled in a clear
and mastery style. He was followed
by Hon. S. Nash, who demonstrated,
how utterly impossible it is in this
age of progress to exist, as mercan-
tile community, without railroad,
the humanizing effects Of social in
tercourse, the advance other places
had made, owing to lines of railway
running to or near them, and urged
upon the people to come forward
and subscribe without delay, or they
would be left, like the orphan child
in the story, out in the cold. Mr..
Nash was followed by Hon. Mr.. Gar
field, of Washington Territory, who
was introduced by Mr.. Jos. Hunt.
Mr.. Garfield said, having come here
from his home, about 1000 miles
away, and not being aware that he
should be called upon to speak, he
felt at loss on what subject to ad.
dress them, and was somewhat in the
bewildering position of the man who
was inquiring his way through a
wood, and received so many direc-
tions, as to turnings and distances,
and finally that when he got to a Ger
tain spot, on a hill, he was some in
terminable distance from the Lace
he sought, but he might remark that
now the Gas question was settled,
and as the important question of
railway or no railway was agitating
the public mind, he felt bound to
make some comment on a matter
fraught with such vital influences
to Gallipolis. He said as the sub
ject had both a financial and a
moral bearing, he would follow the
custom of the day and touch on
the financial first. He gave statis-
tics showing the vast increase in
wealth and population which had
taken place in remote localities of
the Union owing to railway facili-
ties, how cities had sprung up, bar
ren wastes made profitable, manu-
factories established, wildernesses
reclaimed; and space itself almost
anihilated by the power of railways
and steam. After many fine meta
phors, appropriate and humorous
illusions, he ended a very eloquent
speech by stating that had railway
been more general in the Union,
the la te devastating rebellion would
never have broken out. It was, he
said, the ignorance of the wants
and wishes of the South by the
North, and vice versa, owing to the
want of easy communication, that
caused the misunderstanding which
almost eventuated in the death of a
nation, the greatest on the earth
Mr.. Garfield was loudly applauded
on retiring, and the meeting broke
up apparently highly pleased with
his address. Later in the evening
Il@ Al