The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-09-07
OCCASIONAL NOTES BIZ ArnAvElER.


WHEELING. WEST VA, Aug. 81. ISL.
ED PRESS Leaving our cleanly-washed town
of Ravenna, in the fast waning showers Of Tues
day morning, an hours ride brought me to Al
lance. A year or two ago this was the boastcd
embryo city of Eastern Ohio, galloping
apace in its mighty strides of improvement and
enterprise, far beyond its meaner rivals, and in
uninterrupted prosperity stretching to an i'm
aginary goal they would never reach But it
proved only another instance of vaulting am
bition, eliminating IN an Opera House and ru-
in-now, stagnant, dead. and almost buried
Thus found Alliance. and, unwilling to Iinger
long. soon pushed ON to
SALINEvILLE-
This is coal town, though, as its name indi
Gates, it started on salt basis The hills by
which it is surrounded are full of coal the val
ley, up which the houses straggle for distance
of two miles, is full of salt. But it proves more
profitable 10 mine the former than to pump the
latter. hence the departure from salt to COAL
The c. & p. b. R. carries from this place, from
sixty to one hundred car loads of coal per day,
which at once stamps the village as a point of
wealth and importance. But they have a new
sensation here which is likely to add to the
teriety and perhaps the wealth of Salineyille.-
Let me tell you the story:
There lives here in quiet, simple way, at
tending strictly to his daily labor, a poor but
worthy cobbler, called Peg, Daniel Peg. Now
Peg is good name for shoemaker, and there
seems to be fitness in things so far But it
happens that this Peg came from other Pegs
worthy ancestors doubtless cobblers too) who
resided in the city of Philadelphia. His great
grand father. also noble Peg. owned little
property in the city of brotherly love, in which
he lived and made his shoes, and was content
Property was not worth as much then as it is
now, and when our simple friend was advised
to accept proposition from an outside party
who would lease his house and lot at liberal fig
ures for ninety y-nine years, he was not long in
making up his mind to do SO. He soon moved
West and was lost sight of. But if the Pegs
were no longer visible to the naked eye, they
I" still lived,'' and Time kept pegging away at
the passing years, until the ninety and nine had
rolled OF into the vast abyss ever going before.
One bright morning not long ago. the Pegs land
there are just eight of them now, of whom Dan
iel is one) woke up and found themselves the
famous heirs of eight millions, securely invest
ed in Philadelphia real estate. OF course the
nominal owners kicked nightly at having to
give up this small fortune, and talked of con-
testing, &C. But the Pegs are serene and can
AFFORD to wait few days. They are now con-
sidering an offer the Philadelphia parties have
made them, for compromise on half million
each. Daniel is the lion of Salineyille, and
much speculation is daily wasted in the vain en-
deavor to surmise "what will he do with it.''-
Let me put myself in his place and could
enlighten them.
In the dusky shades of evening called it
away from that monstrous coal hole, and soon
whistled down brakes at
WKLLsvILLE.
Years ago Wellsville was an important place.
Before the era of railroads, it was the entrepot
from the south and east for the Western Re
serve, and, consequently busy shipping point.
The old Turnpike road from Cleveland to Wells
vile was the highway over which ebbed and
flowed a constant stream of commerce. Then
Wellsville was In its glory, noao alas how
changedl Age and blackness dislgure the old
town, the wharf is given up to the rats; the no.
tel to the boys, and, but for the r. R. shops and
their employees, you might as well, seemingly,
lock the door, throw the key in the river, and
say good night'' Yet there are places down
the river not lacking in comfort and beauty,
and there are, doubtless, people as good, true
and intelligent as can be found in more pro-
gressive latitude. From Wellsyille 1 took the
down river track, stopped at McCoy's Station,
and crossed to
NEW CUMBERLAND, WEST VA.
Here is where your former townsman, Cyrus
Prentiss, opened a coal mine The shaft is now
deserted, and is owned, believe, by some Pitts
burg parties. The citizens speak well of the
enterprise and liberality OF Mr.. Prentiss, and
think if he had not died at the time he did, this
coal mine would have made him a fortune, and
benefited their town. The Knapp Brothers al
so lived here, and find, are gratefully remem-
bered by the people. New Cumberland is now
given to Fire Brick. The hills are full of that
peculiar clay, which is mined very much as you
would mine coal There are no less than four
teen Steam Fire Brick Factories In active ope-
ration within distance of three miles up and
down the river. They make twenty millions
every season, and ship to all parts of the United
States.
But my rambling notes are extending over too
much paper, and will pass by ;teubenville and
this city until another time. c..