The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-08-31
GhelG'ttelEiqIel "a: y;
kDuWn River Letter.
From Our Rowing Correspondent
MATAMoRAs, Washington Co. Oh
t4 a. August 81. 1874

MATAMOhASI WAAnlnRtOn 20. O.Jt
taS August 81, 1874.
Editors OF tho IntellIgenceT:
Before coming to this place I had beer
informed that In the way OF enterprise
in mercantile way, 1t was far ahead O
any town along the Ohio, from Wheeling
to Parkersburg. But having never beer
here l accepted such statements with eau
ton, considering those who made then
interested, and therefore pljudiced wit
nesaes. But upon arriving here | found
all OF these statements more than verified
AT first upon my arrival concluded
something unusual was going on
A circus or something OF that kind
What lead me to think this was
the crowds oil people crossing the
river from West Virginia, and like
wise the great number OF vehicles coming
in from Inc Ohio side. Every store was
crowded with customers; In one NO less
than eighteen buying and waiting to buy.
On the corners knots Of people were gath.
cred here and there, At every hitching
post stood q horse, and all seemed bust
ness and lie. Comparing, then, the state
OF affairs with the average Ohio river
town you will not wonder at my con-
Clusion. Sol went into one of the largest
stores and put forth the question,
WHAT BRINGS so MANY PRoPLE TO TOWN
TODAY" 80
Imagine my establishment when the
proprietor calmly remarked that there
were no more people in town or in his
store than usual at that hour III A. N J OF
the day. Indeed, he said business was
rather dull for the season Of the year.
at once concluded that he was taking
advantage Of my vcrdancy, and was
making little iun at my expense. So
went up and called on another gentle
man, who told me substantially the same
thing. Alter that l concluded TO take
no ones word, but to look around for
myself. But soon found that every one
OF these people from the surrounding
country were bent on business. They
had come TO Mstamoras to buy goods.
Many OF them, oicourse, broughLin their
produce of every description, which Is
just as good as so much coal, but all had
come 10 buy, and buying they were.
So my first impression Of Matamoras
was good one. The next thing that
attracted my attention-l might say my
serious, almost melancholy attention
was this: From the West Va. to the Ohio
side Of the river, just at the Matamoras
upper wharf, is a ferry. Across this ferry,
crossing and recrossing, was q stream Of
people. Their horses were tied along the
shore on the West Virginia side, and they
were bringing their produce and money
over TO this live place and going back
laden with goods. I say this attracted
my attention, for here is this place draw
ing from our own State hundreds and hun.
dreds Of dollars each day. Said / 10 a
bystander, "They must have good roads
running to the ferry on the Virginia
side | ayes" replied he, "but when they
want road over there they come here,
and every merchant in town will give
them from $25 to 500 to build it."
"And how much" quoth /, "does their
ferrisge cost" "NolhiDg, sir. II they
buy goods OF any moment the mer.
chant rays that" "How, then, can
you blame our people for going from
their own county and state to spend their
money! You cannot, but rather give
them credit for seeking place OF so much
enterprise and public spirit, and lay the
blame at the feet of the merchants Of our
own state, who suffer the trade 10 go from
their very doors across the river into an
other state. 10
But let US turn from this subject for q
moment, until I tell you OF some other
things about the town. a-......
MatamoraS Is lin Washington county,
Ohio, about three miles south OF the Mon.
roe county line, 81 miles from Marietta,
the county seat, and 80 mileS from Wheel.
ing. In population 1t Is about equal Ia
Blrcsville, New MartinsVille and Sisters.
vile combined, having about 900. 1t has
good schools and churches, and many fine
buildings. In the way Of q fine hotel edi.
fee they arc lacking, but Charles Nelly
Dutch Charley" he gave US as his name
keeps q good house and sets good table
To-day six drummers, mostly from
Wheeling, dined with US, and there wa!
plenty left, and any man that can feed sil
drummers and have something left mus
lay at least an abundant supply. Jus
across the street from Nelly's Is thu
burnt district" for you know Matamora
had FIRE recently. Ofthis flreI will ssy
more in my next letter. I will only ssJ
now that the loss will not exceed $13, 600
partially covered by insurance, and wa
mostly on stock, the large building on tn,
corner Burroughs Block) being worth
according to the oath Of the owner, onll
$500. And while the fire was hard blow
10 two or three Of the parties, 1t will be q
benefit TO the town In the.WAy Of securing
on the site better class Of buildings,
THEATRICAL TROUPE COME TO GRIEF.
Last night the Julu Coventry Thestri.
cal Troupe came to grief here. They wer,
advertised 10 give grand and rechcrch
performance under canvass In the out
skirts OF tho town. They gave the per
Torrance, two Of them We believe, 10 au
diences worth In the aggregate eleven dol
lars. After this the creditors oil the con
Germ stepped In and gave little perfov
nance, having q constable for leadinI
man, and gobbled up all Of the truck be
longing to the troupe. Charley Miller hA
the tents for sale cheap, and we common,
Charley to the attention OF any partie
who want anything Of the kind Tor CAM
meeting or other purposes. The troupl
will leave on the Courier this evening 10
Marietta, from whence they scatter 70 h
-four winds, SC, '''''' NJ
Not many days, or rather nights, ACC
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