The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-10-02
LETTER FROM GRAFTON
Full Description OF the Town.
GRAFTON, ". VA, Sep. 90, 1871

Editors Of the Register
Fo" three days the rain has been fall
ing necessarily, until an hour ago, when
the dcluge closed, the clouds dispersed
and the sun shone forth in all its autumn
lovclncss. This rain has cast to the
ground many hopes entertained for the
fair, which should have commenced here
tomorrow, for three days of rain have
not FASTENED the arrangements any, on
the contrary everything is being left I'M
done until the rain is over But we,
being hopeful, predict that this rain will
inurc TO the success oftho fair. And this
rain WAS very badly needed throughout
the State, and has been Of more benefit
than many fairs.
Grafton Is one of the cities of our
State that is improving rapidly, and the
visitor Of two or three years ago would
scarcely recognize the place now. In
that time many fine buildings have gone
up, and the streets have been greatly i'm
proved, making them as good rs any in
the STATED --, ,.-sr- IN ..--7r\-
One of the recent improvements that
we may mention is the erection of long
string Of coal sheds &c, for coal yard
in the west end of the place Messrs
Holt, Jordan u Co. are the proprietors.
They are all good men, and We feel as
surcd that they will meet with that lib
eral patronage which they deserve. And,
BY the way, the senior partner of this
concern, Mr.. James Holt, was formerly
editor and proprietor Of the Grafton
Sentinel. He sold out TO Mr.. &. NJ. Shinn.
Of Fairmont, who is now success
fully running it. 1t is one Of the real
live papers of the State, and We are & lad
to say that it is in very prosperous con-
dition. We have had the pleasure Of
meeting with Mr.. Shinn, and find him n
very pleasant and agreeable gentleman,
and We do not wonder at his popularity
among the people. Besides the Sentinel
there is another paper here, the Times,
published every Saturday. The Times is
run by W. :. Garner, and is Il live
paper.
Among the manufacturing establish
ments we may mention, the steam pla-
ming mill owned and run by Mr.. ID. a.
SpriggS. This establishment lies along
the railroad, short distance wet Of
town. 1t j. not large concern, in the
point of ground covered but it is likea
bee hive inside, being fitted up with all
the latest improved labor-saving machi-
merry. They make everything in the
way of scroll, turned and fancy wood
work. Mr.. Spriggs started on small
scale, but he now employs about fifteen
men, and there is work enough
now for him to employ twice
that number if he had the room. He is
now at work on IA job for the Lutheran
church of this place, Rev. W. {. Schaeifcr
pastor. Mr.. Spriggs is making the pull
pit, pews, altar railing &c. The work is
in a forward condition, and We must say
the pews and puSit are Of the finest
workmanship and material, and would
do credit to the finest manufacturing g..
tabli>hmcnt in the country.
And mentioning the Lutheran church
reminds Us that it will be- dedicated some
time in November. At present it is be-
inc papcred by Mr.. Prayer, employed by
Messrs. PAUL. II Winship, the contractors,
an entcrprising firm of our city. hen
done it will be by long odds the best job
Of the kind ever done, in this section OF
the State. But you know this firm can
do that sort Of jobs, when they have
chance. In the way of hotels, Grafton
is not behind. There are many here. hut
we know nothing about any Of them save
the Arlington, kept by Mr.. Peter Din
klc. And by the way the Dinkles are from
the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia,
where they were born and raised.
Through the necessitudes Of the war
they lost much of this worlds goods, and
finally came to Grafton. The fam
ilv is composed of Peter and his father,
and Misses Rcbecca, Maria and Kate
Dinklc. with two Young nicccS. But
what we are coming at is this: This FAM
ily is of great musical talent, and they
can form trio or quartet that no lam-
ilv in the State can equal, and they love
to sing. 50 We are treated To little mn-
steal >Oiree nearly every evening. Among
the boarders here, We may
mention Mr.. Wood White, who has just
returned from the East where he has had
recently published pocket map OF West
Virginia. Mr.. and Mrs. c. +. Brendel
and Mr.. and Mrs. ). Hooton are board
ing here: also Mrs. Textcr and family.
Taken altogether we have happy
household, and the Arlington parlors are
nightly filled with as select, delightful.
and accomplished company as one need
wish to drop in on. Just now Stack
Hamilton, of piano and organ fame, Is
here. Stack is travelling for the vel!
known. house of Adams 4 Lucas, and Will
exhibit the Smith Organs at.shc fair here:
He is selling lots Of instruments. oi
other matters more hereafter.