The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-04-08
FROM MOUNDSVILLE.
The Beauty OF Its LOcation----Its In
terprises----The Mound----A Visit TO
the Penitentiary.-.Efhc Dis-
play Ell In its Managemeni---ferm
ofOmee ofthe superintendent.
Editors of the Register.

Whilst passing down La Belle Rirtsrs
Dickens remark in american Notes
concerning the beautiful location OF
Moundsville, required 10 me, and de-
termined to get oil and do up the
place. Since going around the town, |
agree with Mr.. Dickens that Mounds
Vile is the most eligible site for city
on the Ohio river. | think it untortu-
nate that your own beautiful and enter
prising city was located where the hill
and the river will seriously retard It's
promised growth.
The first object of interest that attract
ed my attention was the ONO Valley
Rolling Mill. 1t seems to he large and
paving establishment, working some fifty
hands am not well up in iron, but l
had been under the impression that the
low price of the article, and the long
continued commercial panic had caused II
partial or social suspension of most all
The manufactures, but here | find one
that was inaugurat"d during the dark
day, and has never diminished It's force.
was at loss to account for this until |
had the honor to converse an hour with
the President Of the company, Nj. Joe
Gallagher. Energy, enterprise and good
sense were written all over his handsome
countenance. OF course | WAS attracted
rs every one else whoever came here IL
the Mound. | found il much larger
than mad imaglned-and covered with
Il beautiful growth of ancient forest trees,
some of which have evldestly battled
with the storm king for centuries. The
mound i perfect in its form, and shows
that though the Mound Builders were It
fierce and barbarouS people, they evI'
IDENTIFY had among them a few evil en-
ginecrs.
From the mound eastward few hun
dred PAGES ! saw looming up grandiy
turrctcd stone cditlce of magnificent pro-
portions, bearing upon its crest the coat
OF arms of your State, and the proud
motto N0DtaHi S,mper Lbcri. From the
towering walls and general appearance
of massive strength, concluded that Thu"
was the place where West Virginia
Furnishes her unruly children
with many stripes, and
little wholesome restraint. ! present
ed myself mt the office, and found in the
polite Warden a gentleman whom | re-
mcmbercd in connection with II suit in
YOUR Supreme Court wherein grave
constitutional question WAS settled, be-
nrvr to the satisfaction of Il larg" maJnrI-
" of your people. \ thorough ln>pec-
tInn of the Institution ConvInceS me that
| will only do an act of simple justc" to
the able management of the prison to SAY
that it l. certainly one among the best
managed and most perfectly Systema-
tfsrd prisons | have ever seen. The re-
ports which were kindly furnished me
evidence careful and economical man
agemcnt, and | must congratulate tho
people of the State, that here at least the
officers seem to have their interest III
view, and in this age Of population, deem
this the strongest Cfam 10 the
gratitude of the taXpaying population
| learn from Captain Bridges, much to
my surprise, that his term is only fol
two wears, and will soon expire. had
thought that all your officers were elect
ed aud appointed for four years. This
| presume, was made an exception IN
order that the appointing power might
have the privilege to make success the
test of efficiency If this be so, | dare
say there will be no change in the ad-
miuistration for at least two years, and
scarcely then.
1t is almost train time and | must close
my note. lion my way find another
point as attractive as Moundsville,
shall light and give You another letter
Hurrirdly, TASSo