The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-02
CHARLESTON.
The "stand-stllI CItys-Challoston Of
Years ago and To-day. the Same-Poll.
Teal Gossip.

RlltoFs IntelllSsnCer.
Having reached the prospective capitu
yesterday evening by the steamer Telt
phone, the irst thing have to say, apar
from It's tediousness owing to low water
the trip was very enjoyable, rendered s,
by pleasant weather and still pleasante
class Of steamers now plying daily be
tween here and Gallipolis, making direc
connection with the celebrated Wheeling
aud Cincinnati packets, Hasty observu
tion has brought me 70 the onclusion tha
but little progress in the way Of city i'm
provemsnts has been made since my yisi
here three years ago; that is to say
Charleston is not spreading herself. Tn,
same narrow boulderless and mudd,
streets are observable, while rickety ant
tenantless buildings scarcely able from
age to support their own weight, still
cucumber the ground, a disgrace
prise and public spirit Of The
citizens. To a greater or less extent
this applies to the entire kauawha valley,
80 iar,at least,as l have traversed It. Upon
the banks OF the same are yet standing
the old log cabins, or negro huts, serving
as q reminder Of the barbarity OF former
times, topping of with poor fields and
miserably lean stock, including dogs
actually too poor to bark, AS to the farm.
ing interests OF this immediate vicinity, II
YOU will allow me to form au opinion by
HlanCing AZ the numerous two horse teams
now huckstering their products through
the streets, would conclude that this i'm.
portant branch OF industry was OH q par
with everything else. Horses, wagons and
drivers are all shabby. In some instances
II would take tWo OF the former to
make q respectable shadow, while,
BY actaal count, one horse ex.
hibited more ribs than two good
fat horses ought to have. This should not
be, but truth and candor compels me to
ClinCh the fact. Iobserve quite number
Of small steamers plying in and around the
harh0r, some with names quite odd in.
deed, for instance, "Wild Goose, Lame
Duck" "John E. Kenna' and so on. In
conversation with citizen / remarked,
you have hOnOred your member Of Con.
gress by calling boat after him, why not
extend the same consideration TO Charles.
tons other distinguished citizen, Henry
5. Walker. He answered, the Lame
Duck" represented Nr. Walker. l gave
itup.
In q letter to the INTELLIaEYCRR some
four or five years ago from this
u,,ink V,.n,t;otnJ .hak 4,rn.A., 49,
hence scene Of business activity would
here exist scarcely elsewhere to be found,
| was led to this belief from the numerous
specimens OF minerals and timber then on
exhibition, and with which this section
richly abounds. While will not take Il
back, must say that unless the people
wake up, which don't think they ever
will, the children Of to-day will not live to
see the prediction verified. What IL
really needed here moro than anything
else is the infusion OF great deal Of new
blood. Still agencies are at work which
may bring about the result much earlier
than anticipated.
| reter more particularly to the Kama.
wha river Improvement, the early compile
ton OF which may reasonably be inferred
from the vigorous manner in which the
work Is now being pushed forward. There
is no denying the fact that the unnaviga.
BILE condition Of these natural outlets is a
very great drawback; particularly is this
the case now, when never within the rec.
objection ofman has such a long continued
drought prevailed, rendering those streams
entirely useless, and upon the bosoms OF
which is the entire seasons accumulation
OF millions OF bushels Of coal and timber
awaiting shipment. Relief seems not far
distant. ltisnow storming furiously; the
Kanawha is swelling gently, and a big
boom is confidently looked for within the
next twenty-four hours.
The citizens here are wild with excite
meRt over the discovery Of oil, the result
OF a three years effort by Mr.. Allen. OF
Pittsburgh, who has succeeded in obtain
tnga fne quality Of lubricating oil from a
well 52O feet deep, located six miles up
Elk river, at or near the mouth OF Milf
Greek. The specimen now on exhibition
Is attracting thousands OF people. l now
leave Charleston to her fale, satisfied that
in nothing have misrepresented her,
and atter briefly referring to the Presiden-
tial question will close, as my stay here is
too brief, and official duties too pressing
to admit OF more lengthy letter, 10 say
nothing OF your exhausted patience. ]
have not been round the world
lately, but to obtain the expressions
oI'the people with whom one comes in
contact in the course OF few hundred
miles travel on any of the national
thoroughiares, as l have endeavored to do,
Is enough to show how the national pulse
beats. The preferences are for Sherman
and Blaine, with rather decided leaning
in favor OF the former. Conkling is no.
where, while Grant is entirely out OF the
question. The people have heard so much
Of Grant lately that they have really be-.
come Disguised, and are at no pains to con.
ceal II, while they accord to him all the
honor now as in the past. have con.
versed but with one who really is in favor
Of his nomination, and he voted for Til,
den. So you see Grants chances are very
slim. 1twould not surprise me very much
1.-THE contest In 1880 would result in the
selection Of some one not now prominent
ly mentioned las was the casein '6l and '7B.
Some how or other surprises OF this kind
have always resulted In successful admin.
istrations. My own impression Is, but for
President Hayes unconstitutional letter Of
acceptance no person could prevent him
from being his own successor. His determ-
inatton TO not again become candidate
was hasty and entirely uncalled for, and
was in my judgment the only serious
blunder he ever committed. The public
may yet take the matter In hand, and
make such use OF the President as will best
subserye the public veal. =
Col. Carothers Is now here in the inter,
ests Of OF the Baltimore, Cincinnati and
Western Railway o.. He leaves here In
the morning in company with Cincinnati
capitalists, to secure the right Of way from
counties through which It may pass be.
tween here aud Baltimore.
Ok THE WING,
Boiler Explosion Resulting In Three
Deaths.