Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-03-04
Columbus Letter.
Especial Corr. of the Journal.
Revival of BusIness--HOcIxing
Valley Coal and interests
looking up--Legis~
latiye Matters.
COLUMBUS, O., Feb. "a, 1880.

COLUMBUS, O., Feb. "a, 1880.
The week begun with fair activity
in all the leading branches of trade,
and with decided symptoms of
another sboom" in the money market
under the inspiration of abundant
money at cheap rates. Among the
dry goods merchants the feeling is
of great expectations touching the
Spring business. Their advices
from their customers are such as to
justify the belief that the farmers
are now in better position to buy
goods than has been the case for
many years. and the country jobbers,
accordingly, will, no doubt, be tree
purchasers. The bad condition of
the roads just now is a hindrance
to trade, bur week of continuous
dry weather will remedy that.
The iron interests in the Hooking
Valley region anticipate no cessa-
tion of activity until well into the
summer, while the coal trade is hope
full. although some trouble is antici
pated with the miners on account
of a difference of opinion existing
between the operator and the miner
the size OF the screen used
in separating the nut from the lump
coal. The miners want the screen
as small as possible as they receive
no pay for the coal that falls through
the screen, and known in the market
as ssnut coal" The miners inform
me that one-seventh of all the coal
they dig is smut" and for this they
receive no pay whatever, but this
coal is sold ia the market at only
about 80 cents per ton less than
lump, and there is always demand
for nut coal in the manufacturing
line. 4
Last week I spent few days in
the Hooking Valley region, and the
revival of the iron interests can
be seen on all sides. Along the
line of the Ohio and West Virginia
road-the 18th railroad coming into
the capital city--no less than Z or 8
blast furnaces that have been lying
idle since the great panic, are fixing
up to get ready to begin operations.
A portion of this new road runs
through the great iron region of
Ohio, and thousands of tons of ore
are piled up near the road awaiting
shipment.
Speaking of the bad roads in the
country reminds me of the painful fact
that our people are not compelled to
go far to see bad roads, and one is
often disposed to say that the streets
of Columbus cannot be more filthy,
but the idea is fallacious. An indig-
nant gentleman once said to Garry
Hough, an old theatrical scamp,
"Garry, you are the greatest. liar in
world The party thus charged,
smiled contemptuously and said,
syou don't know my brother Will
liam" I think the streets have got
as far as "brother William. 1t is
hard on the dirtiest of clouds to look
down on such slough of despond.
The business firms in the south end
have raised subscription for the
purpose of having the mud seraped
from in front of their places of
business. North of the State House
the street is bad and the crossings
suggest the eloquence Of a former
inspired patriot, "sink or swim, sur
vive or perish" E
THE LEGISLATURE.
The long looked for Reorganiza-
tion bill has at last been born, but
it is hard TO determine who the
ssdaddy" is. The bill as decided on
as the one to fill all the requirements,
is made up from a dozen or SO Of
bills for reorganization, and was the
work of the committe of 8 who had
all the bills under consideration.
The combination reorganization bill
adds two members to each Board of
Trustees, legislating no one out of
office, but at the same time puts all
the State Institutions in the reach
of the Republicans. 1t also does
away with the Governor being a
member Of each Board. The COM
mittee thoughtthat such bill would
doubtless meet the approval of all
the Republican members, but it
] seems that Mr. Thorp, and few
other Republican members, are not
in favor of the bill, and there is a
4 possibility Of the bill being defeated.
i OF course all the Democrats will
how, and If they can seduce q few
Of their brothers Of opposite polite
al views to side. With -thsn, 60 much
the better. Mr.. Thorpe, of .Ashta
bula, for some reason or other hal
been siding with the democrats con
siderable Of late. Ona dsv Ias