Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-23
WHEELING AS A SUMMER RE
SORT

We are approaching the season when
the thoughts turn lightly-if not to love
to the woods, the green sward, ana
lovely rambles among the spring foliage
Of the country.
Wheeling, as Summer resort, Is
no. an attractive place. Nor is any city
The summer trip to the country or tne
seaside is every year coming to De more
generally accepted as a legitimate ad-
,u,ct to life in the city. Whereas rev
Yeas ago it was luxury to be enjoyed
only by the rich, il is now regarded as
necessity which even the poor cannot
forego.
The natural result of this is that &C
commodations suitable to the pecuniary
circumstances Of all classes OF society,
are being opened in every locality in the
country. The line OF the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad through the mountains
of West Virginia has become one SON
tinuous line of summer resorts" And
so it is on other lines OF road which fur.
nish convenient access between cities
and pleasant country retreats.
The busy population OF our own city
has very meager opportunities OF this
character. Wheeling is one grand work
shop. There is no such busy popula-
ton within radius OF a thousand miles.
There is scarcely single spot or object
within the limits OF the city which fur
nishes evidence that our people ever
give a thought to anything but work,
work, work. There is no park. no open
square, no pleasant retreat from the
summers heat except within brick walls
and behind palm leaf fans. The eye
grows weary and the spirit almost faints
with the nnbroken monotony Of dingy
buildings which only serve to intensity
the heat which old Sol pours down
upon US during the months OF July and
August.
There is large class OF our popula-
ton which spends the heated term in
mills, in the presence OF roaring fur
naces, and in close workshops amid the
dust and heat of moving machinery. A
little green spot in which to sit down
and rest in the evening would be para
disc to them; or a convenient means oil
access TO suburban groves where they
could occasionally spend day, and
where their wives and little children
could frequently resort for relief from
the heat OF the city, would add an in
finite degree OF comfort and satisfaction
to summer life in Wheeling.
There are less number Of accommo-
dations OF this kind in Wheeling than in
any other city within our knowledge.
there is but one direction, one resort,
open to our busy population which
seems to partake of the charac-
ter of an established institution,
or a uniformly accessible means OF re-
treat for al classes Of our people, and
that is by the way OF the Elm Grove
Line to the country along the Pike. We
cannot speak in terms OF rapture OF this
resort. Ii is a kind of ''dernier resort"
1t is the least OF two evils, staying in
the heat Of city or smothering for an
hour or two in a crowded car. The ma
iority OF cities and towns are furnished,
through private enterprise, with regular
and cheap methods OF communication
with the country. There ought to be
more conveniences Of this kind about
Wheeling. They could be made profit
able. When they had come TO be I'M
derstood as regular and cheap means OF
access to pleasant country retreats they
would be crowded with patrons. Some
shade trees, a bowling alley, some
swings and other such appointments, at
two or three suburban points ought to
be we'll patronized, and would be.
We almost despair Of anything park
like within the city limits, or within
walking distance. The hills which
form the ack.ground OF our picturesque
abode might be utilized in this way by
a liberal expenditure OF money. But
the time when this will be done is far in
the future. The Island-"The Garden
Spot"-has possibilities OF this kind, but
land seems to be too precious to be trod
upon over there II our Fair Associa-
ton will combine the advantages OF
public park with their exhibition
grounds, they might make them source
of profit during the whole summer sea
son, as well as offering great boon to
the suffering population OF the city.