Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-18
DOWN IN THE STATE.
Along the Little Kanawha-The Timber
Business-PersOnAlN Notes.
Special C0rTespondence ofthe Register,

Along the Little kanaWha-TneT fmoer
BusineSs-PersonAl Notes.
Special Correspondence Of ne Register.
PAREERSBURG, May 1.-During a
recent trip to Business Springs, present
head of slack water navigation, on the
Little Knawha river, We met Mr.. Town.
send, OF GAINESVILLE Ohio, the eontrac-
tor for the stone work on the new lock
and dam TO be constructed by Uncle
sam about one mile above Burning
SpiingS. Mr.. Townsend arrived there
last Wednesday on board his own steam
boat, bringing with him q force of men
and the necessary implements and
machinery for the prosecution OF the
work in view. Owing to the failure OF
Congress to make an appropriation for
the Little kanawha, there will be moth
ing done this year except to quarry the
stone necessary for the lock. There Is
about $4,000 of last years appropria-
ton vet unexpended which will be suf-
ficient to prosecute this branch OF the
work during this summer. 1t Is to be
hoped that upon the completion or the
new lock and dam the kanawha Nayl-
cation Company will put the old locks
in good condition and shape that will
made the river nayigable at least three
months during the year. The walls OF
the locks are too low, and q medium
rise in the river, or three weeks OF dry
weather causes suspension Of navIga-
ton, often entailing great loss and cauS-
ing much in cOnveuinced TO the public
in general, who have long since pro-
nOunced it nuisance We have on
past occasions referred to the large
amount of timber and railroad ties
which reach this point by the Little
Kanawha river. During our last visit
To Burning Springs we We're astOnished
at the amount there now, and every
day many additiouat RATS of valuable
logs, consisting of oak, walnut and pop
lar reach this point where.a great deal OF
il is sold, the remainder finding mar
ket elsewhere. Some idea Of the magi-
tudes of the business may be formed
when il is known that one firm alone
has on hand at present S75, 600, worth of
logs and $4,000 Of railroad ties. We
refer to McConaughey & Co., the pio-
neer lumber dealers of this section who
have amassed snug fortune in the bus
mess, which may be attributed to the
fact that fair dealing has been their
w
former well hOnored citizen Of your
county, is the senior member of the
firm. His son, Sam'l McConaughey,
who has general supervision OF the bus
iness, is always at the right place in the
right time, and more cultivated and
genial gentleman cannot be found. MIR.
w ] Hobart, their efficient manager at
RichardSOnville has recently been ad-
mitted to the firm which is well de-
served recogination of his services in
the past. Capt. NJ. II. NcCOnaughey, the
Junior member, spends the most OF the
time in Parkersburg in looking after the
interest of the firm, and owing to his
genial manner and correct business
habits has won the esteem Of all who
have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
While the writer was at Burning Springs
a few DAYS ago, he witnessed the usual
excitement attending the breaking OF
the timber bOOms in that vicinity. The
boom at the mouth Of Spring Creek,
containing 5000 railroad ties and S,OOO
logs, broke loose, and the contents
swept out into the kanawha, as did also
the boom at West Fork, which con-
tanned about 5000 ties and 1000 logs.
The principal losers are Kingsbury & Co.,
McConaughey & Co. and Hoffman &
West. The majority of the logs Will be
recovered, but great many OF the Ties
will be lost.
We learned while in Burning Springs
that Colonel Roberts, who IS drilling an
oil well on the Petty farm, near the ha-
nawha river, proposes to test the expert
ment of a deep well, and will prosecute
the work during the present season;
They have reached the depth OF 5O
feet, with a splendid show for oil.
Barney Hilbert, of McCuteheoTs
run. lost his residence and contents by
fire few days ago. -
On our way to Parkersburg We spent
a short time at Elizabeth, the county
seat of Writ, where We met Colonel
Williams, the genial Clerk of the Coun'
ty Court, who informed us that Writ has
no candidate for the Congressional race
and when Intercepted as to the pro6a
BILE success of the prospective candidates
in this vicinity, proved to be rather non
committal. The appointment OF DIR
Stalnaker to the position oil assistant
physician in the Insane Asylum a.
Weston gives general satisfaction 10 tn'
people of Elizabeth, where he mas re
Sided for several years. At Newark
/ Writ county, we spent the night pleas
antly with our friend, Asbury Worley
Esq, formerly of this city, who, will
! his estimable wife and boys, Is yer,
pleasantly situated on the banks of tn
beautiful Kanawha. Reachingthe bank
of Hughes run on Saturday morning
at an early hour, we found TN
citizens of the village of Greenville al
astir aud some excitement prevailing
as the timber boom atthis point was ex
peeted to break at any moment. IN
| boom contained about 5000 logs AM
$4,000 railroad ties, and it was though
that it would be impossible to hold tn
boom more than a few hours at IN
farthest, as the river was then very hig'
and rising rapidly. The firm OF Nc
Conaughey 4 Co, mentioned above
are largely interested in the contents @
4 this boom. r.