Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-06-24
Chapter II. Skips from Personali-
ties to Business,
RAILROADS AND BUSINESS OUTLOOK.


tation in town of its populotion. There
is wealth. enterprise and thrift apparent in
all its departments Of trade.
/ take it that the most important branches
of business are comprised in the Parkers-
burg Mill Company, manufacturing lumber
of all kinds, from close-pins to pumps; the
Acid and Analine Works, which is pros
porous concern, and is now putting up
large wood.pulp mandatory;
the Machine Works, which man
ufacture all kinds Of machinery,
from the steam engine down; four large
fouudries, which make all sorts of castings,
including stoves; four grain and Touring
mills; one large furniture factory which
employs fifty or sixty hands; the several
oil companies, comprising the Camden Con-
solidated, the Commercial, Crafts, Sweetzer
aud the s. P. Wells companies: one large
brewery; four National Banks; one large
barrel mandatory, which supplies the
oil companies, and employs about 200
hands. In addition to this the B. & U.
Railroad Company has terminal shops here
which add much to the working population.
This brief summary of Parkersburg' chief
industries will give an idea Of the large
amount of capital and labor in productive
enterprises. On all sides there are abundant
Evidence es OF Business Thrift.
It can be said of Parkersburg what can.
not be said, perhaps, of any other town in
the State, that there is not an empty
dwelling house in the town. There is now
being built
AFine Opera House
on Ann street, in the square adjoining the
new government building. 1t will not only
be an ornament to the town, but quite an
attraction in the way of furnishing a COM
Portable and respectable rendezvous for the
amusement loving part of the population.
In addition to this they are now agitating
the propriety of building
A $4,000 High school.
The ward school building is not "high"
enough for the progressive ideas and am.
bition of the people in school matters. The
State of West Virginia spends more money
and spends it less grudingly for school
purposes than any other State, In proper
lion to wealth and population.
The Government Building.
The new postoffice and custom house
building is an ornament to Parkersburg,
and would be to any other place. 1t is
solid, massive, well-fnished and well pro-
portioned inside and out 1t is far supe-
rior to the building at Wheeling both as
to the quality of the structure and its APP
pointments. The Z. s. Court room Is
splendidly finished, furnished and ar
ranged and every part OF the building is
we'll finished and complete.
Looking out OF the western windows OF
the government building is one OF the
finest landscape views one can find in a
weeks travel. Just across the river is the
beautiful town of Bellpre, nestled among
the trees; spanning the river a short dis.
tance above, is the great iron railroad
bridge, which is one of the prettiest struc-
lures of the kind in the world; down the
river short distance is the historic
Blannerhassett's Island.
The latter is now divided up
into four fine productive farms:
The site of the beautiful mansion and
grounds of the original proprietor, where
the great conspiracy was concocted, IS still
marked and preserved by some remains OF
the culture which Bannerhassett bestowed
upon ii, but the buildings are all gone and
soon the grounds must be traced entirely
by aid of the pen which has inscribed 1t
upon the pages OF history.
What Parkersburg Needs
most for her future growth and the deyel.
opment of her business industries is rail-
road that shall cut the b. & o. at right
angles, and thus arrest, as it were, the tide
of trade and travel through IL long enough
for her to squeeze some OF the milk out
of it.
A single railroad line through. town
most often acts as kind OF exhaustive
pump, carrying everything through and
out, and leaving little or nothing on is
way. 1t is like opening the sluice gate OF
water course and allowing the stream to
bear fiercely forward everything that
floats upon it; but start another across or
into IL and whirl pool will be formed that
will check and carry around and about 1t
whatever of floating freight there is IN
either stream.
That is just what the completion OF the
river road will do for Parkersburg. The
business and travel of both roads will stop
long enough here to profit this town some
what, whereas now it passes through with
out even paying its compliments to the
place.
Chat by the Way.
Meeting John A. Hutchinson, OF this
place, inquired of him how he liked be-
ing cut off from the First District by the
reapportionment
"Well enough" he replied, I'VE are very
we'll satisfied 10 be in the Fourth Dis
trict."
But it deprives you of the privilege, and
some OF us in the First, Of the pleasure, OF
witnessing another race between you and
Col. Ben Wilson for Congress.
"Yes, might have given him another
round, II the District had remained un-
changed" -.
The report is that you are thinking about
moving into that District for that very pur-
pose?
have often thought would like to prac-
tice law in that city, but as to moving up
there for the purpose Of running for Con.
gress, it is not at all probable that will
occur"
who will be the Republican candidate in
this District?
81 don't know"
Will the Republicans enter any fusion
against the Democratic nominee in this
| District? =,
81 don't think there will be any fusion" I"
SIS the temperance element strong
| enough to effect the resulty'
at is very strong and active in this DIS
| trict, but don't think il will enter largely
into the Congressional campaign. They
| will make their fight for the Legislature.
"Will they win?'
II think it probable that the amendment
| will be submitted by the next Legislature.
| 1t ought to be submitted II were q
| Democrat in the Legislature ] would vote
/ for IL as a matter Of policy. When so large
a number of voters are asking for it, they
ought to have it"
HBut would It be carried at the polls
even il submitted :,
81 think il doubtful. Perhaps it would
be defeated. But / would let the people
| have a chance to vote for.it. 1t would no.
be very expensive if voted for at geneIs:
election. The discussion Of these public
| measures by the people and through th'
press, is good policy. The newspapers ar
the great educators of the masses. lvouit
have al the laws published in the newsps
pers. The people are entitled to knos
what the laws are without going TO law
yer. But for the enterprise OF the news
papers the people would be very ignoran
Of public matters. The REGIsTEEs entei
prise is doing much for the people OF tn
State and like il for that reason. III ha