The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-03-15
The Knnawhn Country.


The Knnawhn Country.
We had IN interesting conversation yes
terday with Mr.. j. S. Cunningham, Of St.
Adams, Kanawha county, who is here as
juryman at Federal Court. Mr.. G. has
lived at st. Adams about twenty.six years,
and he was telling US something of the
changes that have occurred in the Ka-
nawha Valley since he settled there. lie
isa Jerseyman by birth, and a civil en-
gineer by education and profession. In
pursuance Of his vocation he settled in
West Virginia. AS far back MS 1856, when
he went to Charleston to attend to any
business, it would happen at times that he
was compelled to spend three days in nc
complishing certain amount OF business
that ought to have been transacted in three
hours. This arose from the unbusiness
like ways of the people. Time was no OBJ
ject to them, and punctuality was not ex-
pected or practiSed to any appreCiable ex-
tent Eight O'Clock in the morning would
come and not person to be seen on the
principal streets, except perhaps an occa-
aonal negro purveying for something for
breakfast for the family in which he lived.
No stores or other business places were
open at that hour Of the day, and many
persons not out OF bed, and still fewer done
with their breakfasts. This was the old Vir-
ginia, go as you please, do as you please,
and no account regime that prevailed.
The people who lived in and around
Charleston in those days had an immense
idea Of the political and social Importance
OF the community. 1t wasa sort Of small
hub Of the universe, the larger hub, if
there could be two hubs, being Richmond.
Richmondwas tho solar centre and Char
lesion tho principal satellite. What was
not known in these two places about poll
tics was not worth knowing. The Chinese
were not more impressed with their impor-
lance as band OF celestials than were
these people at the time referred TO.
But the war came and changed all this
at least a good deal Of it. The sacred val
ley was invaded by the Yankees, who Of
course were looked upon rs Goths and
Yandals, by the Charlestonians However,
there followed change for the better, al
through not revolution by any means.
Side walks and such like conveniences OF
locomotion appeared about that time and
have remained ever since. The people got
to know that the world outside Of tho valley
was somewhat extensive, and that it would
take good sized book to hold all that the
Charleston people did not know. This was
one Of thcimportant revelations that dawn.
cd on them from rubbing against the
Goths and Vandals.
Then at length came the railroad, and
with it revelation as to the value of time.
Itused to be that steamboat advertised to
leave ut $ o'clock in the morning was con-
sidered on schedule time il she left by
noon. 1t was always a good enough S |
O'clock until noon. Not so with the nail.
road however. Seven o'clock in the morn.
ing meant Z o'clock to the dot, and the
ChArlestonian who proposed to leave on
the z o'clock train was forced to recognize
that it was not I o'clock until the clock
struck $, much less until the hour Of noon
was tollel. Thus it was that the Charles.
tonians came to have some idea of the ne.
cessity Of being on time and of the value
Of time.
The improvement OF the Kanawha river
and the development OF the coal business
have done and are doing much for the
place. There is an immense amount Of
coal shipped to Cincinnati. AT suitable
stages Of water the same scenes SO familiar
to our eyes on the Ohio, Of steamer after
steamer towing several bargcs Of Goa,
arc to be witnessed on the Kanawha. This
coal Is proftably marketed at Cincinnati
and at ports below, and is gradually be-
coming source OF prosperity and wealth
to the Kanawha Valley. It is at the bot
tom Of the present boom in that region.
It stimulates railroad projects and all
other enterprises. The people are looking
forward to manufactures as new source
Of prosperity at an early day. Their ideas
arc undergoing change in regard to all
industrial subjects, They still, however,
largely vote tho Democratic ticket.
Speaking Democracy, Mr.. Cunningham
says that man has to 50 out into the wilds
OF the Third district to see 1t in its purity
where whisky is served in buckets with a
dipper on election days, or at places where
there Is a political gathering, 1t is served
thus by some candidates henchman, who
proclaims open and above board, "sans
peur, sans reproche. !" this Is John Smiths
whiSky-haye q drink?n Whisky Is a
main factor in q candidates chances The
more whisky, the more votes And such
WhiSky Its commoner, u possible, ttRn !