The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-07
LAND OF PROGRESS
AN0 Of RAR!O DEvEL0pMENr.
M. cAupS,rs .Ob"rrstiOnS On Trip from
WhsslIaE to Nav York-supOrIorIty Of the
North Orsr tie Soath-A Chapter on
Brooke COuaty and the PAu Handle.


NORM neGpTeBs shStOnIanInent at Ine CONTRAST.
eau now understand better than before
the feelings and inclination Of q gentleman
l met on the Gull Coast this spring, who
had made his first trip North during the
previous summer, and whose whole inl-
pulse on returning was to sell out bis prop
erty and go North, He ASSURED me that
tile contrast between the two sections was
80 marked as respects the development and
advancement OF the country and the en-
ergy and thrift OF the people, that he felt
as II the North was the place for him to
locate his children. He had already placed
one Of his boys III the North to be educa.
ted and expected to place two more at the
proper time, having become thoroughly
convinced, secesslonist and slave holder
though he had been, that it Was the boys
OF the North and not OF the Soutll that
must prevail If ever the latter section is to
reach it's possible future.
lean fancy the feelings OF this Southern
man, and others such as he, on travelling
for the iirst time from Wheeling to New
York. There is the busy city Of Wheeling
to commence with, the centre Of u radius
OF fifty miles Of country, such as it is not
possible to Sce anywhere in tho South. l
do not mean as rich Il country agricul-
turally speaking, but l mean u country
where diversitied labor shows forth to such
advantage rs respects the farmer, the
tradesmen, the artisan, the professional
and even the common laboriug man. Ali
live together happily and prosperously.
II is country that more than supports
itself in every respect, and that gathers into
its exchequer every year larger proper
tionate balance oil trade than the whole OF
the United States.
There is the beautiful Ohio riyer-as
beautiful as the Hudson hera-bearing
upon its bosom great commeece-great
in the one item OF cjal alone-Rnd side by
side, on either shore, rairoad-a maxi
mum Of transportation development that
has only been reached here in the East on
the two shores OF the Hudson since it was
inaugurated on the banks of The Ohio.
This fact alone tells lis own story as TO the
energy, industry, resources and Intelligence
OF the people OF the Ohio valley as COM
pared with any average section Of the
United States.
A RICH COUNTY.
On the way here was tempted 10 stop
off few days to enjoy visit in the 90 d.
little county Of Brooke, the richest county
agriculturally in proportion 10 its sizs in
West Virsinia-a county in which the
whole body Of the people live better than
any population have visited in any part
Of the United States. heard Il Louisiana
lady-burn und raised in that State-once
say that il she owned Brooke county she
would not exchange it for the Whole State
OF Louisiana. do not go that far, ana per-
hans she would not as matter Of doli6er.
ate expression, but lean understand the
fe. ling that prompted her 10 this little ex-
travagance Of compliment after visiting the
county for the first time in the month OF
June-the time OF year in which there is
no lovlier, richer and more romantic or
more beautiful country to look upon than
the th6usan square miles OF hill and val
ley that constitute the Panhandle OF West
Virginia.
! could not but remark the change that
had come over the ancient county seat OF
Brooke. Many years ago, when the writer
ofthese lines was a-boy, Wellaburg was
thought to be a typical Virginia town-as
typical as Virginia town wedged in be-
tween the two great States OF Ohio and
Pennsylvania could be. Itwas regular
sleepy hollow OF place, where reaction
had taken place since the days OF its earli-
est importance as shipping point. In
dustrially it had dwindled down toa cotton
and paper mill and not much Of these.
It's potleIs' ware and glass ware were things
OF the past, and real estate was about as
dead as the door nails over which SO many
OF its street louugers lazily stepped as they
tloaied in and out OF its stores and shops.
AN AWAKENED TOWN.
But great change has come to Wells
burg. 1t has been coming on gradually
ever since the building of the 2 W. Il Ky.
railroad, and has burst into positive boom
since that magnificent flow OF gas was
struck last winter. To-day it is nottoo much
TO say that no town Of lis siEs in the couu-
try has q more assured future than the
county seat OF Brooke This future is not
so much d case OF pr0pier hoe as pot hoe rs
regards the gus, for already it was known
that the town was underlRid with the
famous Steubenville vein OF superior coal
I.superior for manufacturing purposes
and already shaft was well on its way
down to that GoRl-Bnd hence gas or no
gas boom was imminent at an early day.
The striking Of gas simply precipitaled the
inevitable.
And now what ia the result' Asaspec-
linen incident may mention that one
man lately sold a lot for 81 500 that would
not command $500 couple cf years ago,
and another man wRs glad to pay $1,000
for half OF a lot which he had declined a
wear or 81 ago at $500 for the whole lot
With gas at Welisbuig aud gas over at
Brilliant, ,Rll the native resources o. The rlGh
country on both sides Of The river will
rapidly come to the front, and there viii be
a scattered il not q solid town, OF which
Lszarville 10 the picnter from Ctoss
Creek above TO Short Greek below.
But here ] am at Nav York, the great
metropolis Of ttis great country, writinRa
merely local letter about Wheeling, Brooke
county and Wel'sburg-which some people
may say is no great compliment TO The
great metropolis, however much 1t may be
TO the "appIe tree from WHENCE he comes"
| can only say that set out to write you
short account Of my trip here, and OF the
reimpressed impreesIoua OF former years
touching ils leading features by comparison
with some OF those localities in the South
which have lately visited. But j. is as
Whittier says, that the hnmln ,ur !, prone
10 listen to The sounds OF Lone aid rhildF
hood" in preference 10 tboss OI Onr more
immediate surrouniip4R. Ia adsy or TWO
I will continue my .uraey, 30 To speak,
irsm Wcllsbntg hithsrward. W c.
---sS-s--
Rumprs ,bout aTS. frank t.esiie
Nw YoRK, July o --cartOpsrnmorsb have
been circulated about Ms. Frank LSsiie