Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-04
A Prominent New Yorker Visits Our State
and is Surprised at Its Progression
and the Thriftness of Its
Inhabitants.
Special 10 tie Register.

years ago this State, then just organized,
had no free schools. The free system was
| inaugurated during the calamities OF the
war, while West Virginia was the scene
| of its hottest strife and greatest depreda'
tions, with
Public Treasury Worse Than Empty,
and with its own people often meeting
on opposing sides in deadly conflict. No
State has started free schools under greater
| embarrassments Prior to the war there
| were hardly one hundred school houses in
the whole State outside of Wheeling, and
| the average value of these was less than
| seventy dollars each. Since then nearly
| four thousand school houses have been
| built. True, some thirteen hundred OF
| these are log houses, but "the logs the
| the best available in this emergency, are
| rapidly giving place to frame, brick and
| stone. Within twenty years nearly twen-
ty million dollars have been expended for
| school houses and equipments. Such
liberality in the face of war desolations,
the
Strongest Opposition
of an influential class to the plebian plan
of educating the rich and poor together,
and the ignorance or indifference OF still
larger number, is remarkable, if not unex-
ampled.
1t is q striking proof CT the growing pop.
ular interest both in education and rural
improvement, that the invitation of State
School Superintendent Butcher, to observe
the 29th OF April last as Arbor-day, met
with so general response from the press,
teachers, parents and pupils. 1t proved a
memorable day for the homes as we'll as
the schools. Probably more trees, shrubs
and vines were planted that day on school
grounds than ever before in one day in any
other State. 1t. was recommended that
these improvem ants extend to the homes
The results, as 3inOe reported to the State
Superintendent, far exceeded his expecta.
tons. He has therefore decided to appoint
another Arbor-Giay in the spring of 1884.
The Sanitary Needs
of many towns in West Virginia, as else
where, have been sadly neglected. nriyate
sorry inspection of the streelss. NuG uG the Bal
c.nvre' aud Ohio Railway, revealed a pro-
litic source OF peril to its citizens. This IS
perhaps the busiest junction point on the
whole line OF the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
wav, as the trains diverge here for St; Louis
via Cincinnati, and for Chicago via Wheel
ing. The location is unique and plctur-
esGue, and the views from the adjoining
| hills are grand and beautiful. But situated
| in narrow detile, its streets cut out OF the
steep hillsides and rising abruptly one
| above another, the houses are built COM
| pactly, with scanty ground around them.
| As a centre of railway and manufacturing
| enterprises, the town has grown rapidly,
| far exceeding its expected limits, and
Hygtenie Laws
| have been disre .arded. Though I knew
nothing OF the actual experience OF the
place, | spoke in strong terms OF the dan
ger of an outbreak Of diptheria an typhoid
fever from the proximity OF cesspOols and
vaults to the wells. After my lecture
was informed shat such visitation had
already come, but it was regarded as
mysterious providence and nothing had
| been done to abate the obvious cause oi
| the mischief. 1t is hard to convince men
| of any danger from their water supply
They are apt to resent disparagement oil
their wells as they would their children
| seldom inspect q town where there is not
found urgent need of the warning, Look
| carefully to your wells Even around
! the homes of isolated farmers, with every
| natural advantage for drainage and health
funess, there are often gross sanitary de
fects from barn yards, hog-pens, vaults o.
| cesspools too near the wells.
The Boards ef Health
of Massachusetts, and Connecticut give re
peated instances Of the fatal outbreak o
typhoid fever clearly traceable to tn
tainting to the farm house we'll. Hence
have advised that securing better sauitar,
conditions in our homes AMI surround
ings" be made prominent among the vari
Gus objects of the Rural improvement
!; Associations organized in different State
and now numbering over one hundred an
sixty. The hotel in this town, owned an
, admirably managed by the Baltimore ant
Ohio Railway Company, is amply supplie
| with pure water forced up from the river
II would be an act of wise foresight an
| economy if this we'll managed and pros
| perous company should extend that suppl
To the homes where so many hundreds
| their hands are housed. With its rar
natural advantages and with such waite
supply, this thriving town would contiuu
its rapid growth and prosperity.
, Fairmont is a Good illustration
! OF the responsiveness of the better towns
West Virginia to plans for public improv'
> ment. 1t is finely situated on a high blu
, along the Monongahela river. A suspensio
3 bridge across the river connects the TOW
t with Palatine. This capital of Marion couI
r ty, with cheap coal, ample water powe
!, uiacturing, with excellent. schools, .inclu'
5 ing the leading normal school OF the Stat,
:, and best OF all the public spirit Of its cit
i zens, is just entering upon new career {
= prosperity. Nearly all the native shad
D trees of New England and New Yor
abound in West Virginia, especially Ii
elm, maple, beach and linden. | found
=. Fairmont some magnificent tulip tree
!. Though indigenous, from Canada all alor
: our Atlantic coast and widely in the Wes
A this tTee is too seldom found along OIL
: streets or in private grounds. With i
; | stately columnar trunk, large limbs broai
2 truncate leaves, it deserves to be speci
{ fayorite with tree planters
: The Frequent Failures.
in transplsnting it explain its neglec
|, But such failure. as with many other tree
comes from the common mistake Of settir
out those that are too large Plantt
young, and with care, it is ordinarily su,
E TO thrive. At the close of my lecture Hol
B, +. II, Pierpoint, the war Governor OF vi
9 ginia." cordially endorsed the plans su
. gested, and moved that 8 rural improv
{ ment association be organized. Mrs. Pie
point and other prominent ladies took 8
active part in initiating this movemen
I which, under such auspices, promises Il
happiest results.
, The town that seemed at first most vi
promising for any new enterprise W,
Harper's Ferry. The United States Aru
ory was formerly the source of its thri
and prosperity. Since the burning of Ii
Government buildings this town has bee
Depleted and Discourage.
Not only has the Arnory been removed
but the massive dam across the Potoms
! which cost the Government half miIlio
of dollars, lies unused. It's nominal sa
TO the Sprsgue Company, of Rhode Islam
awakened o temporary hope, whic
failed with the failure of that CO..
cern. The old engine house-"Joh
Browns Forts the only OF
of the government buildings sti
standing. The suggestion that Harper
Ferry has natural advantages for q sun
me- resort above aay other locality il =