The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-15
nonnRInGE COUNTY.
West Union aud EyuIrons-County Seat
AffairS-PerSonAIs.

AnRirS-perS0nhIS.
Special Correspondence Of TIC Laiegi5aer.
WEST UNION, June ll.-Several years
ago a gentleman and his eight.year old son,
residents OF large city in the neighborhood
visited West Union. In company with q
friend they walked about the town, look,
ing at the points Of interest 1t presented.
After protracted silence the boy, with a
sidelong glance at the friend, asked llia
father the name Of the place.
"West Union," replied the parent, land
II is very old town, my son."
eyes, l thought So" answered the boy,
with suspicion Of smile.
"Wby?" interpOsed the friend.
"0h!" and the boy shot glance at the
court house, the jail and the grass in the
streets, "0h, it looks so near worn out"
That was several years ago; II the boy
were 10 visit West Union In this year OF
reaSsessments he would find the town
showing every sign Of prosperity. A fine
new court house has replaced the miserable
old structure; residences have been built,
many. dilapidated ones repaired, and
tho whole appearance Of the town indicates
prosperity, Notwithstanding tho universal
cry hard times which | hear all through
this country. The Court house is two.
story brick containing offices for the prose.
cutting attorney, sheriff and clerks OF the
courts, aud beautiful court room, seated
with chairs, having a rich walnut desk for
the Judge. The cost was about $l0,0 900,
though competent Judges Say this Is fully
s., ,0O0 less than the building Is really worth.
The contractor having lost money. Seems
strange, doesn't II, TO hear OF a contractoro on
public building losing money.
SITUATION or THE TOWN.
The population Of West Union, the
County seat Of the good county Of Dodd-
ridge and the largest town in 1t, is proba.
bly, 250, possibly 800. 1t is situated on
series OF small hills, that cause it to have
very broken appearance, and is enviroaed
by still higher hills that, defined against
the skies, accentuate the beauty OF the
scene, and makes this spot one Of the pret.
tiest have seen for days one paper, live,
enterprising and worthy Of patronage, is
published here, and II well llled advOrtis.
Using columns are criterion, is much
appreciated here. 1t is Democratic in
politics but is said 10 be fair and not given
to dirt Here resides Hon. franklin
Maxwell, the largest land owner in the
county, and probably in the State. Taxes
are charged 10 him on 90 900 acres OF land,
timbered aad otherwise. aud his tax re-
ceipt is nearly ayard long and a hall wide.
He is very popular here and is State Sena.
tor from this district.
While the town and county reJoices in u
beautiful new court house, It must be con.
fessed that the JUL is miserable affair
being neither fit nor cafe for the incarcera.
tion Of human being. Part OF the win
dowa are slated with what appears to be,
at distance, barrel slaves, but which on
approach resolve themselves into stats OF
wood. In the jail ut present but one pri.
soner ia coniiued, young man named
Harry HGshbarger. who frepzied by drink
made furious attack on several persons
who were in no way bothering him. In
juries which he inflicted on one person are
very severe. The parties under arrest for
the murder committed here in April last,
are in tho Ciarksburg Jail which the couit
OF this county has adopted until new jail
is built here. WAS given the inside points
on some mighty interesting political mat
tiers, which shall give in u subsequent
letter. They are the inside facts and the
parties interested cannot deny the charges.
The Republicans OF the county don't pro.
pose to stand any more OF il, and plans arc
now forming that will be OF great advantage
to the party.
GENERAL NOTES.
Doddridge county has bald.headed
bacht lor for Sheriff. This is no reflection
on the fair lasses Of the county, nor on
Sheriff McSIillen's popularity or compe.
tency, for the ladies OF Doddridge are
unusually pretty, and Mr.. McMillen has
made one Of the most efficient officers the
county has ever had. The finances are in
a splendid condition, and great general
satisfaction is expressed over the official
actions Of the Sheriff,
There Is one thing which ! do not
understand, and that is the bitter antaGo.
tiism to banks which fnd all through
this section. The inconvenience caused
by this absence must be great, and yet
with Iare exceptions it is impossible to-
find man in favor of bank even In the
county or town. County officials and mer.
chants handling large sums of money are
compelled to do business at long range
through banks in Parkerburg, Claiksburg
or Grafton. Without a railroad do not
see what West Union and Doddridge
county would do, and yet heard gray
haired man say to-day that the county
was better of without them. QUILP.