Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-02-04
COLUMBUS CUlLlNGS.
The Multitude OF Belmont County
Missionaries Who Labored In
the Legislative Vineyard.
The Second Round In the Hard Glove
Contest Over the County Seat
Question, ard the Heavy
Knock Down for St. ClairsviIIe. .
Martins Ferry's Prosperity
Downed by Columbus Rum.
.speeia! 70 tie Sunday Rsasster.

TIE register Of the leading hotels about
Tuesday or Wednesday last, would have
caused disinterested person to think that
st. Clairsville and Bsllaire had been de.
serted by their leading citizens who had
come up to Columbus to engage in mission
ary work. Indeed, the benign presence OF
the Rev. Alexander. OF st. Clairsville,
would indicate as much. A wanderer from
his native hills of Belmont in looking in
upon the lobby of the House would have
at once arrived at the conclusion that the
preachers, lawyers, doctors ard editors had
given up their vocations to join in the tur-i
moil Of legislation and political pickering
at the State Capitol. But he would have
been mistaken. The gathering OF the clans
of Belmont was occasloned BY the county
seat strife. When, Tuesday morning. the
sun shone bright, crisp and : clear, it
cast a glow over the eXpectant faces
OF c. l.. Poorman, J. b. Smith, John A. Gal
lagher John b. Shannafelt, r. w. Nelson,
OF Belaire, and Rev. Alexander, Judge
Robert Chambers, and Doctor West, of ST.
Clairsyille. Thus it may be seen that med
ical and legal Jurisprudence and theology
were to bear upon the case pro and con.
The party was supplied with vast quanu-
ties Vf documents and maps TO demonstrate
that what they had to say was the truth,
"the whole truth and nothing but the
truth" map WAS at last selected, sup.
posed to represent Belmont county, which
showed the city of Wheeling a little speck
across the river, and Bellaire magnificent
city with fine streets, princely buildings
and myriad reads reading into its classic
environments.
The Contest.
Tuesday evening the clans gathered in
the hall Of the House Of Representatives.
The Committee on new counties and coun-
ty affairs consisting Of Messrs. Ross, Of
Carroll; Brooks, of Mingo; Stevens, OF
Clermont; Frame, of Guernsey; Card, OF
Cuyahoga; Mccullough, of Allen, and Hop
kins, of Marion county, were on hand,
evidently appreciating the impoi lance OF
the situation. The placid Mr.. Wagner was
also on hand. The committee, in company
with the latter gentleman, had travelled
over the entire route and given the matter
considerable attention so that they had
about decided what u do without further
parley. Yet they were willing TO hear
what the represeh tatives of the two inter
est had to say, and waded through the three
or four hours OF evidence very patiently.
Editor Poorman, OF Bellaire, made pro-
found and exhaustive argument III favor OF
a submittal to the people in accordance
with the Wagner measure: He demon
strated with remarkable clearness
that iar tBe seil'r' county T1' ssa sae pnSse tnSe
its railroad facilities were better, that aven.
ues Of ingress and egress were superior, and
that more people in the country would he
accommodated if the seat was moved to
Bellaire than there would be or could be at
any other point.
Judge Chambers
demonstrated the same thing in regard to
St. Clairsville. He showed couclusiyely
that il was the centre Of population and
the centre geographically, that net work
of good county turnpikes ran into 1t, that
it had a narrow gauge railroad and that the
people Of Belmont would be contented with
no other place. He maintained that Bel.
laire had only one miserable mud road
leading to it, which was part OF the year
impossible. That ii was smoky and un.
healthy and in such close proximity
to tie wicked city Of Wheeling,
that the good pilgrims TO Bellaire were in
constant danger Of being inveigled into its
precincts, led into temptation and trapped
in its snares. AS the Judge proceeded he
warmed to his work. He indulged in flights
of oratory that were surprising, and his
logic was convincing Like the curate in
Gilbert's "Bab Ballads when trying re-
form Tom, Bob and Billy"
"He argued high, he argued low,
He argued round about him"
One instant he raised the committee,
State House and all, to the highest pinnacle
Of mountain and then holding them for
an instant trembling in mid air, sent them
crushing down 10 the foot OF a precipice
only to gather up the nangled and bleed.
ing remains 10 repeat the op.
Grafton. He ended in a burst OF
applause. Reverend Alexander bredthed
a heartfelt amen, and DR.. West, true 10 his
calling, prescribed glass OF water That
speech settled the county seat matter with
the committee. They decided to report
against Mr.. Wagner's william" and next
Wednesday will report back the bill to the
House and recon mend its indefinite post.
ponement. Mr.. Wagner will endeavor to
have the bill engrCssed and passed over the
Speakers head, but il is fighting for lost
cause. A bill will be introduced the ensu-
ing week in the interest Of 1t. Clairsville,
providing that new county buildings be
erected there.
Mr.. Kithcart.
of your sister city OF Steubenville, makes
jefferson county good representative. He
is a Quiet, modest little man, but gets in
his work all the same. He has been quite
busy this week and yesterday introduced
three bills, one requiring marriage certih-
Gates to be sent TO the ProbBte Judge with
in three months after marriage, another
authorizing the city of Steubenville to
issue bonds 10 the amount Of $4,000, TO
complete city buildings, and the last TO
provide for the improvement OF highways
in Jefferson county.
Bartin's Ferry
evidently intends TO keep up with the
times. Mr.. Wagner has introduced bill
authorizing the council Of that village TO
issue bonds for improvements. Within
the next two years gas works, city opera
house, sewers, ETC., may distinguish Mar
tins Ferry from the ordinary run OF towns.
That Relief Bill.
The bill for the relief of John II. Parks,
the Kirkwood township treasurer, who
was robbed of about 500, having passed
the House with O rush, went to the Senate
Yesterday. 1t received no opposition
whatever, and is now law. Wagner feels
good over the passage of this little bill, as
be thinks the man deserving.
Insane from Drink.
Mr.. Miller, the gentleman from Mercer,
heretofore mentioned in the dispatches, in
stead OF getting better, has rapidly de-
stcndsd down the scale. He has not been
in his seat since the session began, and
during the last week appeared on the floor
without Q shirt, soiled under garment
showing up to bad advantage. He smoked
a stronS stogie among the members while
the House was IN session. talked wildly
about the dynamite fiends blowing the Cap.
ital up, snd threatened to bayonet
Speaker Hodge. He became % violent that
il was apparent he was insane and he waa
arrested and confined IN the city prison
where he now is. An effort was made By
his brother to send him TO the asylum bat
the Probate Judge refused to hold ths In
quest because he could not be sent from
this county. He will be sent to the in
firmery until he can be transferred to biz
home IN Mercer. He was one of the bright
est men in the House last winter, but Co
lumbus whiskey downed him.
Mardi Gras PaFty.
A crowd of gentlemen from the Lesisls
ture, consisting of Speaker Hsthsvay prt
tenn, and Representatives McCrory, Negley
yal!andighsm, Locke. Pugsley, and Bargar
under the care OF Major-General Fred. n
Blenkner, left in q special car last eyenini
for New Orleans where they will participate
in the Mardi Cras Carnival.