Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-21
FLOATING PALACES.
A Packet Ride From Parkersburg TO
wheeling.


Special 10 The Register.
On BOARD THE STEAMER COURIER,
April 1S.-A trip from Parkersburg to
W heeling, or vice versa, by either OF
the daily packets, the popular Courier
or Diurnal, although to some would be
regarded as tedious; yet, To the writer
is always enjoyed, except when the
Ohio is full of ice or at very low stage.
A trip at this season Of the year, when
the bare old hills are beginning to as
sumo their summer garb, and the green
meadows and wheat fields giving prom
Use of an abundant harvest, together with
the budding and blooming orchards
and fright, green foliage which lines
the banks of the river, all combined,
presents scene pleasing to the eye OF
all admirers of the beauties OF mother
nature. Owing to the variety of
business reprepresented in the traffic
between the Oil City and the
Nail City, and the many and
peculiar people engaged therein, and
who come aboard and go ashore during
q trip affords glimpse at all kinds OF
human nature, and gives an observer
an idea of the many trities which, com
bined, go to make up the commerce OF
the world. Every basket Of eggs aud
pound of butter, although small, in the
aggregate amounts to many thousands
of collars, and so with the various COM
modities shipped from points along the
river. The thriving towns OF st. Ma
rvs, Sistersville, New MartinSvllle,
Proctor, and many other places on the
West Virginia side, and Marietta,
Newport, NIatamOras, COchransvllle,
Baersville, Powhattan and Darlington
of the trade. The traveller on the
Courier or Diurnal has an opportunity
of seeing the entire population of the
various towns, as it is their custom to
turn out en- masse on the approach of a
boat, and stand on the shore while the
steamer discharges or receives her
freight and passengers. Your corre-
spondent lef: Parkersburg Monday
morning on board the old
reliable Courier, with Captain
Jack Booth in command,
and Mack Gamble and his courteous
aids in charge OF the office. These otfi-
Gers are so we'll known that anything
offered by way of praise would not add
to the high reputation already achieved
by the gentlemen. The morning was
clear and pleasant, and the day has
been q glorious one. The boat has
good passenger list and also fair trip
of freight. With the miscellaneous
freight was fine lot of cattle, shipped
at Sistersville and destined for Wheel
ing market, also some fine hogs at Sis
tersville and Bearsville. At nearly
every landing lot of eggs, from one to
a dozen cases, were shipped, together
with butter from a roll to barrel,
beans, dried apples, potatoes, corn, etc,
principally consigned to Wheeling mer-
chants. Material for the Ohio River
railroad was brought from Parkersburg
and Marietta and distributed at all
points along the line where operations
have begun. At several points touched
by the steamer to-day quite stretch Of
tAe road is graded and ready for,the ties.
Standing on the deck of the steamer
witnessing several hundred men at
work making the dirt fly, has ten
dency to impress one forcibly that our
long wished for road will be built,
thanks TO the indomitable pluck amt
energy of the few gentlemen who have
labOrtd so long and zealOusly in this en-
terprise. And in this connection
"ROmbut." the correspondent of the
State Journal, whose ready pen fifty
suggested the urgent need of the pro-
posed line, should not be forgotten.
Now, "ROmbut," you succeed in get.
ting that hotel erected and the water
works established in Parkersburg your
name will be handed down to future
generations as one of the greatest bene-
factors of the age.
Among the passengers to-day were
noted Ed. l.. Rose, the genial manager
of the Howe Machine Company, of
Wheeling; Chas. Clouston, of your city,
who has been visiting friends in Parkers-
burg, w. L. Peterson, Samuel Norton,
of Wheeling, who have been on fish
ing excursion; Hon. sep. Hall, of
Wetzel; Col. Bob McEld0wney, who
has been in the lower end of the county
settling for the right of way. of the Ohio
river railroad, reports all satisfactory.
Rufus Hester, of st. Mary'S, came up
on the Courier en- route to Fairmont,
where he goes to attend the Normal
school. r.