Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-29
CHARLESTON BOOMING.
The Coming of the Legislature Wakes Up
the Capital.


the Capital.
Special Telegram 10 TIE Register.
CHARLESTON, W. VA, December d.
This city, or rather overgown town, is,
in commemoration Of the all-absorbing
topic, t. e., the meeting of the Legislature
next month, putting on its holiday
clothes, but like many pretty women with
handsome outer clothing on, there is a de-
cided appearance of soiled linen. The
streets are muddy, and in many parts Of
.the city so badly torn up, one can scarcely
get along with vehicle. There is one re-
deeming quality, and that is that we are
revelling in the luxuries of street lamps
and public water plugs. This is a great
luxury, and we are at loss to know how
enterprising citizens could do without
either 1t is true that the fire plugs are
about mile apart, and one
has 10 take lantern to find
his way along between many of the gas
lamps, but there is enterprise here, and
if your city had little of it, you could
"boom the old town" and it would not be
an old town any Longer, but as spry as a
six weeks old kitten.
There are ten acre fields distributed
throughout the city and the owners rather
than sell, place the ground at such an eX-
horbitant price, that no one short of being
a millionaire can indulge in Charleston
lot. About all Of the corner lots are Sold
and none but high priced middle lots are
now upon the market. When summer
will have come again, there will be three
streets here and the Wheeling brick paved
streets will be eclipsed in beauty and
grandeur.
The private and public hasheries here
are laughing away down into their sleeves
over the idea of having chance to feed
members of the Legislature this winter.
My experience with the average legislator
at boarding houses, has been somewhat
extensive and | found that he was, as n
general thing, very economical animal,
and would do all in his power to hunt up
a very cheap hashery.
| understand that there is to be grand
ball and supper given here on the 5th Of
next month, probably to the members of
the Legislature in honor of that institution
meeting here. A large sum of money has
been subscribed and it will be the endeav-
or of the originators of the scheme to make
the affair the social event of the season
The new hotel now under course of con-
struction is to be grand building-in
fact the most imposing of its kind in the
State. The house when completed will be
strictly a first-class one, and will be the
largest and most thoroughly equipped ho-
tel of any in the State. The whole build
ing will he used as hostelry and no rooms
will be fitted up for any other than hotel
purposes. The proprietors, Ruffner Bros,
will engage manager and run the house
themselves-and as they have succeeded in
all business enterprises started by them
selves you may look for success of this
their new move.
The business of this place is picking up
and the wholesale merchants say that their
sales were never better nor collection more
prompt. The retail traders report their
sales fiIst-class. All grades of business
appear good and few men are seen loafng
around-that is, if they desire work.
Christmas has come and gone, and not
withstanding this is dry town, great
quantities OF beer and whisky were bought
here and consumed. One can, if he knows
the ropes, get his beer by the glass or by
the bottle, and his whisky the same way,
so YOU see there is no Difference only with
the class who have not always a small
amount of money at their immediate COM
mand 1t Is believed that the whisky
people will not he able to secure licenses
in January, as was expected when COun-
ty Commissioner was elected.