Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-23
HERE'S A CHANGE
FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO DO
SOME VIGOROUS WORK.
The DisOn Saw Company Sdll Looking for a West
cn L,clton-Why Mt Bring Mr.. DssonO
Wheeling and Show Hin Around.

Notwithstanding it has been currently
reported and generally believed that the
Disston Saw Manufacturing Company had
secured q Western location i'll or near
Pittsburgh, it has been reliably
ascertained that nothing deh-
mite has yet been determined upon
By the firm, their agents being still in the
field, actively searching for a location
affording natural gas, good railroad Ii
river facilities, and such other necessities
and co~nveniences as are desirable to a con-
Germ of the size aud importance OF this
firm.
Mr.. N. E. Whitaker, of the Crescent
Mill, was in Beaver Falls on Tuesday and
Wednesday of this week, and while there
be met and had quite an extended CONVEX
sation with n Of the agents of the Disston
firm, who had been sent out on . prospect
ing tour to look up the advantages held out
by Pittsburg and the surrounding towns
and cities. From statements made by the
gentleman to Mr.. Whitaker it would seem
that nothing very satisfactory 10 the firm
had vet been fOund-certainly that no
choice had been made of a new site to
which to remove the plant. Ground had
been looked at in Pittsburg and elsewhere,
but the price was either O~utrageously high,
or something else interviewed to
prevent a location, In Pittsburgh, land
suitable for the wants of the company was
held as high as S25, 900 per acre, a figure q
little too steep for even q wealthy corpora
ton, such rs is here being considered.
Mr.. Whitaker called the attention OF the
gentleman to Wheeling, and told him we
had here q thriving, buStling, busy city,
with large manufacturing interests firmly
established and fairly prosperous; that we
were situated practically at the head of
navigation on the Ohio river; that our
railroad communications were ample, with
prospects,, of a still further im-
prOvement in the near future; that we had
an abundance of room for new interests,
at prices very much less m than
S25, 900 per acre: that we had natural gas;
that our people were in the humOr to ex-
tend n hearty welcome to strangers con-
templaUing locating in Our midst; that our
taxes were low, and suggested and urged
that a visit should be paid to our city and
its merits reviewed before a definite choice
should BE- made. To all of this respectful
attention was given, and its probably,
thanks to Mr.. Whitaker, that Wheeling
will not be entirely overlooked by the
company.
This being the situation, would it not
be the proper thing for the Chamber Of
Commerce to step in and display some well
directed energy in the matter? Ought not
Mr.. DiSStOn be cOrrespOnded with, and ar
rangements made for either he or his agents
to come to Wheeling and as
certain personally what our in
ducements are, and how they contrast with
those of other cities? The people Of Beaver
Falls, and other Western Pennsylvania
towns are moving in the matter, and I'M
less we enter the arena with them, and
make q fight, they will carry of the much
sought prize. The DisstOn Saw Company
once secured for Wheeling, it would be
easy to induce other manufacturers seeking
the advantages given by natural gas to
come here also, for where one big cOrpor-
alton treads, others are not afraid to tOflOw.
1t only requires the ice to be broken, and
this is an opportunity TO strike the blow.