The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-21
SOME GOOD THINGS
FROM "dbID SHORTS" LETTER
He nIAEsu Some Observations of a General
Nature that are of Interest to Those
Who Vast to 500 the Old Town
BoOm-Chsap Manufacturing Sites,

"Cold Short" (P, II. Moore) in the last
issue OF the st, Louis Age Of Steel has
very interesting letter from which the fol-
lowing extracts are made;
In former letter l remarked that 1t
seemed paradoxical for Pittsburgh and
Wheeling to make sheet iron and steel,
ship it to ChiCagO, and import the same
sheets from there in the shape OF stoye
pipe, must fslicltate The Age Of Steel on
the influence 1t exerts and the good 1t is
accomplishing, | was shown some stove
pipe made by Wheeling manufacturers,
Caldwell and Peterson, which is a most
decided improvement on any otherproCess
or style OF making 1t, up TO this date. 1t Is
the invention Of Wheeling genius, pat
ented by Wheelings progressive spirit
and nerve, and will shortly be put on the
market by Wheeling enterprise and capi'
tai.
Again Wheeling ia in the van and mag.
unanimously acknowledges her indebted
ness to The Age Of Steel. In another letter
| alluded to the progress being made by
tho Southern and Southwestern States and
the importance oil this trade to Pittsburgh
and Wheeling, lam frequently asked by
parties anxious and willing to engage in
manufacturing enterprise, to indicate some
special lines that are generally prosper
Gus and not like nails are, oVerdone. This
is q problem, but for the benefit OF In
quiring soliCitudG ! noted aome Pitts
burgh lines that Just now might come
under the desired category The railway
supply trade is good one this includes
car axles, nuts, bolts, spikes, splice bars
and speCialties used in ironing cars; 200
tons Of these are made daily and the sup
ply is not over the demand. Wrought
pipe is another. Ten pipe mills in Pitts.
burgh are making $50 tons per day, and
refusing TO take orders. This demand is
likely to be sustained for several years.
Some experiments have been made In
the vicinity OF Wheeling with the view Of
making coal gas fuel that would serve
for both heating aud illuminating pur-
pOassand be 30 Cheaply produced as TO
displaCe ordinary gas and coal in small
interior towns, Tue process Is an ordi-
nary gas generating one up to a certain
stage, that is, where the gas has been all
distilled from the coal aud residue coke
remains. The new scheme Is at this point
10 introduce oxygen in certain volumes
and entirely consume the coke, which
process would generate large additional
quantity Of gas, materially Cheapening the
whole production. The lessened cost part
works all right, but the product, under
stand, has but low and Invaluable illumi-
mating and heating power. 1t will neither
compete with nor compensate for natural
gas. So up to date nature Is still ahead,
and she is vigorously holding her own.
notice that A. j. Sweeney 4 Son, oil
Wheeling, are building 100 nail machines
for the Chicago Steel Manufacturing Com
pany, located at Hammond, Ind, sixteen
miles from Chicago. Messrs. Sweeney x
Son arc also adding to their already dis
tinguished reputation as cotton steamboat
builders. A number OF their boats are
now plying on tributaries OF the Missis.
sippi and on Central American rivers.
They are now finishing an exceptionally
fine one for the Southern trade.
Sympathizlng with my efforts to make
known the many natural advantages pos
sessed by Wheeling in CoparCeny with
Pittsburgh, have been asked what spe-
cial movements 1t behooves a city 10
make in order to attract favorable atten
ton and capital, and secure the invest
ment Of the latter alter 1t has become sui.
iiciently interested to make investigations.
This is out Of my line, but 1t is very much
easier to state what should not be done;
for instance, when q city owns gas ami
water works, ndthey are thesourCesO fsup-
ply, the ratesshouldb e down to figures buta
small margin above cost-this would DO
wise ruls 10 adopt with regard To factories
already in operation by home enterprise,
as well as an induCement for foreign cap.
ital to come to them. Manufacturing en-.
terpriso can be readily driven of or
smOthered by high taxation, exorbitant
water taxes especially. There Is aselfsh,
avaricious animal instinct, IsuppOse 1t is
for it Is too iguoble to be Classed with en-.
lightened ideas Of proper perception Of
right-to get as much as possible, to the
utmost limit Of honest value, II not be.
You'd, for manufacturing sites, Just because
there lisa chance TO compel parties anxious
10 decide that important preliminary to
give it, This is not good citizenship, but,
II l may be excused the expression, 1t is
unmitigated hoggishness, whether Of prl-
Vate or municipal action.