Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-24
HUNTINGTON's o
Her Rapid Growth-Ocvelopment of Her
Induztries.

Her Rapid GrOwth-Development Of Her
Industries.
Special Cor Gp0adsncs 81 the REGISTER.
HUNTINGTON, March 22-Much has
been said shout the marvellous growth"
Of Huntington, and as there il some inter-
est among outsiders to know what there is
in the claim for this marvellous growth, l
have spent the four or five days since my
arrival here among ITS workshops and
manufactures for the purpose Of cleaning
some facts in regard to its progress.
Huntington has a great many Of what
NAV De called natural advantages, while
the disadvantage Of the city that are
natural and Inevitable are very few. The
city stretches itself IN magnificent dis
tlnccs" along the Ohio river Immediately
below the confluence Of the GuyandOtte
with the Oa3o, and from the Ohio liver
shore 10 the hilis. IL is well laid out,
with wide streets and avenues, having
q capacity when built up, accord
ing T. the present plot, for a population of
l5O. coo. Its inhabitants number at pies
ent. however, only about 5000 Consid-
ing that il has been only aEout sixteen OF
seventeen wears slice the iiCst house was
built here, this is considered y lair growth.
This place has never enjoyed what may
be properly styled q boom, for il has been
in a measure fcee from alternating seasons
of prosperity and diversity. IL il the
market and commercial center Of D large
district OF country IN the southwestern
part OF the State, Including the counties Of
Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln and Logan, from
which coIae u great deal of timber, lumber,
agricultural and other products. In the
hills near the city are found good ytias of
coal, said 10 he ten feet in thickness, rs
we'll ~ building stone, clay and other val
liable deposits.
The principal Industry Of Huntington is
car-building and repairing, which gives
employment 20 about 1880 mem. The
Ensign Car Works Is one Of the largest es-
tablishments Of the kind IN the United
States. The plant now covers twenty
acres Of ground aud il estimated 10 he
worth $3.50, 900. Since the first Of last
April tho company has built and shipped
3203 cars and about 500 paics of trucks OF
eight wheels each. All the materials are
built in the works, and the company builds
the ears complete. The latest improved
machinery il employed, and consequently
the work is stunned Out very mpSdly. Nine
hundred men are employed here, aud the
monthly pay roll amounts 10 from 81, 900
to SS5,OOO. w. III. Baraum, of Connect
cot, IL the president Of the ENsigu Com
a and +. E. Csnda. Of New York, is
yire-presi6ent and general manager; Z. En-
sign. of Huntington, is the treasurer OF the
and superintendent Of the works,
Willie W. II. Banks is the chief clerk, to
whom 1 am indebted for these facts and
S.prrs NJ nNaks states thai the bust
ness of the company Is rapidly increasing,
ard that extensive additions Is the works
during the present yesr are contemplated.
This Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad shops
which are also located here, do the repair
ing for the road besides building q great
many cars OF various kinds. About 600
men are employed at these shops and the
monthly pay roll amounts to about $2S,-
600.
Quite an extensive lumber trade is car
ried on in Huntington and Guyandotte.
The mills of the Guyandotte Lumber Com
pany owned and operated by ]. N. Page
Co, located ut the east of the city, manu-
facture poplar, oak and walnut lumber Of
all kinds and for all puTposeS their an
nual output being about 2, leo, 600 feet.
The mills OF H. Gordon have a capacity OF
$1,000 feet per day, and their an
nual output reaches about $780,
600 feet. The tour lumber manufactures
in Guyapdotte-B. j. Wilson Tanber K
Wilson. ]. W. Bonner and Wilson & Sons
have a combined capacity of GfOm three to
fonr million feet annually. The handle
6.ctories of Hartzell & Caldwell and A.
Roseberry, also Of Guyandotte do an ak
tensive business. 1t is estimated that
$500, 600 worth of timber comes out oil the
Guyandotte river annually and Is nanu-
f,etured by the mills Of Huntington and
Guyandotte into building material. There
are several firms engaged in the planning
mill business and turn out considerable
work during the year. There are three
foundries and machine shops where all
kinds of machinery and iron and brass
castings are made. Numerous other in
dustries of less Importance have sprung up
within the last few years.
There has never been any concerted &C