Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-11
THE COUNTY'S GUESTS.
FORMULATING PLANS PoR THBBNTBRTAlN'
MBNT OF TIE EASTERN CAPITALISTS
Interested in the Union Railroad Bridge and Ter
minal Systsm-A Meeting Of the
Chamber Of Commerce


Eastern syndicate interested in the Union
railroad bridge snd terminal system was
the occasion of well-attended session Of
the Chamber Of Commerce, last evening"
at which about an hour and half was de-
voted to a general discussion Of what was
best to be done to properly receive and
entertain the strangers. There was
throughout the meeting lively apprecia-
ton OF the importance Of the arrival OF the
visitors, and of the great and fsr-reachine
benefits which might accrue from their
coming, and everyone entered heartily
into the business of the evening.
The meeting was called to order at eight
o'clock by President Quarter, who stated,
briefly and concisely, the purpose for which
the session was called. President r IL
Cochran, of the Bridge and Terminal Rail-
way Company, took the floor, upon invi'
tation, and put the Chamber IN possession
of the facts relative to the expected yisit
of the Eastern capitalists. Judge Cochran
said the first inIimation he had that the
gentlemen were coming to Wheeling, was
contained in a letter he received from
Col Bissell, some ten days ago. In tnat
letter Col. Bissell stated that the gentle
men financially interested in the enter
prise. to tie number OF about fifteen,
could arrive in Wheeling on the
18th of the present month, to inspect
The progress of the work. Proceed
ing. Judge Cochran said be kept
the matter quiet, only casually mention.
ing it to two or three gentlemen who had
called at the office Of the company, and he
was greatly surprised when he saw the
announ cement in print. Later, he had re-
ceived another letterfrom Col. Bissell,
stating the gentlemen, TO the number oil
about twenty, would leave New York on
the 18th, and would arrive IN Wheeling
on the afternoon of the 10Th He regret
ted he could not furnish the chamber with
their names, but he could say the visitors
were prominent finsnciers OF Boston and
New York, few of them having ever been
in this portion Of the country before.
hey had invested a great deal of money
ere, and there was prospect that theiI
isit might mean a great deal more foI
this community than there was con-
tanned in the Union bridge and it's con.
pectingi terminals. He did not feel
at liberty to talk upon that subject more
fully, and would content himself with
that reference to it, in the hope that the
citizens of Wheeling, and it's manufac
turers and business men especially, would
have a proper idea what the visit to
Wheeling meant. He desired to add, be-
fore taking HE seat, that he was grstitied
to see the movement now on foot to receive
and entertain the visitors. Il was espe-
cialIy gratifying that the movement was
sponta neous with the citizens. and he fan
cied that great good would be the result.
A general discussion of the subject OF
how TO best entertain the visitors resulted,
in the course of which President p. B
Dobbius, OF the Board OF Commissioners,
said be had called special meeting OF
that body for two o'clock this after
noon, to msp.ont programme and pro-
vide the necessary funds for carrying II
out He felt that il was peculiarly the
province of the county to do this, mas
much rs it YVES large stakeholder in the
enterprise, and the whole population Ofthe
county would be represented In it's action
Mr. Dobbins WAS fully coguizNnt Of the
desirabili,y of receiving the visitors in
proper way, and urged that the Chamber
of Commerce take such action as would
enable it to have a voice in the manage
ment and direction Of what ever entertaiL-
ment might be appropriate.
1t was urged by one or two gentlemen
that inasmuch as the banqueting Of the
visitors would be purely social affair, it
would be fitting that the Chamber of
Commerce relieve the county Of this
portion Of the programme, and defray the
expense out of its own funds, but a
motion to this effect was voted down, the
majority Of those present being content
to allow the county to foot the
entire bill. Before the vote was taken
Mr.. Walter Bell, one Of the earnest sdvo-
Gates OF the plan to have the Chamber of
Commerce defrsy the cost of whatever
social attention might be offered to the
strangers, pointed ont the improperly OF
asking the general public to settle for an
entertainment at which bat limited num-
Der could be present, and said that for
one, he would feel some delicacy in sitting
at table under such circumstances. HIS
point, however, was esteemed rot well
taken, az the action of the gathering shows.
After the discussion had extended over
considerable time, Senator n. B Scott
moved that committee of five be
appointed to act in conjunction with
like committees to be appointed
by the Board of Commissioners or
the City Council, to make arrangements
to receive and entertain the visitors.
This was adopted, and President
Quarrier appointed IS such committee
Messrs. Y. B Scott, A. J. Sweeney, Thos.
O'Brien, G. B. Hart and Randolph Stall
nokes. Later, President Quarrier was adj
ded to the committee, and again the COM
mittes was enlarged to seven, that Mr.. F.
]. Hearne might be included.
The understanding was that this COM
mittee is to have full power to represent
the Chamber of Commerce in every way,
and it has the power TO sdd to its mem
bers or to ask for and receive donations Of
money, should such financial aid be deemed
desirable.
Mayor Seabright, in answer to query
as to the action Council might take, Of
fered to call special session of that BODY
for this evening, if the Chamber desired
that course taken, but it was thought the
cooperation of the city authorities could
be dispensed with.
After the adjournment Of the meeting
the members Of the committee met and or
ganizsd by elec'ing Senator Scott chair
man, and Hon. Randolph Stalnaker secre-
A 6fraa NQd I'D
dressed 10 the Board of County Commits
sioners, stating the fact of the appoint
ment of the committee, and reciting that
the body was ready and anxious to cooper
ate with the Board of Commissioners in
any steps which may be in contemplation
looking to the entertainment Of the visitors.
The committee then adjourned, to meet
this evening in joint session with the COM
nittee of the Board of Commissioners, to
arrange details.