The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-25
BACK FROMTHHG ASFIELD
The Central Glass Works Com
mittee Of Inspection
is FAVORABLY IMPRESSED.
They Visit Four Towns aud Return
Imbucd with the Boom Spirit.
They Report Plenty Of Gas
aud Other Facilities.

Messrs, August Roll and Peter Cassell,
the two members Of the Board OF DireC-
tors Of the Central Glass Company who
went to inspect several towns in the
Ohio and Indiana gas fields which have
made propositions looking to a reloca.
ton Of the Central works there, returned
home yesterday morning, They stopped
lrst at Fostoria, where both gentlemen
are interested in a new glass works with
the management OF which Mr.. Rolls
son is connected, They did not have
any proposals for locating in Fostoria,
which has all the glass works she wants,
and merely stopped there to make u
visit.
From Fostoria they went to North
Baltimore, Ohio, thence to Kokomo and
Anderson, Ind, and from there to Ian.
caster, Ohio,
An lNTELLIdRSCER reporter last even.
ing called on Mr.. Rolf and asked about
the impressions he and MI. Cassell re.
CeiYed while on their trip, Mr.. Roll
said there was an abundance OF gas ut all
four OF the towns they visited, At
North Baltimore the surroundings are
not attractive, the town being new, the
improvements meagre and nearly all the
new Housekeeping up being small wooden
ones. The shipping facilities there are
also inadequate, there being but one
railroad, the Baltimore 4 Ohio. The
gas andthe land are the principal attrac-
tons there for factories.
KokOmo, Ind, is a larger and older
town, with good facilities for business
and shipping, having three railroads,
and many attractions as a place OF resi-.
dence.
Anderson, Ind, also has two or three
railroads, and is a good place generally.
Both Of these towns have all the gas
needed for many new works.
Mr., Rolf was evidently most favorably
impressed with Lancaster, Ohio. 1t is q
city OF 10000 or so population, with
school facilities fora population twice as
large, the school houses being excellent
structures for thu purpose. There is also
a good fire department and heavy water
pressure, good roads, and two railroads
completed and a branch OF the b. 4 o.
heing constructed. Here they have, Mr.
Rolf says, the largest gas well in the
country. He received q telegram last
evening saying the volume OF its plo'
duction had largely increased. Here
there is a good site between two rail
roads, and the town would bore a well
expressly for the works. A creek fur
nishes fine water in large volume at O
convenient distance. The Lancaster.
ians claim an advantage in their prox.
Unity to tho Hooking ValleyCoal fields, in
view OF the possible failure OF the gas
They are thirty miles away. Here the
Central went about that many yards fol
their coal, when they used coal,
Mr.. Rolf spoke very highly Of the way
they were received and treated in all
four Of the towns visited. Wheeling
might learn a lesson from the live spirit
shown by the boomers. All the towns
have Boards OF Trade which are flour
ishing and useful institutions.
MTs null sHlu 16 udu uVb 4Gt bGGu
President Scott. His own view was that
II the Central went to another town the
plant here would be closed down and all
It's hands taken along, so far us they
would go. Having the complete equip.
ment, experienced managers and
skilled men, the company would have
many advantages over other concerns in
the gas region. He, and, he did not
doubt, everybody else interested, would
leave Wheeling with great reluctance
but it was n question Of staying here and
remaining idle or going there with q
prospect Of making money, 1t was toe
early TO indicate what the company
would do. Many OF the workmen own
houses OF their own, and they would Of
course be 10th 10 leave here, but it was
not easy TO see what they would do II
the factory closed down.
The glass business in Fostoria Is dull,
as elsewhere, but the men in 1t there are
ambitious, pushing and nearly all young,
and when business improves Mr.. Rolf
thinks that town will get It's share. OF
Findlay he did not think very highly.
At Lancaster the gas is SC pure that 1t
is used largely as an illuminant and, Mr..
Rolf says, makes a very superior light.