Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-24
KANAwAH CITY.
A Lively Fight Between Those Who want
the Town incorporated and Those VINO


A Lively Fight Between Those VINO want
| the Town Incorporated and Those Who
do Nor.
| SsseiQI telegram 10 tbs Rsolstsr.
CHARLESTON, W. VA, December %.
The people of Kanawha City, su-
burb of Charleston, on the south SIDE OF
Kanawha river, will, on Saturday. De-
cember 81, vote upon the question OF
incorporating the town. III the Ques-
tion is decided in the affirmative, a
charter will at once be applied Tor ana
steps be taken TO organize a municipal
government There is considerable
contest in progress over the question:
and from now ill the 3lst there Is ike
ly to be as much politics TO the square
inch in Kanawha City as Is usuaIly
found In long Established municipalities.
Part of the citizens OF the place believe
that the time has come for Kanawha
City, or the people thereof, to assume
the prerOgatives and responsibilities, as
well as to reap the advantages OF mu-
| uicpal government, and that to hesitate
| in the matter would be detrimental TO
the interests OF the town. There are
others, however, who believe that the
population of the town is
not great enough TO warrant
so bold and reckless step.
A census was taken OF the peple recent
ly, by which it was ascertained that
there were three hundred souls residing
In the town. It is charged by the anti
incorporationists that the movement 10
incorporate the place is scheme OF the
LIQUOR men who desire 10 establish sa-
looms there and who cannot secure IL
cense unless the town Is Incorporated.
A. A. Smell and others were before the
County Court, at d recent sitting, with
an application for license TO retail
liquors in Kanawha City. The granting
of the license was opposed by citizens
upon the ground that in the absence OF
justices, constabes or police officers the
people would have no protection against
intoxicated men. Upon this ground the
court refused to grant license for Ka-
nawha City. If city government
should be organized for Kanawha City,
it Is thought the County Court will not
hesitate to license the liquor dealers,
and the fight is, therefore, somewhat
divided on the line between the prohi-
bitionistS and the patrons OF the saloons.
The meagreness Of the population or
the place is serious bar to the move
ment Of the incorporationists The
town has not enjoyed a growth common
surate with the hopes and expectations
OF its promoters. The Kanawha City
Company was organized about two
years ago, the principal movers in the
scheme being the late Henry S. Walker,
Col. VIM. A. MacCorkle, Fred Coburn,
T. o. NJ. Davis, of Charleston, and 9TH
ers. A considerable tract OF land was
purchased by them for which they paid
the sum OF SO, 900, which they laid out
in town lots. The Company's hold
ings were capitalized at $4,000.
About sshaf of the stock OF
the company was purchased by Charles
ton capitalists while the holders Of the
remainder are scattered over fourteen
different States, many OF the stockhold-
ers being among the capitalists OF Bal
timore, Md, and Stanton, Va. AT an
auction sale of lots in June OF last year
500 lots were disposed OF upon which
the company realized $4,000. Since
that time only very few lots have
been sold. The death of Mr.. Walker
seems to have given the town
q back-set from which it has never
recovered. There have been few
manufacturing establishments erected
and some OF them are now In operation,
bnt the efforts Of the company to in
AVE. aSsst m saeT nGhey IN kanawha City
have not met with that degree OF sue
cess that was at first hoped for. About
the only establishments now in opera
ton in Kanswha City are the Kanawha
City Lumber Company, with capital OF
$40. 600 invested, and the kanawha
Bedding Manufacturing Company
With an invested capital OF
$4,000. A very large and
substantial building, costing $4,000
was erected by company which In
tended to start chair factory, but the
company failed. The Columbia Barbed
Wire and Nail Company has invested
1925, 900 In q plant and will soon be
ready to begin operations. This is
about the extent of Kanswha City's
manufacturing interests, and with the
exception Of $4,000 hotel and a few
smaller buildings this is all OF the
town. The incorporation OF the town
will, 1t is claimed, tend TO give II a
more dignified position and standing
among the places Of Importance to
manufacturers and In many ways en-
nure 10 its advantage.