Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-05-21
sD.eo. corr.sDondene. OF TIE REGISTER.

0DtCbUt COITctUOIbucItCc W - AAcSSSNS+
UPLAND, IND, May $50 many
families have come from the manufact-
nrlng towns scattered along the upper
Ohio river 10 try their fortunes In the
great natural gas field OF Indiana, that
were you to go into either Alexandria,
Elwood, Muncie, Marion. Gas City. Up
land, Hartford City, Dunkirk or Red
Key, Ind, you would be sure to meet
familiar faces.
Throughout the entire gas region
great activity is manifested, and each
Of these towns is fast developing In
commercial and manufacturing import
ance. At the rate Of the present In
crease of population and extensions
of corporate limits 1t would ap-
pear that in a few years these
towns may have so reached out as to
constitute one grand metropolis. l
have watched with great interest dur
ing the year and q half I have been In
the gas field the growth Of some OF
these places from miserable little VII
lagos to s~prightly young cities, with
streets graded, and either blocked,
paved or graveled and cement side
walks, electric lights and water works,
and have seen built many and various
factories, dwelling houses by TIE hum
dreds and business blocks by the score,
of which not one factory is idle, not
one business or dwelling house empty.
IF course there must be some great
cause to produce such great effect; and
1t is due, First-to the quality OF the
gas, which is the best in the world; Sec
ond-to the area Of the Indiana gas
field, which is seventeen times that OF
Ohio and Pennsylvania combined; and,
Third-the strength OF the wells. Al
ter six years constant use the
wells are found to be practically
AS STRONG AS EvER.
With the growth of these places, the
little old school or meeting houses are
found inadequate, and c~ommodious
church edifices and school houses OF
substantial and imposing structure and
and modern convenience follow, until
to-day there is scarcely a town In the
gas territory that does not point with
pride to its school house and school sys-
TEN.
Neither man, woman nor child need
be unemployed. Stenopraphy and
typewriting seem to be conceded to
women. Some factories employ large
forces,of girls. Women are found en-
ployed in mercantile houses, county Of
fees hardware and grocery stores, aS
we'll as In drug stores and meat mark
cts, telegraph, telephone and post Of
fees, while the demand for men and
boys seems never supplied, from the
common laborer to the skilled artisan
in glass, iron, wood, brick, stone, paper
or zinc, or to work on the streets.
Gas a natural result, values in real es-
tate must rapidly advance, and in many
gas towns where lots were sold at low
figures and on long time, prices have so
risen that now a man with little capital
or no income but his wages. is driven to
the outskirts IL he undertakes TO buy or
build him a home.
But in some of the newer towns there
are yet excellent opportunities. Prob
ably no point in the entire gas region Of
Indiana can just at present offer such
inducements to manufacturers or home
seekers as Upland. Its elevation is
greater than any other point In the gas
territory, with genial climate, pure
water, beautiful scenery and gas OF
finest quality and unlimited quantity.
1t Is situated on the Panhandle, or p,
c., G. &c st. l.. railroad, and is just
IN TEE DAWN OF ITS BOOM,
for it was not until the autumn Of 1892
that the farmers about Upland awoke
to the fact that there was no point in
the gas belt at which a manufacturing
center might be more easily or prac-
ticably established. An organized ef-
fort was made to- develop its great re-
sources, and it has In this short time
distanced many Of its competitors in
gigantic strides OF improvement. A
Land Company has been organized,
hundreds of lots plated, streets graded
and weter works built. A new public
school building, which will be q hand
some structure Of brick, is in course of
construction. The managers OF the
land company seem to be on the alert
for all that is good both In the educa-
tional and manufacturing field, and by
generous liberality Of free sites, gas and
other inducements, have located vari-
Gus substantial manufacturing plants.
II Is we'll known that where natural
gas is found in great abundance, there
glass can be cheaplY manufactured, and
already Upland has n mammoth in
dustry of this kind. 1t is also there
that the Great Indiana Zinc Smelling
Works are located, and many other in
dustries of which want Of space pre-
vents mention. But the greatest advan-
tage Upland has secured over any other
gas town is the locating OF Taylor Uni
versity. This old and well known liter
airy institution was founded in the city
OF Fort Wayne In 1916, and for nearly
half a century has been a fountain Of
light to ali Northern Indiana. II is OF
highest university grade, and the moral
as well as financial advantage OF such
an Institution makes IL certain that Up
land will continue its rapid growth.
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
In cash, a beautiful site OF ten acres,
commanding an extensive view OF the
country for many miles In al directions.
together with certain interests in other
real estate which will yield some forty
thousand dollars more for endowment,
etc, and the priceless advantage Of
natural gas, were the inducements TO
remove Taylor University from Fort
WAYNE to Upland. This is the only
literary institution possessing its
gas we'll and water works, making 1t
the cheapest school in the world Of
University grade.
In fact, I am fully convinced that
neither capitalist, manufacturer nor pri-
yate citizen can do better than to invest
in this beautiful manufacturing and
university town, where hundreds Of
beautiful residences and business lots