The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1895-07-13
A FREE RIVER
To Float the Black Diamonds Of
the Monongaheia Valley.
Pittsburg Business Men Come Up
TO Inspect our Resources andto
Boom Free Navigation and Fair
Chance to Trade With Us.

to Inspect our Resources andto
Boom Free Navigation and a Fair
Chance to Trade With Us.
On Tuesday evening a steamer
landed at our wharf bearing the
members of the Pitteburg Coal Elk
change, in company with Major
Hoxie, e. S. Engineer, who came up
to view our river, see our great coal
mines, aud confer with our people
upon the speedy completion Of our
river improvement to Fairmont, and
making navigation free from the
head to the month of the Mononga-
hela
These gentlemen landed very un
tremendously and unannounced at
our wharf, marched up to the Wal
lace House, took a hasty glance at
our town and walked to the depot.
where a special train in charge of
delegation Of the leading citizens of
Fairmout was in waiting to convey
them to that place.
Fairmont was alive to this oppor-
tunity to advertise her wares They
had heard of the coming of this del
egation and had speedily prepared
to do the agreeable and make the
most out Of it. Their business men
are always on the alert They are
public spirited and full of hospital
ity on all occasions when the inter.
ests of their town can be promoted.
They could not let such chance as
this pass unimproved to ingratiate
themselves with the representatives
of the great business interests of
Pittsburg.
How did it happen that the clti
zens of Morgantown allowed this
distinguished delegation to pass
through our town without a single
sign of recognition, without a man
to meet them, or any offer to show
them the sights of the most beauti
full town in West Yirginia2
Why is it that they should pass
by the immense coal fields Of this
neighborhood, now lying undevelop-
ed and unnoticed along our river
shores to aequaint themselves with
a market twenty five miles further
up the river?
1t is simply a little matter of en-
terprise and public spirit Fairmont
is growing rich and populous through
the one business Of marketing her
coal. We are nearer the market than
she We have more coal than she.
We have equal or greater natural
facilities Tor getting at it, and get
ting it to a market. We might turn
our attention protitahly to these facts
If we would reflect little on the ex-
ample of our neighbor.
At our depot Gov. Fleming. Col.
Smith, Thos. w. Fleming, Dr.Brown-
field and other well known Fairmont
gentlemen cordially received the
Pittsblrg delegation, handed them
on the train, and soon they were
whired away to Fairmont. Arriv-
ing there they were escorted to the
hotel Watson, where, after a general
introduction, they were invited to
the dining room where an elegant
banquet was spread, and hundred
guests sat down to do it," Pitts
burgers Fairmonters, and q faint
sprinkling of Morgantowners were
sandwiehed about the several tables.
Col. John W. Mason did the houors
at the head of the board, and after
discussing the menu, there was a
very general and a very entertaining
not to say discussion OF the
business phase of the occasion The
Mayor of Fairmont welcomed the
guests, and rendered the KEYS of the
city. The Toastmaster then called
out mpromptu addresses in the fol
lowing order.
Major Hoxie, u. S. A. Hon. A. G..
Dayton, Philippi; VIM McConway,
Pittsburg; Judge j. NJ Hagans,
Morgantown; Col T. p. Roberts,
Plttsburg; Gov. A B. Fleming, Fair
mont, Capt Jno Eaton, Pittsburg
Col. S. p. Harrison, Pittsburg, W.
2. Wiley, Morgantown; Col j. G.
bravo, Pittsburg; Judge Raymond,
Fairmont; o. S. Mckinney, Fair
mont; Capt Harry Brown, Pitts
burg.
The speech making continued in
to late hour of the night, and de.
veloped most determined and unan-
lmous sentiment among the guests
from every quarter that the Monon-
gahela must be free and the gates
thrown vide open between Pittsburg
and her neighborhood
Major HoXie estimated that one
million and half dollars would
complete the improvement of the
river to Fairmont, and be pledged
himself to give us the work complete
in five years, if we would furnish the
appropriation.
Congressman Dayton spoke in
earnest advocacy of the work, and
said that he would give all his efforts
to secure the support of the govern
ment to its early completion
Gov. Fleming declared that we
wanted the benefits of the improve
ment for this generation, and must
have it. We cannot afford TO wait,
and be eloquently portrayed the mn-
tual advantages that would flow from
the improvement
The Pittsburg speakers were equal
ly as enthusiastic, and every arrange
ment and sentiment favoring a free
river met with hearty applause.
On Wednesday morning a special
train conveyed the delegates to Mo-
nongah to see what Gov. Fleming
said was the largest coal mine in the
world.
MAKING PREPARATIONS
For the Regular Annual Encampment
| Of tho NoffanaI NuarI ~ W