The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-21

10 entertaining. When the Wheeling
delegates returned from the Cincinnati
meeting that resulted In the orgauiza-
tion OF the Improvement association.
there vas practically no interest here
IN the Improvement subject, but public
sentiment has been worked effectively,
both by the Wheeling chamber OF coni-
fnerce and the local press. Speaking OF
the press, the Ititelligencer points With
pride 10 its constant Efforts in behalf of
river Improvement. The other Wheel
ing papers. and most OF those OF West
Virginia and Ohio along the river, have
also been uIrenltting In their efforts
In this direction.
on the return OF the Wheeling dele
gates from Cincinnati. the campaign for
river Improvement was begun, CENTER
ing around the only local commercial
body, the chamber Of commerce. Measrs
Hullihen Quarter. president and How
ard Hazlett, secretary, entered the cam
paign with vim and vigor, and We're
ably seconded by the river improvement
Messrs Charles Burdette Hart. chair
man. and Messrs Thomas o'Brien,
Randolph Stalnaker, N. y. Scott and d.
Walker Peterson.
Within the past five weeks the river
improvement committee has been q
very busy body5of men. The first nee
essary step was 20 increase the member
ship OF the chamber and with this OBJ
ject in view subcommittee ON mem-
bership were appointed. They have
been hard at work and have succeeded
in enrolling over 100 new members IN the
chamber bringing up It's total member
ship TO the very respectable figure, over
200.
The Local Reception.
The river improvement committee at
frst thought the eonyentionaliand usn-
any rather stiited and entirely formal
and often Intellectual and useless BAN
quet would be the best plan for the ems
tertainment of the visiting statesmen,
but wiser counsel prevailed, resulting in
an entertainment at once novel. unique
and handsome. Instead of the banquet.
q reception on the entire patlor floor of
the Mcclure will be given. The large
dining hail, the several pafiors, recep-
ton rooms and all the private rooms
have been secured by the committee,
from which all who do not figure in the
entertainment will be excluded during
the evening to-day.
The committee determined to make
the space they have secured q bower Of
beauty. a decision, once arrived at, Is
sometimes difficult OF achievement;
but in this case, with the invaluable and
thoroughly artistic supervision Of one Of
WheeIlngss well known architects, Mr..
Edward 3. F'ranzheim. all difficulties
have vanished with the rapidity Of ice
In a July sun. When the flower of
Wheellng's business and social circles
gather at the Mcclure this evening, they
will no doubt wonder. as the writer has
wondered, whether Mr.. Frnnzhelm isn't
provided with modern wand Of magic.
That the eject he has produced Is magi-
cal none viii dispute. .,
A cold-type description of his achieve
ment in decoration effects will not con-
vey to the reader the impression he VIII
receive from q personal inspection OF the
parior floor OF the Mcclure tonight. The
main staircase, leading from the hotel
Office to the parlor floor. is to be banked
up with q, fiowery bower. and none viii
be admitted there. Admission Will be
by ticket at the Twelfth street entrance.
To-day Mr.. Franzheim will place his
decorative plan into effect, much of II
being necessarily delayed until the day
of the reception, Palms and other POT
ted plants. magnolIas, etc, Will give a
Overwhelmingly tropic tone to the scene.
Vari-colUred electric lights and lamps
win add to the general effect and also
shed light on the scene. Bunting and
flags are also to figure generously in the
decorations.
1fany Ladies TO Attend.
Admission to the reception Is entirely
by tickets Of admission which have been
issued to members Of the chamber Of
commerce and their ladies by Mr.. How
ard Hazlett, the secretary. "A list OF the
tickets that had been issued up TO last
night, Is printed elsewhere In this issue
OF the IntellIgencer. The list represents
a large majority of the membership OF
the chamber Of commerce. together with
many OF the ladies Of Wheeling The
presence OF the ladies, by the way, will
give a brilllahce to this evening s gath
ering that would be lost had a banquet
been decided upon by the committee in
charge. AS the congressional party is
accompanied by many ladies, including
the wives, and daughters OF the COM
gressmen, the presence of so many