The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1897-12-15
Point Pleasant.

{ is q remarkaDl6 TACT llldI5 t1S
stranger visiting Point Pleasant is
more forcibly struck with the pos
sibilities of the place and its re-
sources and advantages than those
who have lived here all their lives,
and yet seem systematically to have
neglected all the opportunities af-
forded them
Let us give glance at Point
Pleasant, even now. in winter, when
the natural beauties of the place,
of course, are its least attractive
features. The first point striking
the visitor is its location at the
confluence of two great rivers, CIV
ing direct communication with all
the metropolitan centres. north.
south, east and west; and in addi-
ton there are means of connection
with all important commercial
points In two railways running
through the city. with raIni1cations
practically all over the country.
The first question. then, that the
visitor asks is, Why this is just
the site for manufactures or in
dustrial enterprises of any kind;
where are your factories?" And
the Point Pleasantonian has but to
reply, There are none here of any
moment at ALL And the stranger
departs hence wondering whether
he has struck SLEEPY Hollow" or
'iThe Deserted Village" But an
imputation of that kind is scarcely
warranted. There is enterprise
among our citizens, as the number
of fine buildings and handsome
stores and commodious dwellings
sufficiently demonstrates. But
it seems c1rcumscr1bed in it's ex-
tent, and the capital atioat goes
round and round in groove, new
er accomplishing it's full purpose.
What the residents need is a broad
ening of their horizon; widening
of their sphere of operations.
Some of them go abroad, but come
back and do not adapt what they
have seen and learned to practical
account, and the value of their OBJ
servations is not turned to the gen.
eral good.
Now in many cities there are
organizations variously styled, but
having, in the main, one object;
the development of these cities and
the encouragement of local and of
foreign enterprise. as employed in
those cities, and their improve
ment generally. If there were
such committee here with the
best interests of the place at heart
and fred with desire to impress
other, as they should be impressed
with its natural advan-
tages, and the opportunities open
ing for artificial ones, Point Pleas
ant would be city of no mean
note in very short time. Adyer-
tise-laud- d-boom-make others ir-
resistibly attracted, and convert
them to belief in our prospects,
and the rest is easy. They will
supply the sinews of war and the
gain will be ours, and they will be
no losers, either. We cannot ex-
pect to do everything for ourselves
at once without assistance; but we
cannot expect help, if we do not
show disposition to help ourz
selves. And it is none too early to
nor, on the other hand,
is it too late.
We have well laid streets, we'll
planned city, admirable business
men and citizenship second to
none; and yet in a hundred years
we are two hundred years behind
in the race of progress with far too
many others. When the locks
and dams on the Kanawha are
completed, as they can be conf
IDENTIFY expected to be very shortly,
there will be no other city better
provided with water communica-
ton; as has been said we have am
pie railway conveniences for i'm
mediate needs, and within the
easiest reach are all needed to the
building up of a great manufactur-
ing centre. Let that be the goal;
let us start in at once and we cam
not but succeed in reaching it.
Governor Atkinson hrs appoint
ed Mrs. John K. List, of Wheel
ing, and Rev. L. e. Peters, of
Da-L,arsI,,.-o, aa daIaoafaa to the