The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-16
hrrA HE third annual convention Of
the Ohio Valley Improvement As

hup,,A HE third annual convention OF
the Ohio Valley Improvement As
ISOLATION came to It's end yester-
day afternoon at 1870 O'Clock, after
what was generally declared to have
been the most interesting and enjoyable
meetIngln the short and brilliant career
Of the organization. The brand of hos
pltalIty which the visitors encountered
simply took them off their feet, hgura-
lively speaking-they expected nothing
half so elaborate and pleasing, and con-
sequently enjoyed themselves the more.
The reelection Of President Vance
and Secretary Wilson comes as de-
served tribute to the energy and ability
these gentlemen have displayed in
making the Ohio Valley Improvement
Association an organization which has
made remarkable strides in the direc-
tion of Improvement of the rivers since
its inception at Cincinnati three years
ago. Colonel Vance contributes practic-
ally all of his time and energy and tall
ents to this great work, and the assocI-
alton felt that It could Ill afford to lose
such master mind from the helm. Col
oneI Wilson, too. has unselhshly and en-
tirely without remuneration attended to
the manifold duties OF his office, and the
association partially repaid its debt
when It acted on the suggestion of Cap
tain Paris C. Brown. and voted the sec
rotary $1,000.
The resolutions adopted by the associ-
alton are very strong and cover the
field admirably. OF course the slack
water Improvement between Pittsburgh
and Marietta is heartily endorsed, and
in addition the association fayors the
eonstructIon OF independent dams and
locks at Wheeling. Marietta and Gin
clnuatl, in order to give each of these
important river cities harbor that will
Be navlgabIe the gear around, excepting
when the river is ice-bound.
Another Important clause OF the reso-
lutions Is one referring to the NIcarn-
qua ship canal, which the association
believes should be built and conducted
by the United States. thus giving to
American products an cutie: to the
great and future greater markets Of the
Far East.
After the resolutions had been adopt
ed. there wns a statement from the
chair that the association faced an in
debtedness OF $500. Captain James A.
Henderson, general manager Of the
Pittsburgh & Cincinnati packet line.
started the ball rolling by subscribing
800 Then following subscription after
subscription, Commodore Laidley, OF
Cincinnati, showing his enterprise by
contributing $3.50 on behalf OF the four
transportation companies he repre-
sents. Secretary Hazlett, Of the
Wheeling chamber Of commerce, pledg-
ed 500 In addition to the 800 which the
chamber annually contributes to the
association. In twenty minutes the
1880 had been raised. It was an in
spring spectacle and showed the unset
fish devotion which actuated the sub
scribers; directly they can see no bene-
fits in the near future: but they are Of
the class OF business men for which
Americas fame is -wide-they are
ever awake to any opportunity to grow
and expand, and realize that the I'm
provement OF the greatest of Inland
waterways, the Ohio river-LaBelle
Riviere, as the French so apprcciRtive-
" called it-means much TO them and
to their communities In the future.