Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-23
NEED FOR SPEEDY ACTION,
AND A CHANCE FOR BUSINESS
MEN OF WHEELING AND BEN
WOOD TO DO SOMETHING.
OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Could Take Up Two or Three Mat
tiers, Notably the Projected Ma
tfonal Tube Company Improve
ment, with Great BENEFIT to the
COmmunfty-Councu and hen
wood Citizens Could Also Help.

wood Citizens Could Also Help.
A month ago the Register called fore
ible and detailed attention to the OBJ
stacle put in the way of the great ex-
tension proposed at the Riverside plant
by the exorbitant demands OF properly
owners in the matter of price Tor
their property, and gave instances
where two or three times the ordinary
market value had been asked and in
sisted on 1t was also sho wn, through
the representatives of the Company,
that these prices would not be paid,
and the definite statement was made
that unless reasonable prices would be
accepted there was very grave danger
that the plans of the Company TO cou-
BILE the capacity of the old plant would
be given up, and the increased facilities
removed to some other towr. In that
connection the Register suggested that
Wheeling and Benwood business men
take hand in the matter. and pointed
out that it would be better for the peo-
pie of the two towns to buy the prop
erty and present it to the company, or
transfer it at a fair market price, than
to see the projected Improvements
fail.
This suggestion and the printed sum
mary of the situation fell upon deaf
ears, however, and nothing has been
done. As a result we are again con-
fronted with the iminent danger that
all the plans of the National Tube Com
pany will be changed, and that the
proposed extension of the Benwood
plant will be given up. Surely this is
a case where the Wheeling Chamber OF
Commerce, the City Council and Ben
wood business men and authorities
should step in and see to 1t that few
people do not block one of the greatest
industrial expansions Wheeling has
ever known.
One leading business man, in dis
cussing this subject yesterday said:
''In my opinion a committee ought to
be selected by the business men of this
city to take hold of this matter, in con-
junction with Benwood people, and in
sist that property owners either sub
NIT the matter to arbitration or take
such other steps as will be. conducive
to the best interests of the entire COM
munfty."
Another business man said:
81 don't understand why our Cham
Der of Commerce is not called to con-
slider such an important matter as this
appears to be. No one, however, has
made a move to do anything, and If the
situation is allowed to remain as it IS,
the city will miss great big thing.
The trouble with the Chamber of Com
MERGE, to my mind is that it has the
dry rot. To use plain English, it needs
a shaking up, the introduction of some
new and young blood, secretary on
a salary, and officers who will keep up
with the times, and look after general
business interests. Between those
members of the body who have made
their pile and no longer take an ac-
tive interest in affairs, and those who
are hustling to get rich, the general
welfare is lost sight of. The dominant
spirit appears to be, everybody for him
self, and this will retard this city's
growth in the future just as it has in
the past. Is there no way Of shaking
things up with the new year and get
ting a move on? We have several
matters demanding attention. For in
stance, there is a railroad project as
Stunning shape in Greene, Fayette and
Washington counties; cigar box man
ufacturing company wants TO locate
here; the National Tube Company de-
sires to do certain things, and is block
ed; zinc and lead smelling concern
talks of coming here, and so on. and
yet our Chamber of Commerce never
lifts a hand, turns wheel, or dos a
thing, What Is wrong? and why not
apply a remedy?"
The Register has heard other express
sion of the same sort. That there is a
spirit OF unrest among a considerable
element of the business community is
certain. Whether or not it will amount
to anything is another question. 1t is
certain. however, that large proper
ton of the membership of the Chamber
of Commerce are responsible for the
lack of enterprise in that body When
a meeting is called it is rare thing
for more than twenty-five members out
of the two hundred and odd to respond.
In other words, about eight or ten stay
away for every one who goes. 1t
ought to be just the other way.
There is remedy for this sort Of
thing. and it ought to be sought out
and applied, and right away.
Kid Gloves. Ladies' and Chill
dren'm ha Clx