Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-08

IL WILL BING BIG RETURNS
TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH
AN INCREASED ATTENDANCE.
Now that it has been practically de-
cided upon that there shall be a parade
upon the 22d of February, in connec-
ton with the presence of Admiral
Dewey in the city and the unwilling Of
the Fort Henry tablet, the question of
whether or not the pageant shall be
of a decidedly military nature should
engage not only the earnest attention
of the committee to have charge of
that detail. but also of the citizens of
Wheeling generally. That there will
be an immense crowd of strangers in
the city is an assured fact, nc matter
what the public ceremonies shall be,
but if there is a big military parade, of
troops from this and other States, the
attendance of people will naturally be
greatly increased-perhaps doubled, to
the corresponding benefit and profit OF
many classes of our people. This, as
a matter of course, is putting the affair
upon something of a cold, commercial
footing, but that is really the status
of most modern public demonstrations.
in discussing the question yesterday a
public-spirited citizen said:
"The project, first mentioned in the
Register through a correspondent, to
bring West Virginia, Ohio and Penn
syMania troops here, including the
Pittsburg naval reserve, has met with
much favor, and yet the expense con-
nected with the idea has discouraged,
to some extent, as I understand 1t,
those at the head of the affair. 1t will
cost money. as a matter of course
good deal of it-but the figures are not
so large but that they can behnet with
a proper effort, and proper subscriptions
by those to be benefited would remove
the financial difficulties. The railroads.
saloons, hotels, restaurants, the street
railways, and other classes of business
men and corporations easy to enumer-
ate could well afford TO make up the
bulk of the desired sum for purely bus
mess reasons. Whatever is lacking, af-
ter these sources of subscription are ex-
hausted, could be made good by a gen.
eral subscription.
AS to the amount of none needed,
That depends upon the scope of tie pa
rade idea, and upon railroad rates. 1t
is probable that a rate of one fare and
a third for military organizations could
be secured from points within one hun
dred miles of Wheeling. This would
take in Pittsburg, with it's Fourteenth
and Sixteenth regiments and the naval
reserve, one full regiment Of Ohio
troops, the Tenth Pennsylvania, the
First West Virginia, or m>;I of it.
and the M~organtown cadets. If the First
West Virginia, the cadets and the ma
val reserve were brought here, probably
fifteen hundred dollars, including ra-
tons, would cover the bill. II a Penn
syivania regiment were added. this
amount would probably be doubled,
and so On in proportion, but exact fig
ures could only be arrived at after a
careful study Of the situation, accurate.
knowledge as to rates of fare and dis
tances, and estimates for rations. all Of
which would be matters of detail for
the committee. The benefits to DE cen
sidered in this connection are that
every man so brought here would not
only spend money, but would be di-
rectly instrumental in bringing friends
with him. Take the situation without
a military feature; some thousands of
West Virginians would visit the city,
but if the First regiment should come
the number would be trebled. The
same thing applies to Ohio and to the
Pittsburg territory. The possibilities
of securing a record breaking crowd
in this case are very great, and there
should be careful consideration CT the
whole question. OF course it will cost
money, but We can't get something for
nothing. Here is. a glorious chance to
awaken the old town UP. Will those in
charge rise to the o~ccasion?"