Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-01

| constitution and bylaws, which were
very lengthy, covering great many
typewriter sheets, giving the scope OF
/ the Board, its officers, methods OF pro-
| cedure, etc.
The provision of the constitution
| that not more than one hon.
orary member shall be elected in any
one year, was amended upon motion OF
Mr.. Franzheim making the number
/ two.
The bylaws were adopted without
i any further amendment. A committee
of ten to nominate permanent officers
was appointed, as follows: Messrs. Al
len Brock, w. A. Wilson, George NJ.
Shook, Paul o. Reymann, L. E. Sands,
| Geo. j. Mathison, Hullihen Quarter,
Harry W. Mcclure, George S. Feeney,
M. Somehow. M
A committee on rooms was appoint
ed consisting of George E. House,
Samuel Rice and George A. Laughlin.
| Secretary Thompson's Address.
| Chairman Waterhouse then introduce
ed the new secretary, Mr. S. A. Thomp-
son, who said he had come to Wheel
| ing for the first time four weeks ago,
/ upon the invitation of the organization
committee. Prior to that time he had
been familiar in general way with
what Wheeling was, and he felt that
| he could slightly change Julius Caesars
report and say: 81 came, l saw and
| was conquered" In all sincerity, he
said he was surprised beyond measure.
The industrial plants on both sides of
the river, the magnificent wholesale
houses, the knowledge he CLEANED of
| the territory they reached, were reye-
| lations to him. Through the courtesy
of the committee, he was taken up and
down, back and around, and got a
| general view of the whole situation.
! Then he began to figure.
| He said statisticians are never salts
fed until they get into figures. AS
soon as he got birds eye view, he
wanted to compare his facts with what
was done elsewhere. 1t was modern
method to convert tables of statistics
into diagrams, and he had prepared a
diagram showing the relative growth
of Wheeling in comparison with sew
eral other cities.
Mr.. Thompson brought to view on
the side of the stage a large diagram,
with figures of such size as to be read
by the audience, and began his eX-
planatory statement. His object was
to illustrate the slow growth of this
community, in spite of its remarkable
natural advantages. He took Wheel
ing, Dayton and Indianapolis, three
cities of approximate population in
NV
cades. The growth of Greater Wheel
ing embracing the city and surround
ing country. was greater than the
growth of the city proper.
What Figures Show.
Dayton started in 1850 with 1000
population, and indianapolis with o.
| 600. To-day the former has $4,000,
and the latter $4,000. Wheeling
started with II 000 and now has 3d.
/ 600. He had chosen his plan of illus
tration in order that the audience
might see at glance that there was
some reason why Wheeling's growth
i had not been commensurate with the
growth Of other cities.
This condition has been brought
about, Notwithstanding Wheelings sit
uation and resources are far superior
to those of the two cities with which
comparison is made. Mr.. Thompson
referred to geological reports, indicat-
ing the value and extent of coal and
coke fields, and timber wealth of this
section; and then dwelt upon the ex-
ceptional shipping facilities furnished
by railroads and river.
M Tbop,pcoY coid fhara Uac a pop-
essity here for something around which
the movement for industrial expansion
can crystalline, and the Board of Trade
| fills that want. He did not think that
all that can be done through CONNER
cial organization, has ever been done
| in any city on earth. The speaker
| laid great stress upon the value OF Or
! ganized effort, and he complimented
/ the people of Wheeling by saying that
there are here some of the finest blends
he ever met, combining Yankee
| shrewdness, with the warmth and hos
pitality of the South, and the tireless
| energy of the West. He briefly limited
! at his idea of the work to be accom-
| plished by the new movement, and
gave as an example, the failure of an
| individual to secure redress from rail-
road corporations, while a committee
| from Board of Trade would be GER
| tain of a respectful hearing, and rea-
sonably certain of getting any reason
able demand. 1t was the power of con-
centrated effort upon questions which
! involve the entire community.
Wheeling will want new factories,
not merely in iron and steel lines, but
a diversity of industries. When there
! Is depression in one line. there may
not be in another, and with diversifi-
! cation of industries, there will be a
steady volume of money in circulation
! in the city.
Merit in Advertising.
The city needs advertising. 1t has
resources without limit. The people
must come to know this He proposed
| to make it impossible for a business
man in this country or England to
locate a plant until he has his eyes
opened to the advantages which
Wheeling has to offer for his particu-
lar line of manufacture. He had been
assured that in all the efforts to bring
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