The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-20
THE WHEELING OF 1907
Described in a Volume Loaned to
Congressman Dovener; by Cincin-
natl Mantle Commerce of the

Described in a Volume Loaned to
Congressman Dovener by Cincin-
natl Mantle Commerce of the
River.
While in CincInanti last week, in at
tendance. at the meeting Of the Ohio
River Improvement Association, Capt.
B. B. Dovener came across an old VOL
ume published in 1921, entitled "Navi-
gator. containing directions for naviga-
ting the Monongahela, Allegheny, Ohio
and Mississippi. rivers; with an ample
account OF these much admired waters,
from the, head OF the former to the
mouth OF, the latter; and 4 concise de-
scription OF their towns. villages, har-
bors. settlements. etc., with maps Of
the Ohio and Mississippi to which is
added an appendix containing an ac-
count of Louisiana, and of the Missouri
and Columbia rivers. as discovered by
the voyage under Captains Lewis and
Clark"
The musty old volume is the property
of L. R.-Joncs, assistant engineer at
Cincinnati. Gnd was loaned to Captain
Dovener. who brought 1t back with him
because OF its local value in the way
OF giving some historical facts that are
not known by the average person.
This book. while 1t was published In
1921. was written from 1907 TO 1911.
In describing Wheeling at that time,
the writer says: Wheeling fronts the
Ohio on 4 high. graveily bank. opposite
the middle of the island, and having
Immediately back of the town. Wheel
ing creek hill, which Is steep and lofty
and SO narrow at the top, that in some
places there j.. Is scarcely room for a
wagon to pass along, and nearly per-
pendicular to the bottom OF the creek.
This singular formed backbone, as 1t
creek. slopes off gradually into n ilne
bottom just below the town and above
the mouth of the creek, but which Is
considerably lower than the ground on
which Wheeling stands and in some
seasons has been known to be mum
dated by the foods. There are on this
bottom an excellent public inn, n
warehouse, boat yard and rope
walk, and some other buildings.
I'm consequence OF the hill Just men,
toned. and which crowds the town
close to the bank of the river, Wheeling
has but one street, which Is thickiy
built on for 4 quarter Of mile in
length. The town has about lis dwell
ings. eleven stores, two potterIes Of
stone-ware. market house. and It had
In 1869 n printing office. bookstore
and library: the two first quit the town
for want OF patronage. the last is still
upheld by the citizens. The mail stage
from Philadelphia and Baltimore ar
rives twice week by way OF Pitts
burgh. Washington and Wellsburg:
thence westward, the mail is Dispatch
ed once a week on horses"
The writer continues to describe the
contiguous towns to Wheeling and
also speaks Of the island.
Ingwrlting of the commerce of the
Ohio valley and the future OF this
country, transcript OF n dealer In sup
plies Is, reproduced, which shows the
amount OF. various kinds Of produce
shipped down the river on keel boats.
Among the supplies Is enumerated.
-four, pork. whisky, apples, cider cher
ry bounce. peach brandy. ginseng, Sem
eca5 oil, feathers. hemp. rope. yarn,
venison. tame fowls and slaves.