The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-09


,rp down the Monongahala River road,
petween Fairmont and clarksburg. re-
ysals one of the richest sections of min
cral West virginia-a region whose de-
yslopment has but Just begun, and
whose possibilities are difficult of rea-
Ifsation. Along the west bank runs the
I,a from Fairmont southwark every
mile or two. New openings are being
made. new coal companies are being
o-ganlzed, and everywhere is thrift
aad prosperity.
At present the sole outlet for coal
rom the upper Monongahela valley is
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, but
within the ensuing year the West vir-
c.ala short Line, from Clarksburg to
Naw MartInsvilIe, will have been COM
pIetad and new lake coal route will
be formed by this road. the Ohio River
and the Wheeling & Lake Erie, or the
cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling.
The West Virginia Short Line is be-
ing built by STANDARD on interests
owners of the Ohio River road, and
both lines. it is understood, will be un-
der the management of Vice President
and General Manager George A. Burt,
Of the Ohio River The Ohio River is
NOW replacing its 70-pound rails with
aO-pound rails, and 1t is said the TO-
Founders will be used In the construc-
ton of the Short Line. The route fol-
lows the west bank OF the Mononga-
hela's west fork from Clarksburg to
Ten-mlle creek, thence along the latter
TO its headwaters in Wetzel county, and
then along Fishing creek to its mouth
at New MartinsvilIe. where connection
Is had with the Ohio River. 1t is said
the Short Line management has secur-
ed a large tract Of land Just below
New Martlnsville, where extensive coal
tIpples will be erected, the purpose be-
Ing to ship coal south by water. This
Is well known to be q feasible project,
and similar one is contemplated by
the UnIontown, waynesburg & West
Virginia company below Benwood. One
advantage is the cutting out of the,
dangerous stretch OF the upper Ohio,
where the narrow span railroad bridges
at steubenville and Bellalre are en-
countered; another is the fact that two
tows can be sent out on rise, while
Pittsburgh operators can get out but
one.
incidentally. the Short Line viii cut
the railroad mileage from Wheeling to
Clarksburg, Weston and Buckhannon
about twenty miles, and place the me-
tropolls of the state In closer touch with
the interior.
The old fight for a new county out of
parts OF wetzel. Monongalia and Mar
ion. is dead, but 1t Is said that upon the
completion of the West Virginia Short
Line, Pine Grove, now situated at the
geographical centre of wetzel county
will endeavor to secure the removal of
the court house from New MartInsville
to Pine Grove. The distractions placed
in the path Of a new court house at
New Martinsville are said to have
been inspired by the friends of Pine
Grove, who will naturally have the in
Nuence of the Short Line promoters
back Of them.
Near shlnnston, on the west bank of
the Monongahela, is the immense and
far spreading elm tree from which
Granville Halls West Virginia novel
gets its title. 1t is probably the largest
tree OF It's kind in the world, and seems
good FOR another hundred years life.
Ey-Unlted States Marshal Charley
Wells (he Of Gloyer's Gap), talking
with the writer this morning. spoke en-
tertaInlngly OF the characters in Halls
book, many of which are taken from
actual life. He was intimately ac-
q1aiuted with Colonel Everson. and
says he actually was counterfeiter
The book, says Colonel Wells, has had
a large sale throughout the Mononga-
hela valley.
The coal miners In this valley are a
better class of men than usually found
delyiRg Underground. The watsons,
who operate so extensively in the vi
entity of FaIrmont. have always made
an effort to secure native-born Ameri-
cans, and by the use Of up-to-date ma
ch!nery the output per man is much
more than in the Pittsburgh or eastern
Ohio districts. Some OF the miners
earn 800 a month, and many $50. 1t
Is not unusual for miners to live in neat
homes on the best residence streets in
Falrmont, and a number Of them drive
IN their own traps to and from their
work at MonOngah or other nearby
mines. The company houses, occupied
BY most OF the miners, are usually well
built structures Of pretty design. gen
eraliy with a grass plot and garden In
evidence. There are now several hun
dred new company houses going up in
the mining villages south Of Falrmont,
AID those being put up for the watsons
have both tubs and water connection
included. Decidedly this is not the usu-
ally occupied idea of the company
house.
Census Supervisor Harvey W. Har-
mer, in charge OF the taking Of the
thirteenth census in the First
congressional district lives in