Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-03-04

pie Cheered -WOrkmen are Hustiing.
This afternoon on Front street al
impressive celebration was witness
ed by large audience of town peo-
pie and visitors 1t was the laying
of the first rail on the street car
system. The cadet band came out
about two and played in front of the
Court House. After sfort parade
the band and large crowd OF citi
zens repaired to the corner OF Front
street and Beeehurst avenue
Here Dir. l. C. White, president Of
the Traction Company. Frank Cox,
it's secretary and Hon. George G.
Sturgiss made short'addresses. Atthe
conclusion of Mr. Sturgiss remarks
he drove the silver spike with sill
yer spike with silver hammer and
the audience gave mighty cheer.
AS soon as this was finished the
army of workmen under Dean and
Huffman at once began to lay track.
They will push it to completion and
early in June street cars will he
running over the tour mile loop in
the city of Morgantown. Mr.. Stnr
eiss said in part
I'VE meet to inaugurate and cele-
brate the beginning of an enterprise
that means more for this ancient
town than human foresight can see
or prophesy foretell About 1888,
or $50 years, Thomas Eckarley and
his two brothers, Dunkards and men
of peace, the first whites who ever
trod the wilds of Monongalia Cocn-
ty, came first to Dunkard Creek and
thence settled on Cheat River, at
Dunkard Bottom in Preston Co.,
where they were murdered by In
dams. In 1853 Thomas Decker,
and his little colony made the next
attempt to settle In this County, 10
eating their tort and clearing at
Sabraton on Decker's creek, but
they were all murdered by the In
dians before the close of the next
year. The first permanent settle
ment was not made until David and
blackwell Morgan came In 1863. In
October 1855 the General Assembly
of Virginia established Morgantown
but the first trustees were not elect
ed till 1870 and from that year can
be dated the real beginning OF our
corporate existence i"
''At that date no steamboat had
ever disturbed the tranquil waters
of our beautiful Monongahela; nc
railroads had been built anywhere
on the continent; no telegraph in
vented: telephones were undreamed
of, and electrical science not YET
lem were unknown, and not "a poune
of coal had been mined and shipped
from the State. In all the County
no banks, no factories, AMI few bust
ness enterprises existed, other thar
the small flcurishing and saw mills
cross road tauneries. and an occa
sional cabinet shop. and NJ seheo
except of the most primitive char
acter
ITO day we have thriving city o
beu buOuodnu WIN NlSE "a u
homes, filled with all the evidences o
culture and refinement, five banks
with resources of over So 500, 900 tiv,
glass factories in active operation
within the city limits, and TIVE JUS
beyond in course Of erection half {
dozen planning mills, furniture facto
RES, tin plate mill, machine shops
foundres and kindred enterprises ex
list; railroads and steam boat lines
connect us with the commerce of The
world, coal mines and coke ovens, oi
and gas wells, telegraph and tele
phones. water works and sewers
paved streets electric and gas lights
we'll housed and finely equipped pub
lie schools adequate for the education
of all our youth, while great Uni
versity endowed and supported by thu
muuiticenee of the State and the IA
ton, rears the walls Of is splendid
buildings within our sight, housins
Equipments, library, museums ant
laboratories, and a large facslty o
learned professors where most ad
yanced instructions in literature, law
military science, music. mechanics
agriculture and nearly every depart
ment of science and art may b. gtger
to the ingenious youth who flock 10 Is
halls from every part of the state.
1.-The national government ha
made nayigable aud forever free th
great waterway that leaves on
wharyes and bears our traffic To tb
seas, unyexed by tolls or taxes, an
5000 will open the great isthmian ca
nal that will give continuous waite
transportation from this seat OF learn
ing aud commerce TO every coniinen
and island of this round world"
Temperance, sobrety, morals an
religion are the characteristics If gu
people. Industry, self-relianee an
enterprise have left their impress o
all that surrounds US. What has bee
dune has been accomplished by on
own people, with our own resource
and means. We have long sinc
learned the lesson OF self help, an
that If we would build here grea
and prosperous city we must put OF
own hands to the pillow, our own NOR
ey into our business enterprises, an
not walt for others 70 help Us. LIZ
spired by confidence 10 our natural RI
sources and attractive surrounding
and manifesting our faith by OF
works, we shall inspire confidence /