West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-03-22


success of the railroad meeting and
Good Roads Convention last Satur-
day, but we were all very sgreeably
surprised at the crowd that poured
into town over our two railroads
and managed TO get here in some
way from the the country.in spite of
the fact that the bottom had dropped
out of the roads. The Kingwood
Band was out in full force to try to
make us forget our troubles with the
sweet strains of music and the first
meeting was called at the Court
House at 10 O'Clock. When the NJ.
x K. train pulled in big delega-
ton was down to meet il. A crowd
OF $50 or more that poured from
the train, with large number of
Kingwood residents, struggled in a
long ragged line up the steep hill to
the town. The few hacks we're
hopelessly overloaded, two or three
of them breaking down or becom-
ing stalled in the deep mud; it was
an excellent good roads object
lesson. The throng wendell its way
to the Court House where, after
some stirring patriotic music by the
Klngwood band, the railroad cele-
brstion meeting was called to order
by Attorney P. ]. Crogan, who
welcomed the M. & K. and its
arrangements 20 Kingwood, in an
enthusiastic speech full of praise for
Mr.. Sturgiss, Mr.. Martin, Senator
EIkins, Mr. Bretz and others who
had been active in the construction
and management and development
Of the road.
Mr.. ]. Ami Martin was called on
for response, with a hearty burst
of applause. Mr.. Martin traced the
history of the Morgantown & King
wood railroad as well as other rail-
road projects in which Kingwood
people had been interested. He
showed how the great b. so.
system grew out of very humble
beginning, and related amusing
stories of the incredulous opposition
encountered by Mr.. Sturgiss and
himself in their attempt in getting
the towns of Morgantown and King
wood connected by railroad. AT
the conclusion of Mr.. Martins
speech a committee of Kingwood
ladies' presented him with a fine
large cluster of beautiful roses and
carnations as token of the high
esteem felt by the Kingwood people
for Mr.. Martin and his estimable
wife. Mrs. Francis Heermans and
Miss Nellie Albright acted for the
committee in presenting the flowers
to Mr.. Martin and Mrs. Heermans
made the address of presentation.
Mr.. Martin responded with "a few
well chosen words of thanks, full of
feeling and earnest appreciation of
the kind words of the committee.
AT the close of this pretty scene Mr..
Sturgiss was called for and began
his speech with some hearty words
of congratulation over the compile
ton of the long wished for means OF
communication between two good
neighbors Morgantown and King
wood. There was a big crowd
present, and the court house and ante
rooms were packed.
When the applause that greeted
Mr.. Sturgiss' speech had died away,
there occurred a little interlude in
the set speechmaking which was
filled by a pretty and we'll arranged
episode. Everybody in the audi
enoe had been touched by the adj
dress of Mrs. Heermans ia pre-.
senting an offering of flowers on
behalf Of the Kingwood ladies to
their former fellow townsmen but
it seems that the men of Kingwood
did not mean to be left behind by
the ladies in an expression Of good
will toward the man who had made
the Morgantown & Kingwood rail-
road possible.
In neat speech, bubbling over
r!th good humor and neigh.
borlY appreciation, Attorney Neil
J. Fortney presented Mr.. Martin
with a beautiful and costly gold
watch and chain. 1t was the
gift Of a considerable number Of
old friends and neighbors, who had
joined in this expression Of sppre-
citation for the sterling worth Of a
progressive, public spirited citizens.
Mr.. Martin vas a second time
taken by surprise and a good deal
overcome by the almost embar-
RAISING expressions Of kindness Of
his Kingwood friends, but he made
most appropriate expression Of
thanks for the valuable gift and
particularly for the kindly feeling
which had prorortod &,