The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1907-05-15


prosperity of its County-seat at
heart, should join in the effort to
procure license for Point Pleasant.
We do not deem it necessary to
discuss this matter as fully ps
might be done, because it must be
self-evident to every fair minded
and obssrvant person that our town
is being gradually but surely and
seriously damaged under present
conditions. OF course it was not
expected that failure to grant
license would result in immediate
devastation or total paralysis of all
business, because such conditions
could not absolutely ensue as long
as there are any residents of the
town. A certain amount of bust
ness is necessary, even in a mining
camp or fishing excursion, but the
kind of business that makes town
prosperous, and keeps it's mer
chants busy, is the kind that in
vites and attracts people from the
outside to do their trading and
shopping in its midst; that offers,
at least the same inducements as
neighboring towns, and sffords the
greatest possible market for the
purchase and sale of all commodi-
ties. Certainly no material pros.
perity can ever be attained by
swapping jack-kniyes with one
another.
The slightest casual observation
of business conditions of this town
at present should indicate to any
one that instead of gaining ground,
as is the case with all prosperous
communities, We are absolutely
losing all of the benefits already
gained, and our resources are being
gradually depleted and our money
defi9oted to Gallipolis and other
towns. For the past several years
Point Pleasant has besn getting the
trade, that it should have had for
many years, because of the reoogni-
ton by the people of the county
of it's evident intention to cffer
every possible inducement to trade
that could be obtained elsewhere.
But now, day by day, We miss the
familiar faces of our old friends,
and are compelled to go to GalIip-
oils and elsewhere to shake hands
with our neighbors and acquaint-
anoes.
Our conservative merchants, feel
ing their way gradually, have en-.
larged their stocks with a view to
still further enlargement when
justified by business conditions
But, alas, vacant stores and idle
clerks anxiously await the expected
customer.
improvements have been made
here, industrial and otherwise, look
ing to the future development Of
the town; contiguous real astate
has been purchased to supply the
overflow of population that must
inevitably result in a prosperous
community; industries projected
and now under consideration, with
4 view to the continuance of license
conditions.
For what reason and on what
ground, therefore, should the
County Court at this time hesitate
to do what has been done by their
predecessors for over a century,
viz to grant license in the Town
of Point Pleasant, when the con-
sent of the Town Council thereof
has been obtainedP
We, of course. understand and
appreciate how the individual
members of the court feel on this
matter as individualS, but we oan-
not believe that as representatives,
4s officials, they will fail to respond
to the unquestioned sentiment that
now exists and has existed for q
hundred years in favor of license
IN Point Pleasant.
Why disturb the town in its eff
forts toward prosperity? Why ar
rest its march in the front rank of
small towns? Why cripple the
financial and material welfare of
its citizens who have made their
investments under license oondi.
tionsP
We do not believe that the
County Court, composed, as it liz,
of capable business men, will fail
to see the disastrous consequences
of the failure to grant license here.
Nor do we believe that they will