The Washington herald., 1909-05-09
BRIDGE BIG help
TO GROWING CITY
Terminal Company Spans the
Kanawha at Charleston.
HAsTENs FREIGHT TRANSFER
West Virginia Town Becomes a
Manufacturing Center of the Coal
Fields-Tts Population Reaches the
twenty-five Thousand Nark-Nevv
Hotel Has Been Erected.

Charleston. ". Va. Nay s-Within the
past few months We have had eomplet-
ed, at a cost Of about half million dsi-
/ lars, by the Kanawha Bridge and Ter
ninal Company. a combination railroad.
traction, and general traffic bridge across
the Kanawha River at point within the
corporate limits OF the city. which viii
facilitate the handling OF freight be-
tween the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
on the south SIDE of the Kanawha. and
the Kanawha and Michigan Railway. a
part OF the Toledo and Ohio Central sys-
/ tenn. OF the north side
| This bridge viii also afford facilities
| for crossing the river by a traction line
which it is proposed to complete between
Charleston and Huntington. about sixty
miles below This bridge has been erect
ed as private enterprise. Il was begun
/ while financial conditions were most
aUspicious. but had hardly attained the
| first process OF construction before con-
ditions changed. To complete It n the
| face of these conditions was an enormous
/ task, Sut perseverance and energy have
resulted in its completion according 10
the original plans
City Spends Money.
So much for private enterprises. As al
evidence Of the activity Of public spirit
may BE noted the fact that several hun
dred thousand dollars worth Of internal
Improvements. consisting OF sewerage
/ construction and paving. are row under
way, bonds FOR these Improvements hav-
Ing been voted about a year ago The
two new sehOoIhouses have been con-
pleted within the year, and a bond Issue
has just been approved for the erection
OF another This bond issue has within
tie past few days been disposed Of a. Z
premium OF something over S,000
Within the year. also. . rev com5ina-
ton traction and general traf5c bridge
has been completed across the Elk River.
which divides the city east and west and
a. Old bridge which stood on iss site has
been moved 10 a point farther Up TIE
river. thus aff0Tding three general traffic
bridges across this river
Builds n New Hotel.
Another Improvement within the year
more OF less Of a public nature has been
the erection Of another hotel. the Fleet
wood Charleston already had Two ho-
lteIs. the RuTner and Kanavha.
At this time a block OF four business
& trndings. Two Of which viu De -four
stories high. are under erection in the
Business center. CharlestOn's future as
an important Industrial and financial
center seems assured With its ideal 10
cation on the Kanawha River. navisabIe
the year round from a point about ninety
miles above its mouth 10 the Ohio By
means OF one OF the greatst movable
lock snd dam systems IN the world Il
Las inland water transportation facilities
surpassed by none It's three railroads.
the Chesapeake and Ohio. the Kanavha
and Michigan. and the Coal and Coke. the
ls1ter affordinz connections with the
Western Maryland. and with the prospect
Of important facilities over the Tide
water. lis railroad facilities are OF con-
I Sequence
Center of Coal Fields.
: As the business center Of The Kanawha
> and New River coal fields. il IS probably
best known 10 the business world inter
ested in these matters. But within the
past year or two II has become the faan-
icial center and the territorial center of
another natural industry. the production
or OF and gas All around IL wells are
. being sunk and not a few large produc-
ers have been found recently within a
radius OF twenty-five miles
Charleston lays claim 10 another indus
trial distinction. that Of being the home
Of the Kelly Ak factory. generally re-
puted 10 be the largest OF its kind IN the
world
It is estimated that Charleston COW has
q population OF 35.0so- Il has good trac-
ton facilities. good water. wholesome
climate excellent schools. a public park.
: aRd al the minor features that 20 70
make Up a busting. attractive. ana sub
cfanffrf f,lrr- ~ T,r - On