The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-10-21
.CELEBRA TON
OF GREA EV 81
BY THE PEOPLE |. E J.
Another Link Ia
The Prosperity
Chain

2.
Yesterday marks in important date
in the history Of Bridgeport, a small
town in the central part Of Hairison
county. An event took place that can
only transpire once. It was the
opening of the e1ectric railway be
tween the town and the metropolis Of
the county. And the people OF the
little twon made 1t a memorable one by
having a rousing celebration.
A special car left the corner Of
Main and Jefferson streets at nine
o'clock carrying a party of Eairmont.
ers to Clarksburg. where they were
Joined by number OF business men
of that city and were carried over to
Bridgeport.
The Fairmont party consisted OF
A. B. Fleming, director OF the com
pany; Walton Miller, treasurer; J.
otis Watson, general nlanager; Smith
Hood, general superintendent; George
M. Alexander. attorney; A. 3, Elem;
ing, Jr., Thomas w. Fleming, NJ. D.
Christie, j. M. Jacobs, George T. Wat,
son, Albert T. Watson, MiI1ard Cali
CHER, Anthony Bowen. Harry B. Clark
owen 8. Mckinney, Earl H. Smith and
Joseph Lehman, all of Fairmont;; ]. G
M. Lucas and MT. TurnbuIl, both Of
Baltimore, and L. G. Race, Of Fair.
mont, president of the Fairmont and
Warrington Traction Company.
Those joining the party at clarks.
burg were s. g. Deunam. Virgil y.
Highland. William Z. Cole, Peter sIs
Lynch, ]. II. swiger, Mr. and Mrs
Frank Stout, George Ia Duncan, VIII
liam Z. Geppert, George w. shuttles
worth, David Davidson, 7. III VIII
1ianis, a. c. Moore, Judge Charles W.
Lynch, DR.. T. NJ. Hood, Thomas z
Anderson, John j. Elwood, T. g. Shaw
q. s. Warne. Oliver r. Bcughner, J. 3,
Law, William H. Lewis, Ellsworth
Cork, John B. Smith and Frank Kei'
ley.
On the arrival of the party at
Bridgeport it was esco ted to the Bap
tist Church, where an interesting pro
gramme was carried oct. John Lodge
was moderator.
Welcome Extended.
A sincere and cordial welcome to
the visitors on behalf Of the people
of Bridgeport was given by the Rev
q. B. Stout in his address. After
speaking of the wonderful growth o.
west Virginia since its birtd amid the
throes Of war, and noting thefact thai
governor of old Virginia was a ma
tive and resident of Bridgeport, and
eoyernor of the new State was z
native and resident of Fairmont, with
which the town was now connected BY
trolley, the Rev. Mr.. Stout said that
the great need Of the age is fraternity,
We have It in constitutions bylaws
and the like, but not enough in our
hearts. The opening OF the new troll.
ley line will help to bring the people
closer together in brotherIy relations,
The people Of bridgeport had consid,
cred this, he said. and had prepared
fine meal for the visitors, which they
hoped would be heartily enjoyed,
Following the address OF welcome
Mr. Lodge introduced Ex-Governor a
B. Fleming, who made a brief re
sponse to the address Of welcome
Governor Fleming struck q happy
vein and his speech was listened q
with rapt attention. He said ne be
lieved West Virginia to be the greatest
Of the States of the Union. Other
States may have things we do moi
have, he said, but we have many
things they do not have. He said he
did not see how amy young man could
take Horace Greely's advice TO g
west and grow up with the country
when so many opportunities presented
themselves to young men in the beau
tiful valley of the upper Monongahela'
No county in the State could com
pare with Harrison county, he said
He had ascertained that there Is more
blue grass soil in West Virginia than
| in kentucky, and also that there more
Of it In Harrison than in any other
county in the State The people o.
| bridgeport have everything to make
them prosperous and happy.
AS to Bridgeport, he thought Y ths
best town In the county. and said ~
\ possessed great possibilities Tor .
manIifa curing center. he hoped ths
people would have more Ions
lake this one. when the occas un would