The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-10-28
RIVER TRADE NEVER WILL
EQUAL THAT OF LONG AGO

:
be blamed in a large measure Tor caus-
ing the downfall of the river. and that
is the railroad. Where Wheeling az
one time depended solely upon the
river for shipping facilities. she nov
looks 10 the railroads and the district
is exceedingly wen equipped in this
respect. Three o. tho largest railroad
systems in the whole United States,
namely. the pennsylvania. the Bal,i-
more * O! 10 and the Wheeling G. Lake
Erie have combined 10 wreck the riv-
ers prosperity. And they have sue
ceeded admirably
But 10 drift back 20 the river front
OF Wheeling in the early COS At
present the local wharf where all the
water trade is carried on. is confined
20 the foot ~ Twelfth street. taking
m 10 more room than can be occupied
by two or tire. fair-sized packets.
When Wheeling I'd nufacturers placed
their welfare on ;he rivers advant-
ag,s, before tho standard stage begun
10 show signs of irreg'Ilarity and be-
fore the railroads invaded the city
with steam locomotives and steel rails.
the wharf extended from the mouth of
WheClin- creek as far north as Eighth
street. and 81 was no uncommon sight
large s.de-wheelers mooreG along the
piers. receiving ard discharging car.
goes that burdcncd them 10 the gun
wales and causeS their captains 10
rub Z cir hands with pleasure as they
contemplated the profits OF the trip.
Many an old rivernan has seen the
wharf literally lined from end 10 end
with miscellaneous freight 81 every de-
scripion representing almost every
product OF Wheeling Industries. tho
freight being consigned 20 points all
over the country which were reached
via the river Nails. then the city's
chief product. and for which II vas
know wherever nails were used. were
loaded ~ The wharf by tho hoatload.
and hundred ~ men were employed in
Tho process. Tobacco. used prcfrsely
in Wheeling oven A. that early date.
Tor manufacturing purposes. was car
red OF the boats which transported
- from the South. and several cotton
mills in tho city AZ that time depend
"a upon the boats for their entire sup
ply ~ raV material
Many Boats Operated.
In those days the river was looked~
upon as the standard means 81 travel
and whom person wanted 70 70 from
Wheeling 20 any point either north or
south. on business or pleasure. they
called AZ the wharf and inquired the
time OF teh mex boat providing they
didn't know. There were boats in
operation which made "a snociaItv of
tho paaqerre~ business and ran as
nearly as possible on schedule time
Many people kept is touch with the
schedules 81 the various boats as
they row keep In touch With tho
schedules ~ tho various railroad
trains The mode Of travel by the
river was perhaps slower than that
now afforded bv the railroads. hut
iuasmuch as tho railroads we're not
then operating on any extensive basis.
the river was the beet 20 be had
In looking back n car readily be
seen thai Tho entire Wheeling dis
t-ict owes much 10 tho Ohio river
for 10 present development The
river. - might DO said. paved tho
way FOR She railroads and started
what thev are finishing In the wav
of building up The community. With.
ont Tho river fhe city could not have
aft7nr 4 'o fe present state ~ IN
dustrial fame and general prosperity
IN such o comparatively short space
~ time
u has t,s1 said that when ne
huge dams fhrf arc being constructed
Cr planned H' along tho river are
completed ssur'nr a stage af IN
times NJ NOT lrfs chan min. foot Tho
stream v once NOR. nEc ar .m.
pnr.ar' place .u frc drvelormerf -
.l' Dh.. vr'.N. and tho Wheeling
district luf Then" are eomo who
'h.uE chat Tho Irn1f- have orffIe.
fenced fho water end while l'oafs
may a' some future fmr regain a
portion Of Hoi- uld prestige n h.
barely rcee'i'. ttDv win evor again
in recognized 7. really desirable
means Cf TRANSFORMATION There fa.
however. ono .rrwOfF. fhaf viii
probably DO shipped in hugo ccnqirr-
wn0fs hN hU.f Hs lone ae mo river
offers n rH1.f.hfr of.re and fNat be
coal Tho railroad. tavc NOT vsf
1ef. ~ means .f .~arrrorffrr coal
hv which 'r'f can compete with Tho
vcr