The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-01-31
SMALL TOWN BECOMES GREAT
INDUSTRIAL CENTER IN
SHORT TIME.
Hundreds Of Men Now at Work on
Immense Power Plsnt-Consid-
cradle Ground Leased for Oil.

AAVAN Az many shndh iOWuS anu
villages scattered throughout the u
try Of which most persons never have
and never will hear tell. an Incident
not uncommon. however. but there Is
one little town in proximity TO Wheel
Ing. in fact almost a suburb. at which
people would only give a passing
glance as they went speeding through
II on a train or othei vehicle. never
thinking OF any name il might have.
After all the years IL has spent N
obscurity. II is now coming 10 the
front n there Is hardly a business
man or citizen within a radius of a
few hundred miles who has not heard
within the past few weeks of the
strides Of activity occurring in the
big valley with this remote little
country side as the center OF an ap-
preaching industrial boom. This boom
means the expenditure OF thousand OF
dollars for the erection OF various new
industries giving employment TO hun
nredS OF workingmen and the means
of furthering ~developing trades and
manufacturing industries with whica
the local valley is already well repre-
scented.
This town OF which We have heard
hitle or no' at Ill until recently. L.
no other "a the neighboring village
OF Beech Bottom. a twenty minutes
ride from the city. located on the main
line OF the PENNSYLVANIA lines De-
tween Pittsburgh and Wheeling and
the Pan Handle Traction line operat-
ing between this ,ity and S~tou5enville.
Attracted Wide Attention.
Beech Bottom during the past sew
eral weeks has attracted the atten-
ton OF capitalists from many parts
OF the country. likewise persons look
ing for investments and other for en-
ployment.
h activity began when the name
OF Beech Bottom was placed on the
map by the announcement of the
American Gas q Electric company to
the effect that II Iad secured a large
tract OF land on which TO erect an
immense plant. details of which have
already been mentioned in the lntelli-
gencer.
After divulging their intentions
there was a rush Of ''prospectors" To
the scene Of the new 'diggin's 70.
sembline the rush Of the days Of ~.
When lucky strikes of gold were made
IN the mining districts. The result
was a great demand for real estate in
the little river town and adjoining
territory. Work has already been
started on the new power plant. build.
inEs are being erected for store rooms
and dwellings. several other manufac.
turing industries are considering 10.
eating In tho town n a local com
! Tany Of oil well men has secured an
option on land for the purpose of drill.
ing test wells. In fact there has beer
so much activity during the past few
weeks that many OF the old residents
can scarcely realize that they are just
now stepping ~ from seclusion. and
that their town will soon rank as one
OF he foremost industrial centers in
the pan handle district.
Work Progresses.
The contract for erecting the new
plant Of the American Gas a Electric
company has been let TO the Founda.
ton company of New York City. and
the preliminary work b. now well un.
der way under tho supervision Of n.
j.. Kelse. The cost Of the erection II
the plant is estimated at two million
dollars. this is included the construc
ton Of the Conerd5m IN tho Ohio
river. digging the tunnels. which will
furnish the water supply for the opor.
alton Of the plant. coal bins. etc. From
three 90 four hundred men are now
employed. working double shift. rush.
ing the work 90 completion II viii b.
az least q year. however. before the
new plant will be- ready for operations
First Of al. as required by the con.
tract DO was necessary for The contrac.
tors 20 elevate the ground fourteen
feet so that the buildings would DO
above the last high water mark About
10000 yards Of dirt taken from the
excavations and the river Is being
utilized iu the Gll-up
Preliminary Work.
The FIRST work done by the contrac
tors was to erect 70 coTor1am in the
Ohio river. this being completed with.
I'm the last few days. and az present
work of diceiuE two tunnels from the
dam is Boo progress The one tunnel
viii carry the water into the boiler
rooms md the other viii carry 30 back
into The river.
The mouth Of tho intake tunnel o.
tends ahou seventy. Eve feet into tho
bed Of tho river from the point of
entrance into tho plant and BE- dow
fifteen feet below the low vafor varh
The water Del CARED. hy means of
pumps. $50 feet before DO reaches the
power plant
The power station will ba one of fhe
most complete plant. in ,hi- part of
Tho country and viii NOT only assist
iu furnishing power locally. but will
operate lines as FAR as Canton. Ohio
and later on VIII probably extend their
.rrtIrp
Details o. Plant
Tho power house viii he 1-rr,--
'HD' CON ..f.ur Of boiler rooms. fr-
hn' rooms DISCHARGE chamber.
screen chambers. coal bins. str
8 condenser ri. vHU also he Ir fne
m..I part off iho power h0u.. contain.
iU. condenser wells. ,fs which will