The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-03-09
City Busy Trying to Make
the Landing Place All
Right.
Plan RIVER CARNIVAL
City Officials Will Endeavor
to Make the River Big
Asset.

The Valley Gem the bot which is to
arrive here with freight shipped al
Pittsburgh for Fairmont at noon to-
morrow will have difficult time find.
ing a landing such as will take care OF
it properly. The condition will only
prevail upon the Valley Gems initial
trip for 1t hoped at the City Hall that
by the time tn eboat arrives on it's sec.
ond trip weather conditions will have
moderated to such an extent that
proper facilities will be at hand to
care for the boats landing and un,
loading.
The Valley Gem will be captained by
the owner Srville Noll who will mako
his home in Fairmont and will have
the cooperation OF all Fairmonters In
making the sailings Of the Valley Gem
successful from a monemtary stand,
point. Captain Noll has had 20 years
experience on river craft but is a mem.
Der of the newer school of rivermen
which nowadays have 70 be expert not
only In handling craft but in secur.
ing business for their steamers and
protection and careful handling of
shipments placed In their care.
The Valley Gem will bring to Fair.
mont cargo of heavy freight which
will be unloaded at the city wharf and
delivered temporarily to a storage
house II need be. Among the freight
Il an automobile heavy shipments OF
reinforcement iron lumber and sta
pies.
At present Water street which Is the
only thoroughfare running from toe
paVed streets of the city to the wharf
sIeet department busted itself today
ard used up all OF the ashes It had
on hand which will not quite suffice
to correct the condition. The wharf
will be cleaned off and arrangements
to receive the boat in the best possible
manner temporarily affected.
The city owns 300 feet of wharf
frontage on the East Side of the river.
This will be partially cleared and fix
ed SO those wishing to make shipments
on the Valley Gem can do so without
inconvenience. Water street may lat.
er be paved though the city has no
money with which the paving can be
done. It was suggested by one of the
members OF the administration that
the city pave the street and charge
the railroad companies on each side
OF the road with the work Just as II
has done all over the city to individ.
uals.
Already Mayor Anthony Bowen and
several other men In Fairmont have
engaged inconferences concerning
chartering the boat on certain days
next spring and summer for the pur.
pose OF having excursions down the
river. The boat will not go up river
due to the CASTOR Junction bridge of
too law. The boat will handle 900 pas.
and will when loaded with freight
carry l60 passengers I'll. city
itself will back a scheme for a Fair.
mont Regatta Day to be celebrated
each year on a certain day for the
purpose Of encouraging river traffic
and river craft building in this city.
All boats which are able to reach
the city will be invited for the occas.
ion and prizes offered for races and
speed tests as we'll as haulage tests,
This Regatta Day is positively a Ger.
tainty 1t was learned today at the mum
cipal offices and will be to Fairmont
what the Auto Hill Climb is to Union.
town the Auto races to indianapolis
and Yale-Harvard football game is to
these two institutions. It was stated
that should the 300 feet of frontage
fail ito take care of the boats and
freight which Fairmont will have on
hand next summer the city will buy an
additional 300 feet andw ork every
ounce its power to make the Monon.
gahela river one of Fairmont's strong
assets.
AT an informal meeting of the city
heads this morning all this was con.
sidered as well as a municipal bath
house. The bath house however was
delegated to the theoretical as soon
as It became known that the Monon.
Sahela river would not be the proper
place for such a pleasure resort this
part OF the water improvements TO
take place ON Buffalo creek.
PRESIDENT STILL y eEp.
WASHINGTON n n AEoroL n