The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-20
Business NJ en Cannot See
Hard Times Coming
Rather, they Declare Soft
Times are Going
BY DWIGHT H !TErER

BY DWIGHT H 'TETER
Clarks burg. W. Va, May 10 Few
other cities in the state reflect general
business and political conditions better
than does Clark sburg. For that matter
| few other cities are so intensely INDUS
ria lized or so Unfortunately poiIliclzed1
Clarksburg has been slower TO react
10 the passing of.'"soft times" than
many other cities in the state because
the diversity Of her industries, and
consequently their individual abilities
to keep going and to hold on. The coal
mines were, Of course. the first to shut
down-since the first of the year the
| output has been negligible-other enter
! prises have been slower TO follow SUIT
but none the less certainly
The business men of Clarkshurg are
slow to admit that hard times are
coming, rather, they say soft times
are going. However they care TO frame
their diction. they are fully ,cognizant
of great oyer-supply OF unemploy cd
labor floating about the streets. in
; search Of work-yeSterday it was en-
ployment they were after, today ii is
work. AS nearly as l could learn. or
the many large Industries in the Clarks-
burg territory only two are running az
! all-two glass factories, one running
half time and the other running 90 per
cent normal.
Uncle Dan Towards Version
Uncle Dan" Howard. the coal barom-
eter Of northern West Virginia. Is Tor
once up in the air. Son he said, they
got me guessing. Everything in the coal
business has been running along bad
and now it's got worse. L am going
Il attend
meeting Of coal operators and see what
they know-personally. l know nothing
But | can tell you this: When the FAC
tories and mills over the country open
up, then the coal business will begin TO
hum. Yes, that's what l am going 10
New York for-to see when this Will
be-"
While the weekly pay roll has com
paratively become n thing OF the past
in the last month or six weeks, there
seems to be no abatement in the spend
ing Of money. The merchants are hay
ing the customary spring rush, their
goods are reduced, 1t is true, but the
volume of sales correspond 1aForapiE
with that of a year ago; the movie
shows and vaudeville houses are regis
tering no complaint: and the pool rooms
at IL o'clock p. M.--the best gauge OF
the laboring mans eXpendltures-ar'
crowded.
Money Plentiful
Money is plentiful on the streets In
ClarkSburg, yet in the banks II is Nght
very tight. The banks themselves, are
in excellent shape, but they are making
no loans. Their saving accounts are
slowly but surely dwindling and their
individual deposits are falling off. The
bankers during business hours wear a
pessimistiC frown when monetary conul-
lions are mentioned. but wIthall they
are making preparations for larger run
of business than ever before when
things loosen up" They do not forsee
a return of the So-called soft times
but they are looking forward 10 a great
er era Of wholesome prosperity when
the much-touted "nOrmalCy' returns tor
good.
Politically, Clarksburg is suffering no
setback; business may come and go ana
come again, but politics III Harrison
county will be played forever the pol
ltical prOgnoStiCator soon learns TWO
things: the amateurs left the game as
soon as Virgil Highland and sherman
Denha m put on long trousers. and that
today's uncertainty is tomorrows rea'-
lty in political Clarksburg.
New City Charter
The city is just now becoming acrn-
mated TO its new CHARTER "hch "eiit
into effect some three weeks ago Inc
old charter provided for commission
form of government, which for numer-
Gus reasons, as varied as they are mum
erous, was scrapped and a charter cali
ing for u government by city manager
was granted by the last Legislature. In
oho nj
created in the city and nine councilman
have been elected. The council will ap-
point d city Manager. According TO the
Democrats the ring virgil
Highland and Sherman Denham-"as
completely showed under at the recent
election Of the nine counctlmen--SeNeh
are Democrats, one inSurgent RepthIl-
can and one regular" Republican. Inc
labor leaders say that while the Repup-
lican ring" lost. the Democratic ring
won which is just as bad. Inc DUST
ness and professional men OF the clty
however. seem to be more than SatlS-
fled with the outcome and are taxing
a personal interest in the affairs OF the
city, feeling, seemingly. that they are
in a position to be Of some value 10 the
administration.
City Manager Not Named
The council mas us Vel appotHl'" u"
city manager. John l.. Ruhl Is acting AS
temporary manager, but he Will not De
the one TO receive tho permanent. APP
pointment. Sentiment is somewhat div
ided as TO the selection OF the city man
aver. Some people wNO are thoroughly
conyersant with the situation bclleEc
that 4 competent man from some other
locality should be appointed, while
others favor some local man. But those
who claim TO be lin the know say that
J. Iorner Davis. who recently resigned
as postmaster. is slated for the jon. II
is safe to say that If no Is Il candidate
for the position he will DO hard man
] to shove aside for some outsider. He