Year: 1872

A correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Enquirer, writing from Charleston under
date OF December l6, has the following
to say about matters and things:


Charleston is situated on the east
bank OF the Kanswha river, about l5O
miles from its mouth, in the midst OF
country abounding in mineral wealth,
consisting Of: salt, coal iand iron. 1t
has a population of about 5000 souls,
which is probably about one for each
year OF its existence.


Since the State Capitai has been
located here a new life seems to have
been infused its fossilized existence,
and at the present time it has Q lively,
bushes. aspect, entirely at variance
with the traditions OF the place in for
mer times. Building is going on rap
idly, labor commands a good price, and
all classes OF industry and trade and
commerce seem TO be thriving.


TIE STREETS.


Sidewalks and powdered streets are
scarce, the subsoil moist and exasper-
atingly adhesive. There is q legend
here to the effect that the principal
street of the city was once paved with
powders, through the influence OF a
ring, which put up the job on the City
Council for the purpose Of obtaining
fat contract. As years flew by the cir
cumstance loosened its hold on the
memories OF the people until quite
recently, when the question was raised
as to whether there had ever been any
powders laid there at all. The City
Council ordered excavations TO be conn.,
menced, which resulted in discovering
the pavement. The city authorities,
with commendable enterprise, there
upon concluded to remove the quagmire
on top Of the powders, and the work is
now actively in progress. There is now
every prospect that a bushel OF bran
can be hauled through Kanawba
street on an ordinary wagon, with less
than four horses, in the course OF n
month. Other improvements will
come in due time, for the spirit Of pro:
gress seems to have entered the bosoms
OF this people.


Hotels here can not be said to be
either numerous or first class, and are
totally inadequate 10 meet the demand
made upon them in an emergency like
the present one-the Constitutional
Convention, the Legislature and the
State Courts, being simultaneously in
session, and attracting large number
Of people TO the city. At the time OF
my arrival the ST. Alberts Hotel and
the Kanawha House were the only
places where the weary traveller could
obtain nourishment and sleep. DR..
Hale's new hotel will, however, be
thrown open to the public this week,
and thereafter the wandering Arabs OF
the press, as well as the general public,
need have no fear, upon arriving here,
of having to subject their delicate con.
stitutions to the blighting influence Of
the frosty zephyrs which float among
the hills Of the altitudinous country,
while going from door TO door, to appeal
TO the humanity OF the citizens TO be
taken in. The new hotel will be the
largest and the finest in the State, and
with this addition, the hotel accommo
dations OF the city will be ample and
complete.


NAUGHTY PROVISION DEALERS.


Human nature is about the same all
the world over. One phase OF that
same human nature alluded TO is to
make the most that can be made from
the necessities OF our fellow-creatures.
Some classes Of our fellow itizens in
Cincinnati, especially the CO dealers,
who wait until a hard frostskims the
Ohio river over with thin sheet Of ice,
and then put the price OF coal up to
forty cents bushel, and industriously
circulate the story that navigation is
closed, and no more coal can be had
during the remainder OF the year, have
got this kind OF human nature bad. 1t
30 happens that some Of them same
fellers"live in Charleston. They do not
deal in coal, however. They wear good
clothes, live in fine houses, and fare
umptuously nearly every day from the
profits made off the grocery and pro.
vision trade. The way they manage
the business is this: Along in the fall,
when the water is high 10 the Kanawha,
and transportation cheap, they lay in q
large supply of provisions and gro.
ceries and then wait quietly for
the Almighty TO freeze up the creek. |
There being no other mode Of commu.
nication with the outside world, Charles |
ton is effectually cut of from all sup |
plies, and the housewife can neither get |
a sack Of -four 10 make her biscuit nor
an ounce OF sal soda to raise them with |
without paying two or three prices.
These nice little speculstions, however,
have been seriously interfered with by |
the section OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad now in operation between this
city and Huntington, and the CON-
pletion Of the route will break up the
business entirely. These bold, bad men
will then have an opportunity to reform,
and il not led into other transactions OF
a similar character may ultimately be.
come worthy citizens Of this enlightened
village.


THE OPERA HOUSE.


The new opera house here, concern
ing which some details have already
been forwarded to the Eaqrirer, 10 an