USA > West Virginia > Myers' history of West Virginia (1915) Volume II > Part 18
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"How the railroads are to continue in the future to sup- ply the facilities for the constantly increasing demands of traffic, is the problem that confronts their managements and the shippers alike today.
"Sufficient facilities can only be furnished by large addi- tional expenditures; and, in face of the present lack of ade- quate return, it is going to be more and more difficult to se- cure the necessary means for expansion.
"While it has been generally recognized that, through in- creased rates of pay, increased costs of material, legislation and taxation, inroads have been made upon the net returns of railroads, I doubt if even few realize how serious these inroads have been.
"From 1907 to 1911 the property investment account of the railroads of the United States increased $2,044,000,000, at the same time the net operating income for 1911 showed a decrease of $8,787,000; while the net return on property in- vestment in 1907 was 5.83 per cent .: in 1911 it was only 4.97 per cent.
"Taking the figures of the Baltimore & Ohio between the years 1910 and 1913, this company spent for additions and betterments and equipment something over $51.000,000. Its gross earnings increased over $10,000.000, while the net earn- ings showed a decrease of $1.300,000. In other words, after adding $10,000,000 to the business ; after spending $51.000,000
History of West Virginia
for additional plant. the company will have actually $1,300,000 less return than it did before these expenditures were made.
"The public is demanding, and I believe deserving, the higher class of transportation service. Even so, it is not all that the railroad managements would like to give: but more and better service can only be assured through reasonable re- turn for that performed, avoidance of imposition of unneces- sary expense, and by thorough co-operation between the rail- roads and the shippers to utilize to the best advantage the existing facilities.
"That this mutuality of interest is becoming more and more appreciated is evidenced by the marked change in the attitude of the public as reflected through the press and other- wise, towards the railroad question.
"In any event, it will be the aim and desire of the man- agement of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company to so proceed as to at all times justify the co-operation and support of the citizens of the city of Wheeling and of the State of West Virginia."
Major Pahnborn, who has been connected with the B. & O. for about thirty-three years, followed Mr. Shriver with but a brief but interesting account of the carly history of the road which he represents.
The next speaker introduced was the Hon. John W. Davis. of Clarksburg, recent congressman from the First Dis- trict. but since appointed to the important position of Attorney General of the United States. ยท
Mr. Davis' speech, though brief, measured up to his usual high standard of eloquence. He portrayed in his optimistic way the bright future in store for our Little Mountain State in such glowing terms that every West Virginian present could not be otherwise than glad that he was a citizen thereof.
Hon. Samuel V. Woods, president of the State Senate, was profuse in his thanks to the people of Wheeling for their generous hospitality on this occasion and was glad of the privilege of being present to participate in the celebration. He prophesied that the time was not far distant when Wheel- ing Creek will be converted into a great sewer by use of
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material taken from the surrounding hills, thus reducing the latter and converting the former into a boulevard, ornamented with beautiful trees and parks. Mr. Woods' suggestion, if carried out, would not only improve sanitary conditions in Wheeling, but would add greatly to the nice appearance of the city.
Mr. H. C. Ogden and the Hon. William P. Hubbard made the closing speeches in the order named, the remarks of each being very interesting as well as instructive.
The writer regrets that lack of space prevents the record- ing here in full all that was said by the several able speakers on this memorable occasion.
WEST UNION.
West Union, the seat of justice of Doddridge County, was incorporated in March, 1850. It is located on Middle Island Creek, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, fifty miles from Grafton and fifty-four miles from Parkersburg. The county was formed February 4, 1845, from parts of Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie and Lewis, and was named in honor of Philip Doddridge, a distinguished lawyer and once a member of Congress.
The population of West Union in 1890 was 312; in 1900, 623; in 1910, 779, and at the present time (1914) about 825.
City Officials.
George W. Howard, Mayor ; J. L. McCormick, Recorder ; J. E. Trainer, George W. Twiford, J. M. Martin, S. L. McClain and B. H. Maulsby, Councilmen.
Churches.
Methodist Episcopal, Rev. John T. Hickman, pastor. Baptist. Rev. J. D. Runkle, pastor. United Brethren, Rev. K. H. Mayers, pastor. Church of Christ. Rev. J. F. Belleville, pastor. Catholic, Rev. Father Kennedy, pastor.
.
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Newspapers.
West Union Record, Walter Stuart, editor. Doddridge Republican, HI. H. Shinn, editor. West Union Herald, L. R. Charter, Jr., editor.
Banks.
Doddridge County Bank-J. M. Gribble, President : J. D. McReynolds, Vice-President ; L. R. Charter, Jr., Cashier ; Ira E. Smith, Asst. Cashier.
West Union Bank-W. Brent Maxwell, President ; W. S. Stewart, Vice-President : S. W. Langfitt, Cashier, J. A. Lang- fitt, Asst. Cashier.
First National-J. E. Trainer, President : W. J. Traugh. Vice-President ; W. H. McElhaney, Cashier ; J. A. Freeman, Asst. Cashier.
West Union has two glass factories, four groceries, two clothing stores, one wholesale grocery and one wholesale hardware store, two general stores, one ladies' and gents' furnishing store, one fruit store, one confectionery, two drug stores, two millinery stores.
On March 30, 1914, the people of West Union will vote on the question of a bond issue for the purpose of raising money with which to defray the expense of street paving and repairing water works and sewers.
West Union Faculty.
HIGH SCHOOL -- Florence Charter, Principal: E. S. Cardozo, Language : L. W. Orcutt. History and Mathematics ; Dolores Hickman. Music and Drawing.
GRADES-Jasper P. Bond, Dolores Cleavenger. Agnes Severen, Chesna Iris Jones, Goldie Davis, Lillie Hammond. DOE RUN SCHOOL-Aubrey Heflin.
WABASH SCHOOL-Katherine Smith.
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WESTON.
In 1817, when Lewis County was carved out of llarrison, the place where Weston now stands was practically a wilder- ness. There were some cleared spots here and there in the vicinity, but settlements were few and far between. Henry Flesher owned the land on both sides of the river, and when a village commenced to form on the present site of Weston. it was called Flesherville. The first county court was hek! at West Field, five miles from Flesherville. A short time afterward Lewis Maxwell. Elias Lowther and John McCoy were appointed commissioners by the county court to select a new site for the county seat, and Flesherville was selected, and the ground upon which the present court house and jail stands was purchased from Henry Flesher for the sum of $300.00. The name of the village was then changed to Pres- ton, in honor of James Preston, who was once governor of Virginia. Then, in 1835, the name of the place was changed to Weston, and on January 14, 1846, it became an incorporated town.
The West Virginia State Hospital for the Insane was opened to patients in 1864. Dr. James AA. Hill was appointed the first superintendent of the institution October 3, 1863. (For description of grounds and buildings see chapter on "Public Buildings.")
Weston, having been somewhat isolated at the time of the Civil War, was not bothered much by army invasions. Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans, of the Union Army, passed through the town on his way to the Ohio River, but no one was seriously molested by his troops.
Rev. Talbott organized the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Weston in 1830; the Episcopalians followed in 1846; the Roman Catholics, under Father Grogan, in 1848; the Presbyterians in 1868, and the Methodists in 1880.
The West Virginia & Pittsburgh Railroad (now a part of the B. & O. system) reached Weston from Clarksburg about 1879, and was extended on through to Richwood and Sutton, and another line was built to Buckhannon and Pickens. The Coal & Coke Railroad now runs from Elkins
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to Charleston, crossing the B. & O. at Orlando, 21 miles west of Weston, and placing the county seat of Lewis within 129 miles of the State capital.
The population of Weston in 1800 was 2.143 and in 1910 it was 2.213-an increase of only seventy in twenty years. But the next census will tell a different story, for the reason that that sleepy old town has awakened from its long Rip Van Winkle repose and its people are "doing things."
An electric road has been completed from Clarksburg to Weston. The city has a splendid system of paved streets, excellent sewerage, the best of lights-both gas and electric- and no bonded indebtedness.
Weston has three newspapers of general circulation. The Democrat, which is the oldest paper in the county, is edited and published by J. H. Edwards. The Record was succeeded by The Republican in January, 1907. It is edited by David Snider. The Independent, edited by R. Ad. Hall, was estab- lished in 1894.
For want of space we cannot give much detailed informa- tion concerning the many business houses and the various things that go to make up a hustling little city. We will, therefore, simply say that Weston has a splendid high school, numerous churches, four banks, several hotels and restau rants, large electric power and light plant, cheap gas and plenty of it. three planing mills, one flouring mill, stores of all kinds-wholesale and retail, opera house, foundry, steam laundry, ice plant and bottling works, two glass factories, beautiful homes, and a prosperous, sociable, happy people.
Schools.
Following is a list of names composing the school faculty of Weston :
Frank R. Yoke. Superintendent.
HIGH SCHOOL-Robert J. Kraus, principal : Robert E. Quirk. Halford Hoskins, Edna Arnold. Susan Smith, Helen Dalyrymple, and J. V. Everett, teachers.
CENTRAL BUILDING - W. B. Linger, principal :
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Vesta Mick, James Kemper, George Harris, Mona Linger, Julia Whelan, Mary McCray, Florence Hale, Rose Troxell, Nora Gillooly, Phoebe Mitchell, May Atkins, Marguerite Hale, Anna Smith, Elizabeth Hays, Mamie Rombach, Mary Owens, and Mary Locke, teachers.
POLK CREEK-Nellie Bailey and Nelle Arnold. KITTONVILLE-Mamie Ramsberg and Merrill. SHADYBROOK-Minor Hurst and Audra Beach. HALEVILLE-William Henry and Belle Lynch. COLORED SCHOOL-L. O. Wilson.
School term, 8 months, 1913-14. Total enrollment, 1156.
WELCH.
Welch, the county seat of McDowell County, is located on Tug River and the Norfolk & Western Railroad. It is a rapidly growing town, the population in 1900 being only 442, while in 1910 it had increased to 1,526, and is now about 2,000.
The county was formed in 1858 from part of Tazewell, the principal industry being coal mining, in which commodity it ranks among the first of the counties of the State. This in- dustry affords Welch's greatest source of revenue. In addi- tion to this, however, are several manufacturing establish- ments, the most important of which are the Welch Ice and Cold Storage Co., Welch Lumber Co. and Welch Bottling Works.
Banks.
McDowell County National Bank-I. T. Mann, President. and I. J. Rhodes, Cashier.
First National Bank-D. J. F. Strother. President, and B. O. Swope, Cashier.
The McDowell Recorder, edited by J. J. Swope, supplies the people of the county with the current news.
There are about twenty-seven wholesale and retail estab- lishments in the town.
"The Stag." "The Elkhorn" and "Tug River" are the lead- ing hotels.
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The streets are being paved as fast as the town's finances will permit, there now being about one mile completed.
Churches.
Presbyterian, J. II. Visor, pastor. Methodist, T. J. Hants, pastor.
Town Officials.
S. A. Daniels, Mayor; C. B. Early, Recorder: W. C. Mitchell. Sergeant; J. H. Hunt, Chief of Police; I. Hunt, Policeman; B. N. Gay. W. I. Sperry, W. E. Enbanks. C. D. Brewster, and M. O. Letz. Councilmen.
Welch School Faculty.
HIGH SCHOOL -G. E. Rhodes, Principal : H. J. Cross- man, Math. and Science : Nellie Cline, Eng. and Hist. ; Mahala Crummett, German and Latin.
LINCOLN SCHOOL -Martha Edwards. Principal : Blanche Hutchinson, Miss Rhodes, Meria Cook. Margaret Johnson, Mollie Bowyer. and Anna Bibb, teachers. HEMPHILL SCHOOL-Giles Fink, McKen- zie and Vaughan, teachers.
COLORED SCHOOL -- Nathaniel Wiley and Phoche Grimes, teachers.
WILLIAMSON, MINGO COUNTY.
Mingo County was detached from Logan County in 1895 and Williamson became the county seat. That was practically the beginning of the town. The ground on which the town is located was owned by a family by name of Williamson the parents of Mr. Wallace J. Williamson, who is now the last surviving member of the family. Mr. Williamson is a man of extraordinary ability as a business man and it is prin- cipally due to his untiring energy and foresight that Mingo's
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county seat is among the leading "live wire" towns of south- ern West Virginia.
Williamson, in 1910, had a population of 3,561, and has now (January, 1914) about 4,000 people.
The principal industry of the community is coal mining, there being about ten different companies operating within a radius of five miles of the town, having an aggregate capacity of about 5.000 tons of coal per day. Most of these mines were started since the panic in 1907. Just outside the five-mile radius are twenty other tipples, having an aggregate capacity of about 15,000 tons per day, all of which is assembled and shipped from the large Norfolk & Western Railroad yards at Williamson. These yards have over 100 miles of trackage. This was two years ago, and no doubt the coal business at that point has greatly increased since that time.
East Williamson is the railroad section of the town. South Williamson is an extension of Williamson, on the Ken- tucky side of Tug River, the two sections being connected by a magnificent bridge.
The Mingo County Bank and The First National Bank are prosperous institutions.
The Mingo Lime & Lumber Company, the W. A. Harris Planing & Lumber Company, and the City Electric & Ice Plant are the principal manufacturing establishments.
W. M. Bronson, furniture dealer, The H. Beall Hardware Company, The Hurst Hardware Company. Williamson Wholesale Grocery Company. J. Levine's Big Department Store : 1. Stecklor's Tailoring Display, L. S. Spaulding Jewelry Store, John E. Williams Grocery Co., Strosnider-Jenkins Drug Co., Oliver Music Store, Goff & Warnick, general mer- chandise, Randolph & Mittendorf Jewelry Store, Lloyd Alley's Meat Market are all doing a nice business in their respect- ive lines.
The city building is a neat two-story stone structure.
The Williamson high school building is a splendid struc- ture and speaks well for the progressive spirit of the people of the town and district.
The Williamson Enterprise and The West Virginian are wide-awake newspapers and deserve a liberal patronage.
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One of the finest buildings in Williamson is the Railroad Y. M. C. A.
The Vaughan and The Stratton are the two principal hotels of the town.
The members of Williamson's Board of Trade are all "live wires". If you are "from Missouri" go to Williamson and they will "show you".
The Presbyterian, Baptist and M. E. Church South are fine edifices and have large congregations.
As a place of diversion from toil and business cares during the hot summer months, there is no place more enjoyed by the citizens of Williamson than is their beautiful River- view Park.
Faculty Williamson's Schools.
C. R. Murray, Superintendent.
HIGH SCHOOL-A. C. Davis, principal: May Wise. Mauds Hansford, Minnie Garst, Bess E. Wilson, and Roy C. Garrett, teachers.
MAIN BUILDING-Mary Armstrong, Nannie Dixon, Vicie Stratton, Daisy Robinson, Elva Ward, Ilattie Graham, Jennie Livingston, Ina Barnes, and Zula Davisson, teachers.
EAST WILLIAMSON-A. J. Peters, principal : Daisy Robinson and Agnes Roche, teachers.
SPECIAL TEACHERS-Helen Anderson and Kath- erine Mason.
COLORED SCHOOL-L. D. Lawson, teacher.
School term 1913-14, 9 months. Total enrollment, 838.
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CHAPTER XXXV.
NOTABLE SPEECHES BY NOTABLE MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA.
Speeches by John S. Carlisle and Chapman J. Stuart on a Division of the State, Delivered in the Second Convention of the People of Northwestern Virginia, at Wheeling, Virginia, August 8, 1861-Third Day of the Adjourned Session.
Mr. Carlisle said :
"Mr. President :- This convention will at least accord me sincerity of purpose and honesty of motive in advocating the adoption of these resolutions at this time. The Legislature. to whom I am greatly indebted, have conferred upon me a position worthy the ambition of any man. I am secure in that position at least for four years to come if things continue here as they are. None but the body of which I am a member can deprive me of my place, except action such as I propose. If the convention shall adopt the resolutions, and a separate State shall be formed, the instant it is formed I cease to be a member of the Senate, and the representatives of the new State will select my successor. Therefore there can be no ambitions, personal or pecuniary influences, operating on my mind when I seck to obtain the object contemplated by the resolutions ; but, sir, it has been the cherished object of my life ; and I would be worse than ungrateful if I could at an hour like this, forget a people who have been engaged ever since my residence among them in showering upon me all the honors within their gift.
"There are considerations weighing upon my mind, Mr. President, which induce me to believe that the time has arrived now when we shall act. If we were at peace, if our people were not engaged in a struggle to obtain the govern-
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ment of our fathers. the natural barriers that separate the people inhabiting the region of country embraced in the reso- lutions make it, in my opinion, to their interest that they should no longer continue a connection which has been nothing but prejudicial to them ever since it began. The channels of trade, business and commercial relations of the counties named in the resolutions I have offered, have been everywhere else than with the rest and residue of the State in which we live. All the feelings that operate upon men- the kindest feelings of my nature -- the love I have for home. the scenes of my childhood, the place of my nativity, have all struggled with my sense of duty in this matter. Sir, if we act as I propose, I shall be separated by line, an imaginary line it is true, but yet a State line, from the county of my nativity and the home of my birth. But the counties I have designated have no facilities, either of land or water. for any commercial or business intercourse with the rest of the State. We must seek an outlet for our products elsewhere. We must look for our markets in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. We never can-nature has fixed it and made it impossible-we never can have business relations with the rest of the State. The southwestern part has its railroads, turnpikes, and canals penetrating through its valleys and mountains and leading to the capital of the State. The centre of the valley, the county of Frederick, my native county, has its public improvements reaching to Alexandria and Rich- mond, affording to them an outlet. Hence, they are not inter- ested as we are, as are the counties mentioned, in commercial relations with other States, and they are not compelled by force of circumstances which cannot be overcome. as we are. to seek a market for their produce and a channel for their industrial interests in other neighboring States. Therefore. as a mere material question in time of peace, it is the interest of the people inhabiting these counties to separate themselves from the rest of the State, and organize a separate State government of their own.
"But then, sir, there are other considerations now. We have 'entered upon a war such as heaven and earth never saw before, and such as I trust in God never will be witnessed
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again. What is to be its end nobody knows; no man can tell. And what, when peace shall at last come, with a tired and op- pressed people, ground down by taxation and oppression, legitimate and natural consequences of war-what considera- tion would they bestow, the 28,000,000 of people, when com- ing upon terms and ratifying and concluding a peace, upon the 308,000 people who inhabit the counties set forth in the resolution? How long would they let that people stand in the way of a settlement at the termination of this war? It is a question I throw out as a suggestion to be revolved by gen- tlemen in their minds when they rest upon their pillows. God grant that a separation of these States never may take place ! I hope it never may ; and as it depends on my action, it never shall. But, sir, I am but a grain of sand on the sea shore; and you are but a grain of sand, and we are all but grains of sand on the shore of our country's destiny. It is a duty we owe to the people who have confided all their interests to guard and protect them against every possible contingency ; and while I admit with you that it is improbable that this war shall ever be terminated in any other way than by maintain- ing the integrity of the Union, and the supremacy of its laws, yet you must admit with me that there is a possibility of its terminating in some other mode. I, therefore, feel it incum- bent upon me as one of the representatives of a people who have ably sustained me upon any and all occasions to guard them against a possibility of injury. Looking at that possi- bility-and it is a possibility-where, in case of a settlement, if we remain inactive, would we go? Where would we be? Then if we act and that possibility does not take place, we are, where you and I and our people wish us to be-discon- nected from the rest of the State, the connection being an unnatural one, in contravention to the laws of nature. Ever since you and I have known anything of the workings of the connection it has been prejudicial and to our injury, under any circumstances, in any point of view, in which I have asked you to look at this question. My opinions, formed years ago, in a time of profound peace, have been strengthened by every day's experience. It will be remembered by the members of this convention that in our last meeting in June, while I was
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then behind some of my friends in this movement, and while I was pointed at as having abandoned what I had uttered be fore, in the former conventions, as the matured convictions of my mind, I pledged gentlemen that if they would wait until their purpose really could be accomplished, that then we had no recognition, no Legislature known to the Federal authori- ties as such, that then we had no Legislature that could give us the assent provided for and required by the constitution to be given to a separation-but that the moment we had a Legislature, recognized as such, speaking in the name of the State, whose assent should go to the Congress of the United States admits us as a new State? Surely not ; surely not ! On lature, then I promised you, gentlemn, I would go with you at the earliest possible moment for this division. I am here to redeem that pledge today.
"It is argued, Mr. President, by some that action of this kind will not be taken in favor by the Federal government : that it may embarrass it in its present operations. Will any gentleman tell me how? If it is regarded with disfavor by the Congress of the United States, the war-making power, the power that must supply the means to carry on this war, the power that must be used to assert the supremacy of the laws and maintain the integrity of the Union, they will refuse our admission into the Union, deny their consent ; and there is an end of it, and we are no worse off for having made the effort.
"It is said by some that we ought to aid the government in extending a loyal government over the rest and residue of the State. Does this interfere with this provisional gov- ernment we have inaugurated here. the government of the State of Virginia, as fast as the arms of the Union sweep se- cession before them, and when the Congress of the United States and be respected as the assent of a constitutional Legis- the contrary, it will have a most happy effect on the Fed- eral government, by showing to them the importance of ex- tending their military operations in other parts of the Com- monwealth, whenever they are in a condition to do it. But is there a gentleman here that for one moment supposes that if the armies of the United States have not swept secession out of the State and relieved the loyal citizens of the State
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