WHEELING S STORY Told in Eloquent Facts and Convincing Figures Printed for tfie Public by WHEELING BOARD of TRADE The Cities The Cities are full of pride, Challenging each to each— This from her mountain side, That from her burthened beach. They count their ships full tale— Their corn and oil and wine, Derrick and loom and bale, And rampart’s gunflecked line; City by city they hail: “Hast aught to match with mine?” And the men that breed from them They traffic up and down, But cling to their cities’ hem As a child to the mother’s gown. When they talk with the stranger bands, Dazed and newly alone; When they walk in stranger lands, By roaring streets unknown; Blessing her where she stands For strength above their own. On high to hold her fame. That stands all fame beyond, By oath to back the same, Most faithful—foolish—fond; Making her mere-breathed name Their bond upon their bond. —Rudyard Kipling. ^ 1:5415 Foreword The Board of Trade presents this booklet of facts and figures about Wheeling so that its true size, its substantial advantages and solid achievements may be known by all who wish to know. Though the United States census in 1910 gave us a population of 41,641, Wheeling is in reality a community about four times that size, and stretches north, south, east and west over the Ohio river and state lines. The census cannot go beyond legal boundaries, and so Wheeling does not get credit for her real extent and true proportions, even though some of its suburbs are as much a part of the city as some of its wards. Wheeling’s area is small,—a little over three square miles,—and annexation plans have not yet been realized, but though a greater city would help the situation in uniting West Vir¬ ginia suburbs under our name and government, our strong and aggressive neighbors in Ohio r* can never be made legally one with Wheeling. £ Our suburbs within the five-cent fare limit ** of a splendid trolley system include West Vir¬ ginia towns such as Warwood, with several plants of national reputation; Fulton, with the largest packing house east of Chicago; Ben- wood, with Steel corporation and independent mills employing nearly six thousand men; and in Ohio cities like Martins Ferry, Bridgeport and Bellaire with a combined population of over 30,000 and big industries of the Steel cor- 3 poration, large glass factories, .enameled ware plants, bridge works and other industries em¬ ploying thousands of work people. These are only a few of many and are men¬ tioned because they are typical of Wheeling’s suburban situation which makes the city so strong financially, industrially and commer¬ cially. Aside from this, Wheeling is in the midst of an excellent farming district and within a short distance of the real country with green fields and running brooks, lovely valleys and hills, which present a landscape that cannot be sur¬ passed anywhere and which invite one into God’s out-of-doors, all the year round. We of Wheeling believe we have a goodly city which has much to offer the manufacturer and the merchant, the home-seekei and the investor. It has great resources and splendid advan¬ tages in everything that goes to make a city great and a people happy, and its latchstring is out to men who want opportunity and to money which is seeking safe investment. A BIT OF SCENERY NEAR WHEELING 4 WHEELING BOARD OF TRADE ORGANIZED 1900 Assembly Room and Offices, South End Market Auditorium President W. B. IRVINE Vice-President National Bank of West Virginia First Vice-President C. H. DOWLER Dowler & Dowler, Bonds and Real Estate. Second Vice-President FRED J. FOX Cashier, Security Trust Co. Secretary-T reasurer R. B. NAYLOR Assistant Secretary R. E. BYRUM DIRECTORS SEATON ALEXANDER Alexander & Co., Shoes CHAS. A. BOWERS Cashier, South Side Bank J. HAROLD BRENNAN Attorney-at-Law and City Solicitor ROBERT M. BROWNE Member Browne Bros., Tailors E. B. CARNEY President Windsor Hotel Co. ANDREW S. HARE Cashier and Director, Natural Gas Co. of West Va. ROBERT HAZLETT Postmaster GEORGE HOOK President Germania Half-Dollar Savings Bank A. T. HUPP Vice-President Speidel Grocery Co. GEORGE O. NAGLE Vice-President Wheeling Traction Co. JOSEPH R. NAYLOR Secretary John S. Naylor Dry Goods Company JOHN H. RENNARD President, John H. Rennard Advertising Co. FRANK W. NESBITT Lawyer and Former Judge of Circuit Court OTTO SCHENK Vice-President and Manager, F. Schenk & Sons Packing Co. CHAS. H. WATKINS, Jr. President Palace Furniture Co. ONE OF WHEELING'S BIG BANKS 6 The Real W^heelmg Wheeling, West Virginia, located in the beantifnl Ohio Valley, is one of the solid and substantial cities of the country and has long enjoyed a high reputation for the extent and variety of its commerce and industry. The city has 43,000 population with 100,000 in the immediately suburbs in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It is the chief city and commer¬ cial and industrial center of a State of great resources, noted for the production of coal, oil, gas and lumber and rapidly taking high rank for industrial development and horticultural progress. Wheeling was settled about 1769 by Col. Ebenezer Zane and two brothers, and the town grew up about Fort Henry, established by them at the top of what is now Main street hill, the site having been appropriately marked with a tablet by the State. The fort was the scene of the last battle of the Revolution when it was un¬ successfully attacked by a force of British and Indians. The city had its first impetus because it was located at the head of navigation on the Ohio river, and was for a long time the western terminus of the Old National Road, Baltimore being on the eastern end. The National Road was the most important avenue of commerce over the mountains, prior to the railroads, and after its extension to Columbus, Indianapolis and St. Louis, a constant stream of commerce flowed over the highway. Wheeling was the 7 first point reached by the railroads on the Ohio river, and was for some years the western terminal of the Baltimore & Ohio, the first road to cross the Alleghany mountains. The city was established as a town in 1795 and incorporated in 1806. A charter was granted in 1836. It is the county seat of Ohio county. The city was loyal to the National Govern¬ ment during the Civil War, and the new State was born here. The first convention of dele¬ gates from the loyal counties of Western Vir¬ ginia met in Wheeling May 13th, 1861, and inaugurated the movement which finally re¬ sulted in the admission of West Virginia as a State June 20th, 1863. Wheeling was the capital of the new State, having occupied that position from 1863 until 1870, when Charleston was selected as a more central point. However, in 1875 it was again the seat of government, but in 1885 removal again took place to Charleston, and there it has since remained. Industrial and Commercial Facts The principal industries of Wheeling are the manufacture of iron, steel, tinplate, nails, glass, enameled ware, pottery and tobacco products, while there are many others of importance, among them the largest proprietary medicine concern in the world. Steel and iron manu¬ facture began here in 1825 on a small scale, in¬ fluenced by cheap fuel and excellent transporta¬ tion facilities, and has grown steadily and sub¬ stantially, until today the United States Steel Corporation with five large plants and several independent concerns, such as the Wheeling Steel & Iron Company, the Whitaker-Glessner Company and the LaBelle Iron Works, turn out enormous tonnage which has an ever widening 8 market. A new $1,000,000 sheet and tinplate plant is in course of construction, with local capital behind it. The first glass was made here in 1821, and the city is now the center of a great glass industry, employing about 6,000 people and turning out wares annually valued at $8,000,000. The Wheeling stogie originated here about 60 years ago, and the business has grown to great proportions, 140,000,000 being made annually. In the smoking and chewing tobacco line, Wheeling has one of the largest plants in the world, turning out a single brand. Among other industries may be mentioned large foundries and machine shops, tin can factories, stamping works, meat packing plants, modern breweries, a calico printing works, tool works which sell their wares as far apart as Norway and Argentine, enameled ware plants of grow¬ ing importance and ketchup and preserve fac¬ tories which have made Wheeling famous. Auto truck and engine factories are recent acquisitions to our industries. The city pos¬ sesses advantages and facilities which have built up many large and substantial industries and which invite both capital and labor to a promis¬ ing field. The jobbing and retail trade of the city is large and constantly expanding and reaches probably $20,000,000 annually according to con¬ servative estimates. The territory served em¬ braces three States, and the houses in all lines of business are modern and up-to-date in every respect. Many retail stores are models in con¬ struction and management, and would do credit to the largest cities of the country. The bank¬ ing facilties are large and ample, and complete figures regarding them will be found on an¬ other page. 9 Railroad Facilities The district is served by three of the most prominent and aggressive trunk lines in the country, viz: The Baltimore & Ohio system, with its main lines and its Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling, Ohio River and Wheeling & Pittsburg di¬ visions. The Pennsylvania system, P., C., C. & St. Louis and Pennsylvania connections; Cleve¬ land & Pittsburg, and Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago connections, also its Ohio Valley branch. The Wabash interests, through the Wheeling & Lake Erie railway. In addition to these, we have the Ohio River & Western railway, and the Wheeling Terminal railway, the latter a belt line connecting with all lines and principal industries in the district. The Lake Erie, Alliance & Wheeling has been built to Dillonvale, 18 miles northwest of Wheeling, and rights-of-way have been secured to bring the road practically into Wheeling. Wheeling has Pittsburg freight rates on hauls 100 miles or more distant, and local rates within the 100-mile radius are, generally speaking, the same as those to and from Pittsburg for similar distances. Through its excellent transportation facili¬ ties, Wheeling is near the great markets of the country and by superior passenger service, the city is two hours from Pittsburg, five from Cleveland and Columbus, eight and one-half Aom Cincinnati, ten and one-half from Balti¬ more, twelve from New York and Philadelphia, and fourteen and one-half from Chicago. A quick local freight service is provided, all lines loading daily, way cars which make next day deliveries at points on their lines within 100 miles. The through fast freight merchandise service to and from large commercial centers is 10 excellent, as the following approximate freight deliveries prove: Pittsburg, Cleveland and Toledo, next day; New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Columbus and Chicago, second day; St. Louis and Louis¬ ville, third day; Boston, fifth day. For the de¬ livery, as well as forwarding of miscellaneous merchandise in car lots, large well-equipped public team truck yards are maintained by all lines, conveniently located and reached by paved streets, and the suburbs are also well provided for in that respect. Great improvements have been made by all lines within the last few years to enable them to keep pace with the constantly growing ton¬ nage and travel, the B. & 0. alone spending be¬ tween $2,000,000 and $3,000,000, and many more are contemplated for the near future. The street railway system of the two com¬ panies, the Wheeling Traction and the West Virginia Traction & Electric Company, em¬ braces 125 miles, running east and west 25 miles and north to south 28 miles, and bringing the whole tri-state district in touch with Wheel¬ ing. The service has done much for the up¬ building of Wheeling and the promotion of trade, and will continue to make Wheeling big¬ ger and better. , The Ohio river is navigable most of the year, and recent improvements by the completion of two government dams north and south of the city will increase its usefulness. A third dam is now being built just above the town. Coal, Gas and Electric Power Wheeling has an abundance of cheap fuel, both coal and natural gas. The former has been mined for many years and was the basis of our first industrial success. The city is in 11 the heart of a great coal field which contains the richest steam coal to be found anywhere, and 15,000 men are employed in the mining in¬ dustry within a radius of 20 miles. The pay rolls run $1,500,000 a month. As within the radius indicated, it is estimated there are 4,000,- 000,000 tons unmined, the supply is practically inexhaustible. Wheeling offers an advantage here that cannot be surpassed and $1.00 coal is the rule. Many plants hav.e mines at the fur¬ nace door. Natural gas introduced here in 1886 comes from West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and is sold at reasonable rates. The consumption for domestic and industrial use is very large, and it is the fuel par excellence. In addition, cheap electric power and light are available and a big company has recently completed one of the largest and best equipped plants in the country for furnishing this modern industrial necessity. Government and Taxation Wheeling’s government is based on a charter passed in 1907, and drawn on modern lines. Considerable powers are vested in a Board of Control, consisting of Mayor and two others, elected by the people, with a City Council made up of ward representatives. The board system has been entirely done away with, and prac¬ tically all city business is done under the direc¬ tion of the Board of Control. The city owns public utilities in the way of water works, gas plant, electric light works and city crematory. There are 47 miles of streets with 30 p'aved with brick and asphalt and the rest with cobble, gravel or macadam. The city government is located in the former State capitol, a fine build¬ ing >at the corner of Sixteenth and Chapline 12 streets, which is also used as a county court house. The total valuation of property in Wheeling on a true and actual basis is over $65,000,000, the valuation of real property in¬ creasing $6,000,000 the past five years. Wheeling has a low tax rate, the total levies amounting to 96% cents per $100, a low city debt and much valuable city property. The city debt amounts to a little over $1,000,000 and the valuation of municipal property unen¬ cumbered $2,191,000. The City’s Health Wheeling is in the same latitude as Philadel¬ phia and enjoys a healthful and temperate cli¬ mate with few extremes of heat and cold. The city, lying at the foothills, is well drained and the public health, guarded by a fearless and energetic Health Department, is excellent. The actual resident death rate in 1912 was 13.7 per thousand, which is among the lowest in the country. The milk supply is regulated by ordi¬ nance, which is so rigidly enforced that no city gets better milk, and the effect has been most beneficial, especially in reducing infant mortal¬ ity. Certified milk is also furnished under the auspices of the Certified Milk Commission. The health department provides for garbage col¬ lection, for fumigation in contagious dis¬ ease, distributes antitoxine free to physicians for use in families unable to purchase it, and in many other ways safeguards the health of the community. Schools and Churches Sixty years ago Wheeling was one of the first southern cities to establish free schools, and has developed an admirable system of pub¬ lic education with night schools, domestic 13 science and manual training. There are seven grammar schools, which prepare for High School work, a High School and a separate grade school and High School for colored child¬ ren, all occupying twelve buildings. The new High School building, erected at a cost of $125,- 000, is a model in construction and arrange¬ ment There are 5,682 children in the public schools, including 444 in the High School There are besides these, 12 Catholic educational institutions in the city and eastern suburbs, and the Linsly Institute, a collegiate prepara¬ tory school for boys, and Mt. de Chantal Acad¬ emy for girls, an excellent institution a few miles east of the city, in charge of the Sisters of the Visitation. A State Normal School is at West Liberty, 10 miles from Wheeling, and Bethany College, with a splendid agricultural school is located at Bethany, 16 miles from the city. There are 51 churches, representing many different denominations, the Roman Catholic ranking first, with Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians next in the order named. There are two public hospitals and several private ones; several orphanages and many other char¬ itable institutions which are doing great work. A new Y. M. C. A. building, costing $175,000. has recently been opened and the Y. W. C. A. has acquired property on which a modern build¬ ing is being erected. A new and modern City Hospital, costing $260,000, will soon be com¬ pleted. The money for this worthy project was raised in an eleven-day campaign and reflects the energy, civic pride and charitable impulses of our people. In the line of civic activities, the Wheeling Playground Association operates four modern and well equipped playgrounds, and a move¬ ment is on foot for the city to undertake an 14 extension of the system through its excellent Park and Playground Commission. The Asso¬ ciated Charities, well supported by the people, conducts relief work on systematic business principles, with trained officers in charge. A well organized Woman’s Department Club is active in many lines. The Ohio County Anti- Tuberculosis League owns a hill top east of the city on which a well equipped sanitarium is operated. Halls, Theatres and Hotels The Market-Auditorium, between Tenth and Eleventh streets, in the heart of the city, is the latest addition to Wheeling’s fine public build¬ ings, and was erected through the efforts of the Board of Trade. It is the largest building in the State, 506 feet long and 52 feet wide, cover¬ ing the center of a city square in the Second ward and combines a modern market of 70 stalls, with a convention hall, seating 3,500 people. It furnishes a splendid place for con¬ ventions, exhibits, etc. The city operates an excellent market in the Fifth ward. Wheeling has a dozen hotels, of which the McLure at Twelfth and Market streets, is the largest and best known, the others like the Stamm, Brunswick, Grand Central and Antler are also first-class and cater to a good trade. A new up-to-date hostelry, 12 stories high and containing 200 rooms, is now being constructed on the Windsor site on Water street and the new hotel will be known as the Windsor. The stranger in Wheeling may find excellent ac¬ commodations at reasonable prices, and the rates do not advance when large crowds come to conventions or other gatherings. There are three theatres in Wheeling, as follows: 15 Court Theatre, Board of Trade building, Twelfth and Chapline streets, open winter season. Victoria Theatre, corner Thirteenth and Market street, open all the year. The Orpheum, at Fourteenth and Market streets, open all the year.* There are ten moving picture houses which are doing a good business. There are four club houses, the Fort Henry, at Fourteenth and Chapline streets; the Elks, at No. 32 Fifteenth street; the Carroll, at Thir¬ teenth and Chapline streets; the University, at 1107 Chapline street; the Columbia, Market street, below Twentieth, and the Arion, at Twentieth and Main streets. The Country Club has a splendid club house and golf grounds five miles east of the city. The leading secret orders are strong, and the Masons, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias own buildings. The Scottish Rite order has a magnificent Cathedral at Fourteenth and Byron streets, in which the Masonic Club has quarters. The Mercantile Club has fine rooms in the Board of Trade building. A WHEELING PLAYGROUND 16 MVheeling s Principal Suburbs (West Virginia) WELLSBURG Wellsburg is in Brooke County, 16 miles north of Wheeling on the Ohio river, the Pennsylvania railroad and the PanHandle traction line run¬ ning from Wheeling to Steubenville. It is the county seat of Brooke county. Population . 5,250 Assessed valuation of property.$4,436,604.18 Tax rate . 1.07% Number of public schools. 5 Number of churches. 8 Number of principal industries. 13 Estimated number of employes in in¬ dustries . 2,000 The principal lines of trade are the manufacture of glass and paper and coal mining. WARWOOD Warwood, a new suburb which has grown up in the last decade, is located three miles north of Wheeling on the Ohio river, the Pennsylvania railroad and the PanHandle traction line. It lies within the 5-cent traction fare limit. The town is incorporated and has a splendid city water supply, taken from wells, paving, sewer¬ age, natural gas and electricity. Population . 3,000 Assessed valuation of property.$1,649,280 Tax rate, per $100. 1.10 Number of public schools. 2 Number of churches. 5 Number of industries. 7 Employees . 300 Principal industries, manufacture of tools, tin plate, auto trucks, etc. 17 FULTON Fulton adjoins Wheeling on the east and is located on the Wheeling Terminal railway, and the West Virginia Traction and Electric rail¬ way. Five-cent car fare. The town is incor¬ porated and has all utilities in the way of pav¬ ing, filtered water, gas, sewerage and electric¬ ity. Population . 1,100 Banks . 1 Assessed valuation of property..$567,550 Tax rate, per $100. 1.02% School buildings . 1 Churches . 1 Industries, large packing houses, one of which is the largest establishment east of Chicago. ELM GROVE Elm Grove is located five miles east of Wheel¬ ing on the lines of the Baltimore & Ohio rail¬ road and the West Virginia Traction & Electric Co. Five-cent car fare to Wheeling. The town is incorporated and has all utilities, city water (filtered), natural gas, electricity and sewerage. Population . 2,200 Banks . 2 Assessed valuation of property.$1,088,085 Tax rate, per $100. .96% Number of schools. 1 Number of churches. 7 Number of industries. 7 Principal industries, coal mining, lumber and man¬ ufacture of sanitary ware. BENWOOD Benwood adjoins Wheeling immediately on the south, and is located on two lines of the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads, and the Wheeling traction line running from Wheeling to Moundsville. The main line of the B. & O. from Washington to Columbus, etc., passes through the town. Benwood is incor¬ porated and enjoys all public utilities. 18 Population . 5,000 Banks . 1 Assessed valuation of property.$4,934,710 Tax rate, per $100. .94Y 2 Number of schools. 3 Number of churches. 3 Number of manufacturing plants. 3 Estimated number of employes. 5,700 Leading industries are plants of the U. S. Steel Corporation and the Wheeling Steel & Iron Co., turn¬ ing out iron and steel products. McMECHEN McMechen is located three miles south of Wheeling and adjoins Benwood immediately on the south. It is on two lines of the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads, and the Wheeling traction line. Five-cent car fare to Wheeling. The town is incorporated and en¬ joys all public utilities. Population . 4,000 Banks . 1 Assessed valuation of property.$1,298,810 Number of schools. 2 Number of churches. 4 Number of industries. 2 B. & O. car shops located here. GLENDALE Glendale is located nine miles south of Wheel¬ ing on the banks of the Ohio river. It is a beautiful residence suburb and is located on two lines of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and the Wheeling traction line running from Wheeling to Moundsville. The Reynolds Memorial Hos¬ pital is located here, and is one of the finest in the State. It enjoys all utilities in the way of natural gas, electricity, sewerage and water. Population .1,200 Schools . 1 Churches . 2 Manufacturing plants . 3 Principal products corrugated ware and coal. 19 MOUNDSVILLE Moundsville is located ten miles south of Wheeling on two branches of the B. & 0. rail¬ road and the Wheeling traction line. It is a prosperous and progressive community, and showed a growth of 66% the last decade. It is the site of the State Penitentiary and a famous Indian Mound. Population . 9,000 Banks . 5 Assessed valuation of property.$7,310,930 Number of schools. 4 Number of churches. 7 Number of industries. 11 Number of employes. 3,000 Principal industries, glass, enamel ware, brick and coal. MARTINS FERRY (Ohio) Martins Ferry is situated on the banks of the Ohio river just opposite the north end of Wheel¬ ing. It is located on the lines of the Penn¬ sylvania, Wheeling & Lak' Erie and Wheel¬ ing Terminal railway, and there are two lines of the Wheeling Traction Company from Wheeling to Martins Ferry. The city is sup¬ plied with pure water and has all other public utilities. Population . 12,000 Banks . 3 Assessed valuation of property.$8,736,770 Tax rate, per $100. 1.32 Number of schools. 5 Number of churches. 15 Number of principal industries. 20 Number of employes. 7,000 Monthly pay roll. 750,000 Coal mines . 5 Number of employes. 2,800 Two large mills of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Co. are located in Martins Ferry, and big plants of the Whitaker-Glessner Co. and Wheeling Corrugating Co. The new Wheeling Sheet and Tin Plate Co. is located just north of the city. 20 BRIDGEPORT Bridgeport lies just opposite Wheeling on the banks of the Ohio river. The lines of the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads pass through the city. Also three lines of the Wheeling Traction Company. Five-cent car fare to Wheeling. All public utilities includ¬ ing city water. Population . 4,800 Banks . 3 Assessed valuation of property.$3,518,085 Tax rate, per $100. 1.44 Number of schools. 4 Number of churches. 7 Number of industries. 3 There are 2,500 miners employed in and about Bridgeport. BELLAIRE Bellaire is situated on the banks of the Ohio river just opposite the south end of Wheeling, and is a thriving industrial community, the largest in Belmont county. The lines of the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads pass through the city. A line of the Wheeling Traction Company runs from Wheeling to Bellaire, giving a five-cent car fare. Population . 14,000 Banks . 3 Assessed valuation of property.$11,919,490 Tax rate, per $100. 1.30 Number of schools. 10 Number of churches. 11 Number of principal industries. 19 Twelve coal mines employing 3,000 men. Principal industries, iron and steel, glass and enameled ware, Carnegie Steel Co. and Imperial Glass Co. being the largest. An enormous coal industry lies back of the city. SHADYSIDE Shadyside adjoins Bellaire on the south, and is on the lines of the Pennsylvania railroad and the Wheeling Traction Co. Population .2,000 Banks . 1 Number of schools. 1 Number of churches. 5 Number of industries. 2 Principal industry, coal mining. 21 lal Strength of the Wheeling District o d rt d • »H nS 03 "id o o &h G 03 2 03 Co ooooooooo ooooooooo © © o o cq © ^ N V CO CM 05 O l> ft CO 53 ■q to h c\T CO «>e- ooooooooo OOOOOOOOO © © © ® © © © ©^ © © 00 CO*" t>T ZD CO* 1 rH O O OOi-lc-Mrt tT o .tn «W 03 03 03 hS *h a ° a 03 be .2 a ns Ph cd 03 03 rp rH CO CO CO 03 03 ;> fS I - o ■a o & 03 -a -a o 03" ►H a O £ a a o o 1 o £ S-. cd # Jh cd §o 03 m a O £ t "£ m GRAND TOTAL. 29 $3,392,000 $4,013,000 $30,601,000 $30,127,000 $40,502,000 Financial Institutions WHEELING'S BANKS OLD IN EXPERIENCE AND MODERN IN METHODS NATIONAL Established National Bank of West Virginia. 1817 National Exchange Bank. 1899 STATE Bank of the Ohio Valley. 1875 Center Wheeling Savings Bank. 1901 City Bank of Wheeling. 1886 Commercial Bank . 1869 Dollar Savings & Trust Co. 1887 German Bank . 1870 Germania Half Dollar Savings Bank. 1896 Mutual Savings Bank. 1887 Peoples Bank . 1861 Quarter Savings Bank. 1901 Security Trust Co. 1903 South Side Bank. 1890 A new bank. The Citizens National, has recent¬ ly been organized with a capital of $100,000, and will soon open for business, making a total of 15 bank¬ ing institutions. Wheeling’s Big Clearings Wheeling ranks sixty-fifth in bank clearings in the United States, though one hundred and seventh in population. The following table of exchanges from the Wheeling Clearing House Association records are evidence of our increas¬ ing prosperity. The record for the last nine years is as follows: Exchanges for 1912 Exchanges for 1911 Exchanges for 1910 Exchanges for 1909 Exchanges for 1908 Exchanges for 1907 Exchanges for 1906 Exchanges for 1905 Exchanges for 1904 $105,130,551.00 90,579,693.00 90,318,477.53 80,890,086.78 72,600,000.30 57,455,311.80 53,229,030.04 41,335,368.93 36,569,029.23 (The above does not include Suburban Banks.) 23 Building Permits The building permits issued by the city build¬ ing inspector reflect the steady growth of the city. The figures for the past three years on amounts involved are as follows: 1910 . 1911 . Increase 1912 . Increase .$ 901,442.00 959,543.00 $ 58,101.00 1,286,640.00 327,097.50 The figures for Greater Wheeling would double this statement. Revenue Receipts The revenue receipts at the office of the dep¬ uty collector reflect our large trade in lines af¬ fected and convey an idea of the great volume of our stogie industry for which the city is justly famous. The figures below give in five- year periods the total sales of stamps, stogie sales and number manufactured, and show con¬ clusively the steady and substantial growth: 1902- Total collections .$ 872,411.00 Stogie revenues . 260,048.00 According to these figures, 86,663,000 stogies were manufactured in 1902. 1907- Total collections .$ 959,542.00 Stogie revenues . 347,036.00 Stogies manufactured during 1907. 115,678,000 1912- Total collections . $ 1,184,367.00 Stogie revenues . 411,118.00 Stogies manufactured during 1912. 137,039,000 24 Wheeling s Industrial Strength AS SHOWN BY THE GOVERNMENT CENSUS of 1910 Value of products,.$27,077,000 Capital invested,. 19,297,000 Cost of Materials Used, .... 16,025,000 Value Added by Manufacture, . 11,052,000 Salaries and Wages,. 5,503,000 Miscellaneous Expenses, . . . 3,166,000 Average of Wage Earners, . . . 7,809 The average increase in these items was 20% in the last decade, and the Real Wheeling would more than double these figures. OHIO RIVER STEAMER 25 Population Statistics OF CITIES AND TOWNS WITHIN A RADIUS OF 25 MILES OF WHEELING The following cities and towns, with a com¬ bined population of upwards of 200,000, are within a radius of 25 miles of Wheeling, closely connected by trolley and railroad, with a five- cent fare in the majority, and Wheeling is the shopping, jobbing and industrial center of the section: Follansbee, Brooke County. 2,100 Wellsburg, “ 5,250 Bethany, “ 750 Beech Bottom, “ 200 WHEELING, Ohio County. 43,000 Warwood, “ 3,000 Fulton, “ 1,100 Leatherwood, “ 250 Woodsdale, “ 850 Edgwood, “ 850 Pleasant Valley, “ 250 Park View, “ 400 Mt. de Chantal, “ 400 Greggsville, “ 400 Elm Grove, “ 2.200 Patterson, “ 500 Triadelphia, “ 400 Valley Grove, “ 250 West Liberty, “ 400 Clinton, “ 100 Benwood, Marshall County. 5,000 McMechen, “ 4,000 Sherrard, “ 400 Glendale, “ 1,200 Moundsville, “ 9,000 Glen Easton, “ 300 Loudenville, “ 100 Cameron, “ 1,800 Majorville, “ 250 Dallas, “ 250 Martins Ferry, Belmont County, 0. 12,000 Bridgeport, “ 4,800 Bellaire, “ 14,000 Shadyside, “ 2,000 Wegee, “ 200 26 Barnesville, Belmont County, 0. 4,200 St. Clairsville, “ 2,000 Maynard, “ 2,000 Barton, “ 3,000 Neff’s, “ 1,800 Bethesda, “ 1,200 Belmont, “ 600 Glencoe, “ 400 Riverview, “ 200 West Wheeling, “ 300 Brookside, “ 300 Wheeling Creek, “ 700 Lansing, “ 500 Blaine, “ 350 Crescent, “ 200 Fairpoint, “ 300 Bannock, “ 250 Colerain, “ 300 Florence, “ 500 Gaylord, “ 250 Burlington, “ 250 Powhatan, “ 500 Steubenville, Jefferson County, 0. 24,000 Mingo, “ 4,000 Dillonvale, “ 2,500 Brilliant, “ 1,500 Piney Fork, “ 1,100 Smithfleld, “ 1,000 Mt. Pleasant, “ 1,000 Adena, “ 800 Tiltonville, “ 500 Rayland. “ 400 Yorkville, “ 400 Emerson, “ 200 Cadiz, Harrison County. 3,000 Harrisville, “ 400 New Athens, “ 500 West Alexander, Pennsylvania. 700 Claysville, “ 1,200 Taylorstown, “ 500 West Finley, “ 150 McCracken, “ 200 Jacktown, “ 300 182,600 27 Fifty Facts About W/heelmg Wheeling was made a port of entry by Con¬ gress in 1831. Wheeling’s new post office and custom house cost $600,000. Wheeling’s area covers 3 1-5 square miles, or 2050 acres. Wheeling leads all cities of its size in volume of bank clearings. Wheeling’s new high school is one of the finest in the State. There are 19,000 telephone subscribers in the Wheeling district. Historic Bethany College is located 20 miles from Wheeling by trolley. Ohio county merino wool took first prize at the Paris Exposition in 1900. Minneapolis’ biggest millers buy their flour sacks in the Wheeling district. Splendid suburbs, easily accessible, offer fine opportunities for home-seekers. The Schmulbach office building, 12 stories high, is the largest in the State. Wheeling was one of the first cities in the country to use brick pavements. Wheeling makes more stogies than any city in the country except Pittsburg. One hundred passenger trains run in and out of Wheeling depots every day. Wheeling’s public library has 25,000 volumes and is complete and comprehensive. The new Scottish Rite Cathedral is the finest fraternal building in West Virginia. There are 450 automobiles in Ohio county and the number is increasing rapidly. 28 Wheeling manufactures 60 to 70 per cent of the lamp burners of the United States. The Wheeling grocers are organized in a strong Association for mutual welfare. A Wheeling foundry turned out $2,000,000 worth of castings for the Panama Canal. Site of Ft. Henry of Revolutionary fame marked by tablet at top of Main street hill. The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly is the leading labor organization of the State. Wheeling has live and energetic retailers or¬ ganization which is doing fine work in its field. The Wheeling District turns out more enamel ware than any other community in the country. McColloch’s Leap near the city is famed as the scene of a brave Indian fighter’s exploit. Wheeling is the home of the W. Va. State Fair which annually draws thousands of visi¬ tors. Wheeling is a little above Mason and Dixon’s line, but there is plenty of Southern hospitality here. The Steel Bridge from Wheeling to the Island was designed by Ferris, of Ferris-wheel fame. Wheeling has the largest plant turning out a single brand of chewing and smoking to¬ bacco. Wheeling gave more for San Francisco re¬ lief than any city of its size in the United States. Wheeling is in the same latitude as Phila¬ delphia and enjoys a healthful and temperate climate. U. S. Engineer’s office is located in Wheeling on Government dam work and employs 25 to 40 men. Wheeling has several fine parks, notably Wheeling Park, five miles east, excellent for outings. 29 The coal mining industry of the district em¬ ploys 15,000 men with a payroll of $1,500,000 monthly. The first pottery for the manufacture of white ware in West Virginia was established here in 1879. Henry Clay Monument on the National Road erected 1820 in honor of his services to that great highway. Wheeling contributed 260,000 to a fund for the new City Hospital, raised in an eleven- day campaign. The freight and passenger revenue of the Wheeling District is the third largest on the B. & O. system. Wheeling is 660 feet above the level of the sea and country is rolling with hills, rising as high as 1400 feet. One of the largest Indian mound- in the country is located in Moundsville, 12 miles south of Wheeling. Big capitalists showed their confidence last year when $7,000,000.00 was paid for purchase of local traction interests. Wheeling Island, Seventh ward of the city, is one of the largest in the Ohio river and has nearly 8,000 population. Waddington Farm, five miles east cf Wheel¬ ing and consisting of 1,000 acres, is one of the finest farms in the country. Wheeling has furnished one governor, a United States Senator, three attorney-generals and a State Treasurer to the State. The Tri-State Poultry Association gives annual shows in Market Auditorium, yhich are attracting attention in the poultry world. Wheeling has the largest proprietary medi¬ cine concern in the world, employing an army of people and turning out many well known remedies. 30 The first suspension bridge over the Ohio from Wheeling to the Island, 1010 feet long, was built in 1849 and was one of the wonders of the times. Wheeling has four daily newspapers: Reg¬ ister and Intelligencer (morning) ; News and Telegraph (evening), which are metropolitan in make-up and news service and lead all others in West Virginia. The Pan Handle Agricultural Club has re¬ cently been formed and financed at Wheeling and has employed agricultural experts to aid in agricultural development of Ohio and other Pan Handle counties. 31 B.Sc.O.DEPO