“ A new capitol is in course of erection. There is an extensive fair ground, with a trotting course. Wheeling has an important trade by way of the river and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and its connecting lines. ”

“ The chief interest is manufacturing, for which the city has rare advantages. The surrounding hills and the adjacent country contain immense deposits of bituminous coal, which is readily and cheaply obtained. The leading establishments are iron and nail mills, glass works, and founderies and machine shops. There are in the city six nail factories and two manufactories of railroad, merchant bar, and sheet iron, while within a radius of four miles are four other large iron and nail works. ”

“ The spike mills produce annually 60,000 kegs for railroad and boat building. The Superior foundery and machine works, covering 21⁄2 acres, produce castings of all kinds, rolling mill, steamboat, and blast furnace engines, and mowing and reaping machines. There are six extensive glass factories. There are a national bank, with a capital of $200,000, and several state banks, with $1,400,000 capital. Each ward has a free public school, in which both English and German are taught. The Wheeling female college is on the highest ground in Centre Wheeling. ”