The New International Encyclopædia/Wheeling

WHEEL′ING. The largest city of West Virginia and the county-seat of Ohio County, 63 miles southwest of Pittsburg, Pa., on the Ohio River, and on the Pennsylvania, the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago and Saint Louis, the Baltimore and Ohio, the Cleveland, Lorain and Wheeling, the Wheeling and Lake Erie, and other railroads (Map: West Virginia, D 1). It is situated on ground rising gradually from the river. A steel railroad bridge spans the Ohio, and there is a suspension bridge, 1010 feet long, which is one of the chief attractions of the city. Noteworthy features include also the Krugar Monument, the site of Old Fort Henry, the custom-house and post-office, the city hall, and the county courthouse. The Public Library has 17,200 volumes. Among other institutions are Linsley Institute, Wheeling Female Academy, and Haskins Hospital. Owing to its excellent transportation facilities. Wheeling is an important wholesale and jobbing centre, and is also of considerable industrial prominence, being known especially for its iron and steel interests. The manufacture of glass, pottery, smoking tobacco, and cigars is extensive. The smaller establishments comprise lumber mills, canneries, breweries, and manufactories of carriages and wagons, boxes, leather, etc. In the census year 1900 the capital invested in all industries was $13,224,577, and their output was valued at $16,747,544.

The government is vested in a mayor, chosen every two years, and a bicameral council. Of the subordinate officials, the water board, board of public works, and gas board are elected by the council, and the school board is chosen by popular vote. The water-works, which represent an expenditure of $803,092, the gas plant, and the electric-light plant are the property of the municipality. For maintenance and operation the city spends annually about $438,000, the chief items being: schools, $94,000; gas plant, $80,000; water-works, $51,000; fire department, $42,000; police department, $36,000; and interest on debt, $26,000. Population, in 1890, 34,522; in 1900, 38,878.

Settled by Colonel Ebenezer Zane in 1770, Wheeling was the first town, established on the Ohio River. It was laid out in 1793, was incorporated as a town in 1806, and was chartered as a city in 1836. In 1774 Fort Henry, named in honor of Governor Patrick Henry, was built here, which, in September of the same year, was fiercely attacked by a force of 300 Indians, who killed 23 out of a garrison of 42. In 1781 the Indians made another attack, and in 1782 a force of English and Indians unsuccessfully besieged the place for several days. In 1861 the Wheeling Convention, representing the people of Virginia opposed to secession, met here and established the ‘restored government,’ and here the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia met in 1861-62. From 1863 to 1870 and again from 1875 to 1885 Wheeling was the capital of the State.