The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-12-08

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elm, dogwood, locust, mulberry, &r,-
The everersens ere represented BY the
white and yellow pines, spruce, homlock
cedar, and other species, predominaling
only with the Allcghanict and adjacent
ridges 10 the remainder Of our State
they flourish exceptionally on steep and
donudod deelivilies, and are no where
counted amonS our attractions,
Our really splendid forests which,
supplied With greater market facilities,
would constitute prodigous source Of
wealth, are, to great extent recklessly
DESTROYED to make room for the plough.
while for the want ofentcrprisc, we are
compelled to import much tho greater
portion Of our wooden ware, implements
and furniture from uuighboring siatost
Thousands Of gallons OF petroleum are
collscted and transported in open fat
boats for the want OF barrels, while the
materials for these hoops and slaves, arc
continually shipped TO Baltimore and
other markets.
Along the railroads aud larger streams,
sow mills driven BY steam or water pow.
sr, arc engaged in manufacturing lumber
for home consumption and export to
other States, and even TO Europe, FOR
naval purposes; but tbs small number Of
those establishments is out of all pro.
portion with The supply Of material and
the dom onds of the market; while hun
dreds OF favorable sites are everywhere
awaiting the advent Of improvement,
From what preCsdcs, il may be infer
red that manufacturing OF any kind is
yet in the FIRST stages Of iis destiny in
West Virginia. Az present Ohio coun,
ty surpasies any olhor portion Of tho
State, in this field. Rolling mills, iron
foundries, glass works, UooIen factories
paper mills, oil refncriss. machine shops,
Touring mills, are hourshing in and
around the city Of Wheeling, the tompo.
rary cppital Of tho Slpte, besides q large
number of establishments for tho manu-.
iacturo Of leather, furniture. carriages,
and shcetiron ware &c, The activity
OF this industrial focus is at this Imc
only limited BY the scarcity Of labor,
which is in pressing demand in tho shape
OF coal miners, operatives and journey
men mechanics Of almost every dsscrip
ton,
Next in rank comes Brooke county,
sustaining a respectable number Of thriv'
ing establishments, especially wooIIeu and
cotton manufactures. PMkerSburg, in
Wood county. tho principal outlet of the
oil region Of West Virginia, and tho
county Of fKanawha in tho hear, Of the
mineral region are, also making promis-
ing eIfortsin The manufacturing Iinc, and
possesses all the elements of rapid and
superior development. Al Clarksburg,
Harrison county, an en;erprizing estao
lishment supplies the surrounding coun,
try with frat class agricultural machin
cry, stoam.cngines and portable saw
mills FOundrics, merchant mills, car.
ding machines, tanueries and common
1 grist mills are nearly adequate to the
prtson, demand all over tho interior.
\ Much of Lbo weaving apparel of our
rural population is OF strictly domestic
or househould manufacture, in some 10
calilics the production OF jeans, linseys,
and lannels considerably exceeds tho de-
mands Of family consumption, and be'
comes a mercantile commodity. This
may be said liOqn and Of tho we'll
known article Of maple sugar which Of
late years, have been p;oducedin uuPre.
cedenled quantities.
The agricultural, psStural and manu-
featuring advantages Of West Virginia,
are features which will 'intrulO them
selves to common observation, and their
future importance is susceptible ora tol
crsbly accurate estimation. But this is
not the care with our mineral resources.
which are gradually looming up with
pregnancy battling every conjecture
The recent discoveries of coal and pc,
troleum, in unexpected localities, and
Of almost fabulous yield and extent,
have opcasa~O boapdless yield ofspocr
lalion, realizing all the pgasss 81 Cali
fornia fever al our doors. Unfortu
nately for for the progress Of practical in
vestigs,ion. the scientific data at hand
are few and imperfect. Tho governor
Of our State in his last annual message
to the Legislrlarc, with commendablo
I providence. suggested tbs cxpedtta5y Of;
geological survey Of our territory
which will take place so soon as intelli
gent and public spirited representatives,
provide the necessary appropriation.
The most extensive aud vslUsble SRA
Ia of coal of the bituminous and osnnel
varieties, nra found in the banks Of the
Ohio, and in the valleys Of tho Great