Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-07
WEST VIRGINIA.

WEST VIRGINIA,
The soldiers from the North who have
been stationed in West Virginia during
this war, have been in many instances
greatly attracted by the promising resour-
ces of the State. Its climate is so m uch
more genial than that of their own homes,
aud its resources il the way of lands,
minerals, coal, oil, &C., SO full of promise
that they aresat once struck with aston
ishment that SO desirable country should
SO long have lain unsettled andundevelop-
ed. Their letters to their friends at home,
and to their local papers, have afforded us
continual evidence of their appreciation of
the new country that has been opened up
to them by the war. The following ex-
tract from letter to the Binghamton, IN.
Y Democrat we find reproduced ia the
columns of the Upshur country Republican
of this State:
The military department of West Vir-
ginia being unusually quiet, 1 propose to
sketch you single paragraph of interest
to every capitalist in the State of New
York, in reference to the geological tens
denotes of the soil of the great Kanawhs,-
Above Charleston, salt works have long
since been established, although upon di-
minutive scale compared with those of Sa-
lima. There is abundance of material, but
scarcity of capital. Hence, great results
are not easily obtained. Coal exists in
abundance, and of superior quality
Untold millions of Treasure lies buried be.
meath the mountains. Capital is only re- :
qniFed to unfold 70 the world the wealth
reposing beneath the surface. The oil
works of this vicinity are limited, although
the earth is one vast repository of gracious
material. Here is an opportunity for the
most profitable Investment. Almost every
steamer brings thither spectators from
Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and
other principal cities, who have heretofore
been ignorant of the boundless wealth of
this region. Capital and enterprise will
yetsmRke the KanaWha q household, name.
In reality, there is pecuniary feast spread
out before the moneyed men of New York,
not only of theScity, but of the Interior
The question may be asked. Why has
not the wealth of KRnawha Valley here
tofore been more fully developedH Be-
cause, for years previous to the outbreak
of the rebellion East Virginia proved her.
self antagonistic to the Western section
Of the state, placing every possible barrier
in the path of advancement, envious of her
resources and her market. Upon this side
Of the Allegheny range, the entire interest
was concentrated in the West. Two or
three hundredmiles distantfrom Richmond,
the channel, of communication being 8
mountainous wagon road, is it to be won
dered at that the people of the western
section should prefer the naYigable waters
of the Kanawha, that flows by their own
doors and meets the ONO but short dis
tance below.
They were thrown into the vortex of re-
bellion by the passage of the ordinance of
secession by force OF arms, and against the
wishes Of an overwhelming majority of the
legal voters. Troops were sent from East
Virginia to excite the epeople to arms, and
overawe the patriotic masses. Sensation
vaudals were advancing, burning and
pIundering private property, and driving
Innocent women and children to the noun
tains, when the tread of the federal foot
had not been heard east of the Ohio. By
glaring and unsurpassed falsities rebel
force was organized. Business was sus-
pended-in fact, the whole region was in a
1urore of excitement. Projects of vital i'm
portance to the public were necessarily
abandoned, and private enterprises fear
fully crippled.
AS soon as Federal protection was given,
the work of formation of a new State com.
menced. The people wrested themselves
from the tyrannical grasp of rebellion,
burst the manacles that the Richmond oil
garchy had fastened upon convictions of
justice and right, sent to the field as noble
men as ever grasped sabre or aimed a
trusty gun, and to-day, just recovering
from the shock of secession, West ViF-
ginia stands forth disenthralled, an orna.
ment to the grand galaxy of loyal States,
SO much tie brighter for having passed
through the fiery ordeal. No stain of dis
honor rests upon her fair brow; she has
trampled under foot the rag with the rat-
tlesuake, and history will award her a
prominent place in the pages of renown.
The iron horse will soon traverse her rug
ged mountain sides, the shrill whistle will
resound in every glen, ihe clatter of man
utactoTies will invite hithCr the indnstri'
Gus mechanic, and she will uour out upon
the world her minerals aud mechanical
| producIions m VETERAN.