The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-10-11

the country: and their exploration will
not be without its reward;H!tis some
what unfortuoats that our scientific re-
portg have not hitherto been written in
: practical nan uer; they have been loose,
vague, unreliable, unsatisfactory, and,
What is still worse, often embellished
with mere fiction. We hope 10 future
thew will be compiled with more care,
and ansy contain "rs sI Do.hiag bus5fse,s. We are
,ororo it is hopeless task, to try aud
please everybody; nevertheless We
must have the pros and cons Of every
questio6 before We can render, Just
verdict. That for want of prudence,
foretbought, or discrimination, the most
.erreprious errors have been perpetrated,
md much to the de.riment Of the State.
We will, however, pass them over; to
mention them now would look inyidious !;
Wa, therefore, refraia. Much: yet. lies
before the people to do before they
cau realize the advantages OF their pres
ent position. One subject, before all
others, should engage the attention and
elicit tho wisdom Of the Legislature-
this is the land titles. Over 100000
acres of the richest mineral lunds Of the
country is subject to the conflicting
claims of either old patentees, tax title
holders, junior patents, the s9uatters, OF
resident reputed owners: 1t is all a
muddle; no one knows who are the real
owners of West Virginia, and they never
will know until perfect survey and
Typographical map has been made Of the
entire State; then every man may know
the limits Of his Own domain. Such
work, however, is too costly for iudi!id'
uals it might be done by counties, but
it should properly be done by the State
The doubt that hangs over the titles ol
the land is the greatest incubus the
country has 10 bear, and has dooe more
to fettcr the progress Of devoloPmc Of
than auy thing else; +; nevertheless, the
remedy is simple and certain. we
would say to the Government, ascertain
from each owner, or reputed owner, the
extent of his claiu let him trace it or
the county or township map,sthen tai
him to the full amount. Let there b'
no blnnks or open spaces unasscssed
No u,an will long willingly pay the bur
deus on another mans land. and th'
actual virulency Of the disease in very
short time will work out its own remedy
The land titles thus once made clea'
and indisputablo, there is o'safer me-
dunn for Investment, and capital would
flow into the country from all directions
Such is the opinion Of mcu who bev'
taken a careful and dispassionate view
of the present status. Here they see l
country without poor-laws or poor peo
pie. where labor has to solicit. the faVor
Of the laborer, land where beggnr ii
looked upon MS a phenomenon, and Va
sraucy as q crime. With q climute th'
N os, salubrious, healthful, and agreeable
ou tho Continent, where neither th'
h eat Of summer or cold of winter is in
conveniently excessive, and epidemlc'
are unknown. This is beautiful land
4 new cru is about to dawn on its exis
tcurc. The people have bright career
before them. They start unencum berct
with any material State debt; their uu
wavering loyalty to the general Govern
ment, their liberal sentiments as ex
pressed and aid rendered 10 the great
cause of universal freedom, has not only
called forth the plaudits Of our great
statesmen, but secured to them host o.
admiriug and earnest friends 10 every
civilized country, both at home and
abroad. Such, then, isF the political
social, and commercial horoscope
through which We now view the present
aud compute the prosperity and happi'
ness of the future. Counter Influences
may somewhat rctard her rapid progress
but our predictions will be sadly at fault
if West Virginia does not eventually be-
come one Of the most attractive, inhuen'
tial, and prosperous States Of the Union