The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-24
Qtne4ntelli9etrter>
WEaT YIEGIHIA.


Our citizens may we'll be proud OF
the State in which they have selected
their homes. West Virginia has but
recently begun to experience the bene-
fits arising from her invaluable natural
advantages, but her central and conven-
lent location renders the fact of pros
porous future inevitable. Her political
career though short leads rs to expect
brilliant prospect ahead. So long as
West Virginia stands firm in the prin-
ciples she has thus farssmaintained her
success is assured. A Baltimore ex-
change has the following article upon
our natural advantages:
In all the elements of agriculture and
manufacturing wealth, Virginia and
West Virginia stand foremost among
the States of the Union. The genial
climate, rich soil, vast forests oftimber,
wonderful mineral deposits: deep navt-
gable rivers and bays, all give evidence
of future prosperity and greatness.
Their rich hillsidesr produce the
choicest grapes; their pasturage OF nu-
tricious grasses and the mild climate
are the most favorable for wool grow
ing and stock raising. Their forests of
pine, oak, and other varieties of timber
will promote the manufacture OF all
wooden fabrics-of steamboat and ship
bullding-while the Great Falls of the
Kanawha, in the west, and of the James
river in the east, and the vast motive
power of ther coal fields, afford man
ufacturing facilities unequaled on the
continent OF America.
The mineral resources OF Virginia
and West Virginia are immeasurabie,
and extend beyond all appreciation.
There are in these States mines of iron,
coal, salt, copper, lead, gold, silver,
chalk, fre-clay, plaster. sulphur, slate
and ochre.
In coal and iron Virginia excel all
the other States of the Union. This
fact is recognized, admitted. Pennsyl-
vania alone can compete with them in
coal; but Pennsylvania has not single
bed of the Goals denominated camel
and splint. These two kinds are found
only in West Virginia and on the bor-
ders of Kentucky, near the Big Sandy
river. The coal fields of the whole
world are estimated at 250,000 square
miles. The United States contain. OF
coal fields, 200. 600 square miles. Vir-
ginia and West Virginia contain q ,l90
square miles, or about one-twelfth of
the entire coal fields OF the world.
Great Britain has only 6.l95 square
miles-Iess than one.third of the coal
area of Virginia and West Virginia.
The valley of the Great kanawha is
famous for its salt wells. Its salt pro-
duct in 1850 was 2.056. .5l2 bushels
next to that of New York; and it is es>
timated that when the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad is completed, the annual
prodnct of the Kanawha valley will be
largely increased.
IN 1860, 429. .364. .751 pounds of tobacco
were raised in Virginia.
A large colony from Holland has re-
Gently settled in Virginia. They are
delighted with the soil, climate, and
products; and, influenced by their re-
ports, other colonies from Holland are
preparing to follow. An agent of the
Turkish Government arrived at Rich
mond in September, directed to:pur-
chase lands for a colony of 600 families
of Armenian Christians. These are but
the advance guard ofa mighty host that
will soon be seeking homes in Virginia
and West Virginia.