The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-12
THE FARMERS.
WEST VIRGINIA STATE GRANGE.
Fifth Annual acknowledgement
welcome to the Mountain
City-First Days Pro-
ceedIugs.
FAIRMosT, December ii, 1877.
Special Correspondence of the Register.
FIRST DAY,

Virginia State Grange met in the town
hall, in this place to-day. Hon. b. ID.
Kitchen, Grand Master, in the chair.
Mr.. Charles NJ. Dawson, Of this place,
delivered the following address OF vel
come:
Worthv Master, Fellow Patrons and
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1t is one of the most pleasing acts in
our Journey through life 20 extend to our
brother and nelghbor the hand OF feiIow
ship and welcome.
in accordance with this sentiment,
gentlemen and Patrons of West Vlr-
ginis l have the honor, in the name OF
the Oak Grove Grange of FairmoDt, to
extend to YOU the right hand of fellow
ship and bid you, one and all, cordial
and q hearty welcome TO our little
mountain home, nestled though it is
amidst the hills OF West Virginia, in the
valley of the Monongshels, the very ripple
of whose waters as they flow by kissing
the shores of our little mountain homes,
are to-day merrIly singing welcome, wei.
come, welcome to our honored guests.
But Just here, fellow patrons, l would
like 10 say that, notwithstanding the
complimentary notice which the press
has seen lit 10 make, and also in Wow OF
the many able and eloquent gentlemen
present mere today, ] deeply feel my IN.
ability TO make such an address IS the
occasion demands, bit with your kind
Indulgence, | will endesVor to do the
best l can en- 80 short q notice, and IN ss
few words IS possible, and more than
this | cannot do.
A celebrated writer, in speaking oil
West Virginia. said: In looking ut the
map of West Virginia, we may observe
thst its regions are so watched and cor.
rupsted with the shadows Of mountains,
so scribbled over with twisted
and mesndering lines represent
mo the water courses that 1t Is
difficult to trace, amid these topograpn
,csl entsnglements, the lighter
lines and dots which should indicate the
highways aud centres OF population. or
even to collect together into words the
Dola capitals which give to us the names
| of tbs counties.
Now, fortunately for the msp makers,
| the mountains and rivers have the field
aretty mucp 10 themselves, snd there Is
| little else in reality 10 perpIex the
Students eva. Yet the adventurous
traveller who undertakes TO explore this
shadowy realm IN person will be amazed
% and now Tar the geographical picture
bss fallen short OF the savage and tre-
mend, us resi,ty.
DilIc ha yu1ll iuH
himself surrounded with difficulties he
never dreamed o. and sometimes CO -
fronted with dangers he had not provided
| against.
For beyond the range OF pleasure seek
ing tourists, he will be often surprised
with scenes whose beauty would charm
An artist into ecstscles, whose suolmlLy
| mlght well awe po8t into silence.
Unversed In the explorations OF inter-
ested ,ience, he may bark his shins over
o,,i specimens which would throw cap
| ..alsts INTO fever, snd sIoop to slake
| hI,Lti St at mine'sl fountains whose
healing virtues might well alarm the SOL
emn qusckery of our medical professors.
| In districts as yet insccess bic To IN 1us-
try AMI commerce, he Will see the earth
| encumberet with the crude materials
| which constitute the solid wealth and
power of nations.
No one can deuy that we have thou
sands upon thousands OF acres OF as hne
land rs ever the sun shOne on, lying Wild
and idle within the borders OF our Slate.
Why this is so you sil know as well AS
10. and it is to YOU, the Patrons OF Hus-
bsndry, that We Look for radical change
that will increase the prosperity OF our
| SC.te-thst will change the wild lands
into thousands OF thrifty farms, with
railroads in friendly competition, help
ing US to develope our wonderful re-
sources. Not as now, with the iron hand
of monopoly crushing US down and eat
ing. rs il were, the very vltsls out oi
every farmer, merchant and mechanic
who has the misfortune to live IN the
neighborhood Of its exclusive highway
through West Virginia, knowing thSt
its haud il against every man, and that
every mans hand is against 1t.
1t is to you, | say, again, fellow
pstroDs, that we look tor this great
change, which will soon place Us upon :
Level with many OF the best States In the
Union. We trust that your delIbera.
tlons may De of great benefit, not only
10 the order you represent, but also tc
the people generally, and though some
would tsn have the world believe that
we are Il State composed OF nothing but
mountains and rivers, we trust that by
good continued actions it will be known
| -, a,,r,.nltrrn i 4i
the chiet Industries, and that the repre-
sentstives Of which, though but "tillers
of the SOIL" are honorable, strsight-for
ward, able men, we'll fitted 10 take care
OF themselves and their interests. Thai
it is the intention of every individual
member of this convention to do all ths
lies In his power TO attain these objects
we believe, taking for his re-
ward the knowledge tina. good
Intentions sre, a. !ssst, tnt
seeds of good actions. and that every
man ought to SOW them and leave it &
the soil and the seasons whether they
come up or net, snd whether he or any
other shall gather TIE fruit.
In conclusion, fellow Patrons, l may
, saw that in one sense we sre, as IL were
. excluded from the outside world so ful
| Of It's rude, ambitious and fsshionsb!
glitter, and though we may be unsc
ouainted with all the ceremonies whic!
5 fashion may dictate, and custom
= makes law upon 81 occasion like this, ye
do we know and feel that amid sll thei
, splendid surroundings, there beat heart
no truer in the cause of hospitality thai
those | repsesent.
With this assurance and with man,
thanks tor your kind attention l sgsil
in the name of Oak Grove Grange, snt
of sl the Grsngers Of Marion county
and l think may, safely add the peopl
of this place, bid you all once again,
, hearty and cordial welcome 10 our Lttl
tain City.
The address was delivered in Mr.
Dsvison's usual eloquent manner, ant
, wss finely received by the Grange. l
was responded 10 by the Master, M
Kitchen, and Mr.. T. NJ. Stone, of Welze
county. During the delivery of thes