Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-08

our own State. Yet little western VIII
LACE of one hundred inhabitants, oil one
wears growth, win make more noise In
the way Of advertising itself than the
whole state Of West Virginia. Every
man. woman and child win make it
part of his or her religion to puff the
town. Its little l0xl2 newspaper will
crow more effectively than full blown
shanghai. Its little clap-board school
house will be engraved into magnificent
proportions for the advertising circulars,
and the spire that was intended for the
little wooden church, but not yet COM
pleted, will be represented as piercing
the clouds.
This may not be legitimate or COM
mendable method OF advertising, but 1t
serves its purpose, and at the same time
serves TO establish the inestimable adj
yantages we claim for this way OF mani
testing public spirit.
In West Virginia we do not need to
exagcerate. Our natural resources need
ouly TO be intelligently, truthfully and
persistently pressed upon the attention
of the outside world. For example, the
Tyler county Star, very mOdesty puts 1t
after this fashion:
We are not one OF those who think
| TYLER county is a Paradise; that there Is
no other place superior 10 il. There are
such people who think that way. They
are like the Californian who when asked
about the climate of California replied
that it was noble, glorious and hit Tor the
/ Gods But we do sincerely think that
| there are many things in this county
/ that make it attractive To the immigrant.
| The people of the county are generally
/ intelligent, and cannot be ecllpsed
for hospitality, charity and kind
ness 10 their neighbOrs, and IN one
| dience 10 law no other county IN the
State is superior. the lands are fertile,
most of the upland comparing very
fayorably i'm this respect with the val
Ieys. The prices for land are remarka-
Div low, ranging from 81 10 SO per acre
for unimproved land. The climate Is as
salubrious as the climate OF any OF the
adjoining States. Why cannot some
| one organize a society or organization
for the purpose of promoting immlSra'
ton into the county? Why cannot q
German colony be- introduced into the
county? Why cannot proper exhibit
of the resources OF the county be put III
circulating form so as to be read by those
who are looking for new homes?
This is not saying Onc-half what
might be said i'm favor OF Tyler county
and other localities in the state. But
we may be pardoned for suggesting
what must he very palpable, that tn,
State papers with but few exceptions
are not given to any such unprotitablC
% task rs that of advertising their re-
spective localities ID would be difficult
To determine where some of them arC
published, but for the name at tn,
head. They discuss the political move
ments at Washington with more zes
and thOroughncss than the most impor
tant matter of local concern. And ye
there is no more efficient agent il
building up the population OF thu
State than the local press, when it'
efforts run in that direction. 1t ear
scarcely be accomplished without the
aid Of the press.
We need to move Systematically an,
unitedly in this work, il we would ge
out of the woods. We need to sen,
libcral-minded, enterpriSing men to Tn,
Legislature. We need broader public
policy in all the affairs OF the State. w
need to get rid OF old fogyism and ialsO
notions of economy. We need to- risl
SUuuUttuug a VT cNpcCI any gam IN TN
competition for wealth and population
In the language of the Jackson Herald
We need:
"A State agency that will be able I,
collect the necessary facts and statistic
showing the advantages and OppOrtuni
ties our State offers; that will lay thes,
facts before people in other parts Of thu
country and in other countries, and tina
will be- able To attract the attention q
persons seeking for new homes an,
openings for the establishment OF new
enterprises, etc Such a system, activel,
and intelligently carried out, could no
fail 10 turn a tide of immigration an'
capital into this State, aud the additional
amount of State revenue from the take
on the property that would be thu
brought into the State would make M
for the amount necessary to be ex
nenhed."