The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-29

Iotu1eu me that ne IVA Rteauy lutpt11eu
and pleased with what hethate heard and
saw. Amatked change isoonins over the
tace. Of society Of large. i Il Tar less In
the hands OF O privileged order than Il was
In former times. Especially I'll apparent
that q large number Of people are pushing
upward toward the condition Of what q
known as the middle class Of the Northern
States. It seems to me that this Is one Of
the most hopeful signs Of the present con.
dltion Of the country. l atn only sorry to
discover that there are still 0 good many
OF the poor and ignorant who do not
seem 10 have the ambition and energy
necessary to elevate them.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
| am glad to observe that politics does
not engross 80 much OF the time OF the
people In West Virginia as Il does that Of
the Inhabitants OF many Of the Southern
States. There area few localities where the
principal business Of q good many Of the
men appears to be to sit on a store box or
In o bar.room and discuss the state Of the
country. Happily these are rare and on
the decrease. A practical interest in pull.
lie, affairs Is desirable, but the proper way
70 show II Is by careful reading and think.
Ing at home, aud by voting at oil elections
Tor the best men and measures. am
doubtful, however, whether some Of the
local institutions OF government In this
State are the wisest. Indeed, It would be
difficult to adopt them to existing circum.
stances, so as 10 give satisfaction TO all par.
ties. This difficulty arises from the evi.
IDENTIFY transitionRlstat Of society. A part
nj fha nann1h hntta kann nIt,Oufa1 t,a1n,
the system which prevailed in the old
State, and prefer 1t. But at the same time
society Is approximating nearer to the type
which prevails at the North; aud as It
chNnges the old clothes which now no lon.
ger htit. Hence the restoration OF the County
Court system, and nov the wide spread
dissatisfaction with 1t, Probably 1t will not
belong until the remedy will DO found ina
system more like that OF the towns or
townships Of the North. But It will be
folly to push It before the people are ready
for It. The wisdom OF West Virginia law.
makers will consist In bridging over Judi.
ciously the interval which must elapse be.
lore the old can be entirely exchanged for
the now system.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISE.
One Of the greatest wants OF the State Is
local public enterprise. This Is apparent
in the matter Of lines Of travel. The peo.
pie are anxious for railroads and other
similar conVeniences, but they wait for
foreign companies to build them. Many
would be willing to use the State funds to
construct bridges and pixies. In the
meanwhile nothing is done. In many in.
stances, q little enterprise on tho part OF
a few leading citizens would accomplish
what is desired. Ravenswood and Jack.
son county need two or three good roads
lar moro than anything else, ndthey are
able to build them. They would accom-.
plish wonders in the way Of the develop
ment Of the county. But year after year
the work remains unaccomplished, The
same state Of things indeed prevails all
over the State.
HOME THRIFT.
l am sorry that so many Of the small
farmers are devoting their attention to
slaves and hoOp-poles and the like, instead
OF cultivating their lands with due care
There is more ready money, it may be, in
the poles and slaves, but III the long run
the advantage would be greatly on the
side OF farming. There is no reason Thy
these hills and valleys should not be GOV.
cred with multitudes Of cattle and with
good crops Of cereals and fruit. Pleasant
homes in the midst of such scenes would
be in every way worth far more than a
couple Of scraggy horses driven in an OK.
temporized wagon with a little lumber to
the nearest point Of shipping and then
back again to a rudely furnished cabin in
the woods or on poorly farmed lands.
Progress in this State must Of necessity
be somewhat slow. But it is a hopeful
sign that it has SO manifestly begun in
almost every department Of human effort,
When once fully under way it cannot
readily be stopped. The time is sure to
come when West Virginia will be able to
hold up her head with iustifable pride as
one Of the most pleasant OF the States OF
the American Union. | do not regret
that my lot has been to reside within her
bounds at the very period Of her birth and
infancy, and to have taken some part in
the formation Of her institutions.
D. W. F.