Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-03-07


migrants from Europe.
nest Virginia has n greater amount of coal
IN her hills and mountains than Pesns7l.
wanna. This fact is stated on the authority
OF the late U. 8. census reports The Same
reliable authority gives official information
to the world that West Virginia mines and
markets but one, t,centieth as much coal as
does Pennsylvania. Docs tho reader see the
difference?
1t also is matter of official record that
west Virginia has larger quantities of the
valuable hard woods than any other state in
the Union, yet she is exporting almost none
of it. Her people build worm fenees and
pig pens out OF cherry and walnut which
sells in the market. of the East for from $50
TO 500 per 1000 feet Yet these coal and
timber lands are within essy distances from
the best market OF the world. Why arc onr
people not utilizing thcse treasures? Because
we have neither the capital nor the labor to
open railroads and do the work why do
not capital and labor come from other s.c
,ions and engage in tho profitable entsrpri.ss7
Because the riches of West Virginia and the
opportunities here offered to capital and en-
terprise for rich returns, have not been prop.
erly placed before those seeking investments
and new homes
no SecFetAEy 0I S6ate, with tho enoour>
asement OF the other State officers, and the
Legislature, also, we hope, will soon under,
take to remedy in great measure this evil.
The following prospectus, looking to this
end, was placed in circulation Yesterday.
We must emphatically endorse the object
and aims set fourth:
1t is proposed by the undersigned to issue
at an early day. for free distribution.
Handbook OF West Virginia." in which
will be set forth all available facts in con,
venieut and compact form, relating to the
resources of the State. A reliable and COM
Prehensive work of this character has long
been needed, and more particularly at this
time when capital and enterprise are looking
toward our State with more interest than at
any time in our previous history. Letters
from all parts are constantly pouring into
this office making Inquiries relating to mat
teTs connected with eur material capacity
and development, and it is found impossible
to answer in detail all these encniries, and
thus has been suggested the idea of commit
7ng IN convenient form all Information re.
CURED upon these subjects. The design
will ne to Gull from the book published nm
der the auspice of the Centennial managers
known as "Resorrses of West Virginia." all
reliable facts concerning the geography.
Topography, climstologv. geology, timber
and mineral resources. and the adar.ability
ct each locslitT in thu State to tho production
ni cereals. gra0a1, tobacco, eto In addition
to this it is the design of the compiler to
publish all additional facts relating to Gevel-
opments made since the puhlioation of the
hook referred to nbova. AID to present many
details of interest which were omitted in that
pnSiicat1on In the preparation of this work
we will be aided hy thoroughly competent
gentlemen in different localities. we'll vorsed
IN the resources Of their respective section
of the State.
The necessity FOR suoh work ia still fur,
Their apparent in the fact that last year there
were In round numhors, ono million emf.
grants landed in thu United States, and vet
OF that number p"rh1ns not ten found the If
way int" West Virginia There il as nssh
inviting to Europeans to settle in West VIZ.
GINA as in any other State of tho union
yet thSy never come, and it is largely from
the TACT VIC have system for advertising
tho State They never hear of Us, if thew
de-, have No idea of our capacities or re,
sources. aud thuE pass hg our hra;th7 noun
'a'nS and valleys and genial climate 10 the
ma'ariai districts of the West. or in the
rigorous climate of the Norrhwcs, These
th'""~ ~H"nid not he and il is hoped thar
snttriens encouragement. will no given 10
justify The undsrt.k;n, sct forth in thi, nros
pecfus. Il STALX4KER In
Secretary CT State
a - r.