Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-03-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
Governor Wilson'S Inaugural
Address.

Governor Wilson'S inaugural
Address.
FelCo,o Citizens THAT West Virginia Is tles-
tined in the near future, to the prosperity and
power OF great State, is no longer problemat-
tcal. 1t but requires that we shall be alive to
our pubic and private duties. prompt In the
protection of our own interests, and true to
ourselves. The kind hand of nature has left
her mountains, hills and valleys. teeming with
the most and valuable elements of wealth.
Within no State or Territory of this Union
within no other, area of ., eco square miles,
upon which the foot of civilized man has ever
rested-arc to be found such varied and cx-
haCsless natural resources as here harbinger
the dawning of brighter and better DAYS IN
compare bic in these, she stands without rival.
In the very heart of the $3.50 square miles
OF the Appalachian Coal Field we have IS COO
square miles within our own borders. Its many
seams. lying above watcr level and exposed in
the mountain sides In Thousands of places, can
be- mined cheaper than in any other portion of
tins matchless coal tract. Recognized as SUI
pcrior TO any other GOALS in America, with the
exception of anthracite. they are of every yn-
rtety necessary to the arts and-manufactures
Although from causes, not now of difficult
solution, this unmeasurable basis of wealth
hils, until the past few years. invited in vain
the active energies of capital aud labor: vet
breastiDg every obstacle with steady and
rapid progress, we not only rank, to-day
amongst the largest of the coal producing
States, but, the employment of 6.40O, persons
III and about the Mines and u production tlf
S,S05, 800 tons of coal for the year 1883. being
an increase of nearly IS per cent over theneXt
preceding year, present the cheering and uu-
mlsta6able assurance of the prosperity await
ing us in this important business II our people
but move with firm and stcady step for their
own protection und industrial safety.
In every county throughout the range of this
wonderful coal formation Gre those irOn ores
: which belong to and are found in the Appa-
n
ides, carbonates and black bands and in some
places, hOduiHrred lIematitcs:" while thewhoIe
tier of counties lying cast OF the coal section
and along the entire eastern border of tire State
Is within the immense brown aud rcd henAtite
belt OF the Atlantic Commonweulths.
Nearly two-thirds of the States surface IS vet
covered with the original forest, composed in.
the main of hard woods of magnificent growth
and quality-the oak, poplar. walnut cherry,
Sycamore, ash. chestnut and locust-nttaining
size unsurpassed east of the Rocky mountains
DR.. John r. Hale. probably the best author
lty III inc slate upon the subject. says: erich
US is West virginia in coal. iron, timber, &c,
she Is scarcely less rich in that Indispensable
necessity to hrmUn health and comfort. and to
lhLllal !lic-cOmmOn salt Fossil or rock salt
has not been found i'll the State; but salt brInes
OF greater or less strength and in greater or less
are found by artesian borings, at
greater or less depth. throughout the Appn-
laclinn coal field, which underlies the greater
portion of our State"
Add to these the agricultural, stock raising
and wool growing advantages of generous
sou and mild and hcalthful climate, and West
Virginia offers the absolute guarantee of fair
and profitable return for brain, Drawn and
capital.
But why is 1t that. possessing all these
splendid resources and natural advantages, To-
Gated within easy distance of the Atlantic sea-
board. and surrounded by pOpulous and thrifty.
states. our development has been 30 limited
and retarded? Why is it that capital. avoid
ing. has turned from us to seek investment In
regions more distant and less favored ? Why
Is IL, that the tide OF immigration has swept
over and beyond US to more western locality,
to engage in the uphuilding of great and proa-
porous states Why is It that there are sofew
lateral railroads connecting with our trunk
lines and reaching hack into the interior of tho
state. to those fields OF untold, yet, undeyel-
oped wealth.
There is a reason for these things jnst as Ger
tain as there is u cause for every effect. Is It
because e.have notinYited and protected cap
1tRlS The history of our legislation demon
strates the reverse. Is it because the immi-
grant has been offered no encouragement to
choose his home amongst rs The hand of a
generous and hospitable people has ever been
extended. Is 1t because of unfricndly railroad
lcgislattonS limo State of the Union can there
be found such liberal aud even prodigal. enact
nents as our statutes present. upon this sub
Ject. OF the half dozen trunk line railways
controlling the internal commerce of the United
States. between the East and West. two of them
the Baltimore und Ohio. and the Chesapeake
and Ohio-pnss through our State. The one
Tor nearly half q century Qnd the other for fif-
teen years, have traveTsed our domain.
With full appreciation of the extent of tho
the statement declare here that the constant
and unrGlenting practice of these two com
panies, by rebates, drawbacks and special con-
tracts. in discriminating against our people in
freight and passenger charges. in the interest
OF the Western States and Territories has
aOne more TO discourage immigration. the in
Vestnent of capital, tue construction of lnteral
railroads intOthe interior. and the development
OF the states resources, than all other causes
combined. assert. furthermore, that had
they, IN the exercise of the franchises and priv
ileges conferred upon them by the nunifcence
OF our laNy-making power, dealt with our peO-
pie with simple cven-handed Justice, the State
OF Vest Virginia would this day, be one of the
most prominent of the States in population.
wealth and material prosperity.
What encouragement do they offer to aprf-
culture in exacting from us from % to so per
cent more for carrying q car load of grain
from west Virginia to the Eastern market than
from Western State What to the stock
raiser IN charging. for instance $40 for a car
load OF cattle from Ohio and sGO from West
Virginia. to the same markets What to the
manufacturer. with the same character of dis
cTlmInaton against him both East aud West ?
What to the Immigrant when added to thesa
dlsadvantagesE5 OF location, he assertains the
tact That Immigrant tickets are not sold nor i'm
migrant trains run for West Virginia, and If he
desire TO stop there. on his journey from IN
eastern city. he is required TO pay more than Is
required to convey him hundreds of miles still
further West? What to the capitalist, who
may desire to invest his funds in the construc-
ton OF lateral railroad into the interior of
this state from one of these through lines. when
ne knows that. besides aII these embarSoes. the
business of his road. IL constructed. must con-
tlnualIS be subservient to the will of the trunk
Ines. ~ the capricious or aTariciOus arrange
ment of freight rate= and charges
Not only are these TiIinous determinations
made as against our whole people. In the in
terest of States cast and west. but the same
methods arc applied To particular localities and
particular persons. within our own State. thus
controlling, at will. the entire business and IN
dnstrial Interests of the State
The turnpike has long ago ceased to be more
than q road for local travel and traffic, while
rhilrOnds have become the zeal aTtertel and
highways of State and continental commerce.
They occupy q position far beyond the bonn
daries of mere private sentcfp prise. aud every
confederation of public policy and the general
Weltare demands their regulation and control
by Just and reasonable laws.
1t is no longer question whether the State
has the power to remedy thee huFtf1l and
pcrnieious evils. The judicial mind has reached
forth and grasped the problem. in all It's bear-
tngs. and declared. in unmistakabIe tsrIns that
railroad corporations are created for public
purposes: that they are the servants Of The
people that their roads arePublie Highways.