Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-26
THE WONDERS OF WEST VIRGINIA


THE WONDERS OF WEST VIRGINIA
4 writer in the Pittsburg Dispatch says
some very pleasant things about West Yir-
ginia. Indeed he makes one feel as if there
we've no State in the Union as highly
blessed with all that man could desire.
He compares her with the far West, and
declares there is no comparison; her natu-
raj gas and coal deposits have 20 limits,
aud that she is q wonderful State. There
is so much in the article that will be of
interest to our readers, that we reproduce
the major part Of it below:
The rapid accumulation of wealth in
the large cities of this country bears some
strange features with it. Instead Of max
ing investment in city property or city
schemes more and more lavish, the direct
opposite is the result, and, in proportion
to this immense increase in capital, less and
less disposition is shown to invest in even
the best OF city properties. This tendency
IS, no doubt, due 10 the enormous advance
in real estate in q place where any large
number of people congregate. ASS result
capital 10 vain seeks an Investment at 3
good rate Of Interest where there will be
10 risk Of bank or business becoming in
volved on one Of the many reactions that
occur in the history OF city or country.
This feeling has, toagreat extent, driven
investment 10 the West, where furtuneS
have beeh put into thousands OF acres Of
lands, which can be used for farming and
stOck-raiSing purposes only. These lands
are inaccessible 10 railroads and settlers,
and will he so for years 10 come, a. great
corporations have quietly b,corne possessed
of the best part Of the Western lands, leay-
ing the inaccessible to the actual settler.
History has again repeated itself. For
years q constant stream Of emigraGtS has
been arriving on our shores, and one and
all have turned their faces to the far West.
Wherever these people settled in 3 body
there sprang up the wellknown mush-
room town Of the West. Ii is there thar
these immense companies reap their har-
vest. The town fosteIed by them creates
a demand for land. This demand is slammed
by the agents into q flame, and as a conSe-
quenee prices run up higher and higher,
until the ground is sold at almost fabulous
prices, considering the first cost OF the
land, which was only made valuable by
the presence of the settlers.
A disastrous reaction follows, and the
blow, of course, falls upon the last pur-
chaser, as it is only the original owner who
has reaped a rich profit.
With the collapse Of the real estate boom
what is the eager Eastern investor to do?
Turn back to the East again and build mp
his shattered fortune as best he NAV. The
emigrant, however, suffers most bitterly.
Terrific climatic changes have ruined his
crops His farm is nOrtgaged to keep him
self and family alive, and finally it is sold
for 6 mere song ID order to keep the wolf
from the door during the fearful winter
winters that bring to the East only, by
vague kilograms, hints Of the untold snt
ferings Of those people. The experience o
q few weeks ago proves this to be true
Then the press was filed with tales tina
could scarcely be credited.
Ten years of wild investment and boom
ing of the far West, with heavy losses ant