Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-22
THE PEOPLE AROUSED
TO THE GREATIMPORTANCE OFTHE COMING
CONVENTION.
Letters and kilograms Pouring in From al
Over the Stats-Msstings
Being Held.

Interest in the comping State convention
of business men, called together IN tins
city to devise ways and means for develop
ing the State, and securing an influx OF
capital and OF desirable people in search oil
homes or on q lookout for business oppor-
tunities, seem to be increasing with each
recurring day. From all over the State
letters and kilograms announcing meetings,
or suggesting ideas to be brought to the
attention of the body, are pouring In, and
the indications are that the attendance
will run up toward q thousand. The
visitors will be the active, business men OF
the State, anxious to advance her inter
ests, aud develop her resources, and what
they shall say and do will be Of the utmost
importance.
Below will be found a few Of the words
of encouragement reaching u.s.
REPRESENTATIVE w. L. WILSON.
He Makes Some Terso Practical sugges-
lions Toward Booming the State.
WASHINGTON, February 20.
To The Editor Of he Register:
SIR:-I shall be very glad TO cooperate
in any general effort to attract to u State
desirable immigration and needed capital.
In concerting measures to effect these re,
suits we must consider several things:
First-Tbat while our minerel, lumber
and other resources are pretty well under
derstoOd in the country, there is q very
general impression that they offer little at
traction to the man of no means or OF mod
crate means, and that their development
can be accomplished only by the large cap
italist, the corporation Oh the syndicate.
This is partly true, but not to the extent
commonly held.
Icannot think ofany remedy for the erro'
neous impression better than that the State
should ct nnce undertake and push TO a
speedy conclusion q geological survey, not
waiting for the completion Of that under,
taken by the General Government. Such
survey should be made for the purpose,
chiefly, Of giving, in authentic and popu'
lar form, accurate information as to the
nbysical structure Of the State and the re-
sources and character Of every section o.
it, and thus be made the basis Of 8 reliable
guide book to settlers and investors. II
would point out the localities ard enter,
prisss to which not only the great capital
ist, but the man Of moderate means, and
the settler without means, could proiitably
devote himself.
Fortunately we have in Professor Israel
G. White, of our State University, a man
pre-eminently fitted tor this work, and l
have no doubt he could soon organize q
corps, out of his former students and Others
in our own State, who would add to COM
petent scientific capacity 10: the work a
genuine State pride in doing it well.
Secoudly-There is also an impression
outside OF West Virginia, that, owing to
sparse population and mountainous struct-
ure, many portions OF the State are lacking
in the educational advantages, and in the
stable and we'll ordered society for which
the better class Of emigrnnts look in fixing
their permanent homes. Such impressions
are fostered and strengthened by widely
Eublished and exaggerated stories of such
local disturbances as the recent Hatfield
and Mccoy feud.
To remedy this, l would advocate q con-
stitulional amendment to distribute, say
through a period of eight or ten years, the
accumulated school fund of the State, and
the application each year Of the funds now
used to increase its principal, to the sup.
port of our school system. ! do not be-
lieye 10 the policy of a State accumu-
lating, by taxation or otherwise, a
fund to be invested sc interest.
The policy comes down from q period
when public schools were not supported by
general public taxation. The money is
worth more in the pockets of the people
than the State can get in interest for it.
II will become more and more difficult, as
this fund aaaqmplates, for the State to
ind safe aud proGtsbie ;aVestment for it,
and the day will probably come when it
will be lost or impass:-Ad By unfortunate In
yestments. It's safest and most pSsehtap!e
investment is its expenditure in the m
mediate future in widening aud improving
our common schools, nursing into exist
ence a much needed system OF intarmedl-
ate schools and placing upon q better basis
our Normal schools and University, and it
is folly in my judgment for this generation
70 be curtailing its school fscilitieE 10 or
der to accumulate a fund to improve those
of a weather. and better educated poster
ity.
These suggestions, somewhat mere diff
fusely than l would write If | mad more
time, are some of the means l would sug-
gest for booming" West Virginia and for
making it worth booming"
Very sincerely,
W. J.. WILSON.
RANnnIpH CnUNTY.