The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-08

40 per cent in population in the past de-
cade. This ratio, it is believed, is lar.
ger than the rate OF increase in any
other State east Of Ohio in the same
period, and the gratifying feature Of it
is that II is wholly due to conditions
likely to be lasting and TO improve
every year. This basis is the natural
wealth of the territory, which has re-
manned nndeyeloped for so many years
owing to physical difficulties, while the
surrounding States with lesser resources
in some respects have gone onward. We
all know what an important factor the
coal OF the Georges Creek or Cumber-
land region has been for forty years in
the State OF Maryland; but these coal
measures are simply the Outcroppings
extend for fifty miles in the Piedmont
and Upper Potomac basin OF West
Virginia, and underlie the Kanawha
region and other extensive portions Of
the State in quantities which are prac-
tically ineXhaustible. Railroad systems
all around the borders Of the State, and
in its southwestern parts, have drawn
revenues from this imbedded wealth,
but it has remained for the present oper-
ators to go boldly over the obstacles
which confront railroad construction in
wholly mountainous country, and
plant the tap roots Of their enterprise in
the central body OF the coal fields OF the
territory. But it is not coal alone which
must be the reward Of the project. The
superficial wealth OF the forests is no less
than that o! the coal fields, il not SO
wild in many parts as when the red
man was the monarch ofall lie surveyed.
The forests are trackless, and the pros
pector must so axe in hand when
1t is necessary to explore their
depth. Otherwise the only trails
are those which the streams and their
inuumerable forks or branches supply.
Through such country the West Vtr-
ginia Central Railway is steadily push.
ing towards the capital Of the State, itself
in the midst OF rich coal and timber sur
roundings. There are ether objects in
view which are subsidiary to the main
purpose, but the chief gain to the coun-
try will be through central route with
outlets at various points on the circum-
ference. The completion OF the road
will unlock the hitherto inaccessible
stores OF the State, superficial and min.
eral. Already the business developed
! is more than the managers can handle,
and they admit that it is beyond their
expectations for this stage OF their pro.
gress. The busy hum OF industry is run
ming through chain of villages along
fifty miles OF the route. Beyond the
present terminus thirty-twO more miles
OF road are under construction, to be
completed this year. As fast us the track
| is laid other towns spring into existence,
and so it will be throughout the whole
OF the line and its branches. 1t is est.
mated that the permanent population
which has been already brought to the
State to share in the newly developed
prosperity numbers as many us ten
thousand persons, none OF whom are
idlers or a charge to the public. No one
can calculate the ultimate growth OF this
industrious colony; they are only the
pioneers. They and those who must
come to swell the ranks OF labor in the
new field must in a short time sweep
away the timber, but they will have laid
the foundations OF many important
towns in the meanwhile and opened the
country to grazing, commerce and manu-
iactures, while the mineral wealth must
remain solid basis OF prosperity fol
many generations to come.