Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-01-31
WEST TIRGlNIA'S BOOM.
THE WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT OF
THE STATE IN LATE YEARS.


For the past month or so a vigor-
GUS undercurrent has been pulsating
in the development of affairs of West
Virginia. Something of its import
ance has now come to the surface, and
presages an era of industrial activity
in that commonwealth which will be
something prodigious.
Until recently the extent OF West
Virginia's resources and favorable
material conditions have not been
generally understood, save by those
who are more intimately identified
with the development work going on
throughout the South.
Not long since syndicate of Eas-
tern capitalists sent neurological
expert to this country to examine
carefully into the possibilities which
were supposed to exist in that State.
He was of known character and
ability, and his Investigations were
thorough and painstaking. He dis
covered an immense mineral area,
where iron of superior quality could
be mined so cheaply as to enable the
production of pig metal at the cost
Of only 81 per ton.
Abiding to this fact, Gov A. b.
Fleming, of West Virginia, recently
said that even this remarkable state
ment does not show the full measure
of advantages enjoyed by his State,.
because the production of the fur
naces and mills will be so near to the
great markets and to tidewater that
the item of transportation will be in
significant.
In the twinkling of an eye, fgur-
actively speaking, an immense desire
has become manifest in various
quarters for the requirement of vast
tracts of mineral and timbered areas
in that now fortunate State.
Take for example the one county
of Raleigh. Inside of period of
not more than ten days four notable
purchases of land are reported. First,
a syndicate of which Secretary Jas.
G. Blaine, United States Senator
German, of Maryland, and Hon. s.
B. Elkins, of West Virginia, are
members, have purchased a large
body of mineral and timber lands.
Next we have it stated that Messrs.
Morgan, Drexel & Co., of Philadel-
phia, representing the Vanderbilt
railroad interests, bought $4,000
acres of land heavily timbered and
containing rich deposits Of coal. At
ter this comes the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad with purchase of $4,000
acres of valuable ore producing prop
critics, followed by the Chesapeake
& Ohio Railroad with q similar pur-
chase.
Probably the industrial and invest
ment history of the whole country
might be searched in vain for a par
allel to go notable group of invest
ments in single county.
The coal and coke interests of
| West Virginia have, in late years,
quietly but steadily expanded into a
very important industry, but as great
as has been this expansion the indus
try is in its incipiency. 1t is known
that the great Appalachian coal meas
ures permeate the whole State, save
those lower counties which border
on the Potomac.
1t is stated as reliable fact that
one thirteenth of the aggregate coal
area of the country is contained
within the borders of West Virginia.
This area is computed to be $4,000
square miles. A great portion of
this coal may be mined very easily,
and at an exceedingly moderate cost.
All of it is of the highest grade of
excellence, and much ofit lies in i'm
mediate proximity to inexhaustible
deposits Of iron ore and limestone,
the three necessary concomitants in
the production of cheap iron.
When the facts are laid bare, is it
any wonder that so distinguished
and notable a group of investors
should acquire possession of proper
ty in this highly favored region2
Verify, West Virginia is on the
eve of an immense industrial devel-
opment. This State has undoubted.
ly the rarest material possibilities.
Its timber alone is sufficient to en-
rich an empire. Lying Immediately
between Baltimore and Washington,
and, I may say, the Atlantic seaboard
on one side, with Pennsylvania and
its immense iron and steel wealth on
the other side, West Virginia is des.
tined to become the centre for the
active forces OF Pennsylvania capital
lists as well as of those of Washing
ton and Baltimore and the North.
The development of the State
means the enrichment of everything
between it and the Chesapeake Bay.
1t means the bringing of millions OF
feet of timber and the manufacture
of immense quantities of iron and
steel, and in this way building up
of a rich and populous country
which will be tributary to the cities
of Washington and Baltimore.
One of the indications of the CON-
ing material greatness of West Vir-