The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-21
FLHNING'S SPEECH
At the Worlds Fair Banquet
Given at Charleston.
WEST vIRGlNIAs RICHES
Discussed in an Entertaining Way.
Tho Great Coal, Iron, Coke, Tim
bcr, oil and Other Interests.
Blue Grass In Abundance.

The following is the address Of GoYer
nor A. B. Fleming in response to the
toast Development during the past
decade" at the Worlds Fair banquet al
Charleston on Wednesday. It was de.
layed with others by the flood, but is
we'll worth reading to-day:
GENTLEMEN:-It is always a pleasure
to me TO write and talk about West Vir.
ginia, and particularly delight in call.
ing the attention Of the chance stranger
in our midst to her vast natural wealth,
visible aud hidden.
But in the time allotted to me on this
occasion, it is impossible to more than
speak generally OF the wonderful gifts
nature has so bounteously bestowed
upon US, and as the leading topics OF
coal, iron, timber and oil have been
assigned for discussion to gentlemen
who are very properly regarded as ex.
perts III the knowledge OF these subjects,
1t Is clear that l am not expected to
speak OF these things in detail, or
attempt an exhaustive presentation Of
the resources OF the State. To do this,
Indeed, would make an address like the
beard Of Polonius-too long.
FARMING AND GRAZING LANDS.
"The cultivation Of the soil was the
first occupation of man, and will there
fore first invite the attention Of this
assembly to the fertility OF our lands,
the mildness OF our climate, and the
general adaptability Of our State to a0ri-
cultural pursuits. It's surface is gener.
ally broken, in some sections rough and
billy, but in every county choice, we'll
laying landa suitable for cultivation and
grazing are found, and except in the
mountain ranges there is little waste or
valueless land. No State has a greater
variety OF soil, and few have a greater
range OF elevation; while between the
SUBMITS OF the mountains in the north
east and tho Valley Of the Ohio in the
southwest we have climatal difference
OF over fourteen degrees.
The lands under cultivation yield
abundant crops of corn, wheat, buck.
wheat, oats, millet, rye, barley, potatoes,
turnips, sorghum and tobacco, hemp,
flax and hops can be pEoftably grown.
Vegetables adapted to our locality are
grown to the greatest perfection in every
part Of the State, while apples, peaches,
plums and an endless variety Of small
fruit spring abundantly from all our
soils, from the low lands to the tops OF
the highest hills. It's products Of grain
and fruits have rendered our State Justly
celebrated, yet from an agricultural
standpoint, a chief attraction is the
capability Of our soil for the growing Of
grasses. Kentucky is called the "blue
grass State" and it is generally believed
that blue grass nowhere else abounds as
in Kentucky.
would not detract from our neigh.
Dor, or seek to diminish the just pride
every Kentuckian feels in that which
has made his State famous; but assert,
upon information and belief, that there
are more acres Of blue grass in West
Virginia than there arein Kentucky. Itis
the predominant grass, though not our
chief reliance. Glover hourishes every
where, timothy grows in rank luxuri-
business on our limestone and other
heavy soils, while to the possessors OF
light lands, orchard and mixed grasses
come almost as special gift from Provi.
dence, afordiDg an excellent hay and
abundant pastursgs. Thus the entire
State is particularly adapted to stock
raising, which affords most delightful
and usually most profitable pursuit OF
our land owners. West Virginia's live
stock, horses, cattle and sheep, COM
mand the highest prices; her wool is at
the top OF the market, and her dairy
products are sought after by those Of the
most epicurean faster.
WEST yIRaINIA's TIMBER.
"The wealth Of our forests is not un.
known. The fame Of unpopular and our
hard and ornamental woods has gone
beyond our borders, and has attracted
the attention Of timber men everywhere.
The timber along the water courses aud
in the more densely populated counties
has disappeared rapidly within the last
few years; but there yet remains within
the State at least 5000 900 acres covered
with as fine timber as the country af.
fords.
With the opening Of important lines
Of railroads throughout the State our
white oak, poplar, hickory, walnut,
cherry, chestnut, maple, spruce and
white pine must attract to us capital
seeking investment in wood working
enterprises. The business OF wood man-
uiactuEe ia in its infancy in this State,
but the increasing demands OF the mar.
ket will greatly stimulate this industry,
and soon we may expect to see our
mountain Businesses invaded by enter.
prise and musical with the hum OF ma.
chiuery. Our timber interests grow in
Importance as the forests OF the older
States disappear,
THE COAL RESOURCES.
Perhaps West Virginia's greatest prod.
pective wealth is in her 10000 square
miles Of coal, made up OF numerous
workable seams, one upon another and
embracing almost every variety OF coal
except anthracite. No better Goals are
found for coking, gas and smithing pur.
poses; some are unsurpassed for fuel,
and others unequalled as steam raisers.
They command the highest prices in the
markets.
Beds Of vast extent and untold value
lie alongth Ohio, kanawha and Monon-
gahela rivers and their tributary streams
open for transportation hsyond oontroll.
ing competition. Similar deposits ex.
tend along the line OF the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad, running through the
nothern portion Of the State; and along
the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Norfolk
& Western roads in the southern half OF
the State; and along the West Virginia
Central and the West Virginia & Pitts
buIgh railroads, north and south lines,
through the center Of the State. Great
beds Of coal lie along the Elk, Gauley
and Coal rivers and elsewhere in the In.
terror, Of the same excellence, and as to
quality, quite as valuable when reached
by transportation, and still purChasable,
/ may add, almost for song.
Coal.mining and coks.making have
developed into an industry GeGond to
none, aud In West Virginia It has in.
creased in q ratio far exceeding that Of
any other State in the Union. In 1850
West Virginia ranked seventh among