The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-06-25
West Virginia.

West Virginia was admitted as q
State June 10th, 1868 Its first cap.
ital was Wheeling, but in 1870 the
capital was changed to Charleston
then removed to Wheeling again in
1875, and again removed to its pres
ent location, Charleston, in 1884.
Free Schoois.--West Virginia has
a very fiourishing free school sys,
TEN, ample provision having always
been made by its Legislators for edu-
cational purposes.
Ciimate.-The climate is moder-
ate; the average temperature in win
ter being 80 degrees and in summer
10 degrees (Fahrenheit.) The aver
age rainfall is from AZ to As inches.
Owing to the mountainous condition
of the State, the health is excellent.
Gorernment.-The Governor and
State officials are elected quadren-
nially-tbe legislature every two
years. These elections are held on
Tuesday after the first Monday in
November. The legislature is com
posed of 26 senators and II repre-
sentatives in the lower house The
sessions are held biennially, in odd
numbered years, and are As days in
duration. The term of the senator
is A years, while she term of the rep
rcsentatives is but two years. West
Virginia having four Congressman
has six electoral votes.
The salaries of State officials are
as follows: Governor, S2,700; Sec
rotary Of State, $1,000 and fees;
Treasurer, 81 400; Auditor, $4,000
and fees; Superintendent of Free
Schools, $500; Attorney c~.eral,
81 900; Judges of the Supreme Court
four in number, $2,250 each; Sena-
tors and Representatives receive "a
per day and mileage of 10 cents per
mile.
Geographicdl-Thc length north
and south of West Virginia is 24I
miles. Its greatest width is los
miles, and contains in all I5,772,S00
acres of land. The surface Is noun
famous with fertile valleys. The AL
leghany is the principal range, con
tanning some high peaks, fine seen
cry, and much visited by tourists.
The staple products Of West Vir
ginia include minerals, very fine
horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, wheat,
corn, oats, grasses, hay, dairy pro
ducts, fruits, wine, DC, &c.
Petroleum and natural gas are ex
tensively produced. West Virginia
ranks fifth in the production of salt
and coal, and seventh in buckwheat,
iron and steel. The cleared land of
the State averages SIT per acre.
Much of the State is virgin forest,
densely clothed with walnut, oak,
cherry, poplar, ash, pine and many
other kinds oftimber. Many miner
al springs abound. The soil, where
not mountainous. is excellent. The
wealth, much of which isyet
undeveloped, including coal, oil, iron,
salt, &c, is prodigious. The western
part Of the State is billy, hut grad
ually descends from $500 feet above
the sea level toward the Ohio river,
where the elevation is 100 to 500 #.
West Virginia contains 81 counties
and Ii senatorial districts.
Chief Industries-Although West
on account of the mex
supply of minerals stored
away in her mountains, is destined
to become the greatest mineral pro.
ducing State in the union, as yet, ag-
riculture is the chief industry. Six
ty per cent of her working popula-
ton are engaged in tilling the soil.
The balance of her people are engag-
ed in mining, numbering, mannfac-
turing, &c.
We would call special attention of
persons desirable profitable invest
ments to the wonderful undeveloped
wealth of the State, as well
as the fine farming lands located in
the valleys. Many tracts Of this
land can be purchased at low prices
and satisfactory terms, while on ac-
count of rapidly increasing railroad
facilities they are daily growing in
value