The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-03-27
THE FIRST TRAIN.



SneerCd rs tho train stopped to tnk9 on
eupotint ondcnt Keysur. They also
waved the stars and dtripus In greeting
IhoYteprcscnted tho most important
9awmills along tho roud. Though in
pennsylvania, tho mills arc operated by
west Virginia company, the logs be.
Ing iiontOd TO Point Marion down the
Cheat river from Randolph county, 40
miles In the interior OF West Virginia.
MET ny rIrrsRURdurns.
1t Ia impossible to describe tho trip in
detail in this dispatch, suffice it to say
that 1t was made over n we'll construct.
cd road over which tho cars run smooth
~, and ut ConnUllSyille tho train was
met by tho reception committee from
lhePttts6USgh chamber OF commerce in
Two special cars, and accompanied b. n
delegation OF newspaper mon. The
committee was headed by Mayor Nc.
kenna, OF Pittsburgh. Mayor Kennedy,
oil Allegheny. Woo President John Y.
jackson. OF the board OF trade, and Col.
onel Roberts, tho civil engineer who is
tho father Of tho Lake Eric canal
scheme. The committees cara were at.
tached 10 the through special and in
two hours tho party was in Pittsburgh.
During this timO sumptuous lunch
was served on tho train by tho Pitts
burgh committee TO the West Virginia
visitors. Arriving in Pittsburgh the
excuraiOnists were escorted at once to
the chamber OF commerce hall, which
was filled with waiting members, roprc.
scnting nearly every business interest
in Pittsburgh, seats being reserved for
tho visitors. After Il half hour spent in
lntroduCtions and social intercourse,
Vice President Jackson called tho meet
ing 10 order and announced that illness
prevented tho attendance Of President
George A. Kelly. After few words OF
hearty welcome to tho visitors Col.
Jackson introduced tho speaker OF the
day, Ex-Governor A.. b. Fleming, OF
West Virginia, whose name was greeted
with great applause.
GOVERNOR FLEMISG's SPEECH.
Aftor few words thanking tho mem.
bers Of tho chamber OF commerce for
the invitation to addros, them, Ox.Gov-
ernor Fleming spoke in part as follows:
Whatever may have been tho impres.
sons that prevailed among the people
Of other states regarding West Virginia
and her people in the past, desire 10
assure you that we have to-day an in
8 telligent and law-abiding citizenship.
+ 1hey are industrious and honest, gen.
orous and hoSpitable, full OF pluck and
energy, and am proud to say that in the
recent rapid development OF the states
resources, in tho marvellous advance
mont OF mining and manufacturing en-
terprIses, in the wonderful growth OF
oil her natural interests. our own peo-
pic have been their leaders, and have
exhibited abilities and developed n
talent for economic affairs OF high
order. | may, indeed, claim as citizens
oil our young commonwealth many
whose names have become familiar to
our common country as those of dis
tngnishcd tiuaUciers, statesmen and
jursis. We cannot boast OF 40 high a
culture US may tho state of Massachu-
sets, but we have that which is of more
importance, looking to tho future, name
ly, lively sense OF tho value OF genera.
education, and our system OF free schools
is one OF tho best and Uroadest in the
land. Proceeding, Governor Fleming
reviewed the educational progress OF
the state, giving statistics, and con-
tinued:
SOME SUGGESTIVE FIGURES.
think have said enough to remove
any false impressions that may have
been formed in the minds OF any oil
your citizens regarding tho character
md intelligence OF West Virginians. l
believe that you will iiud they arc good
people 10 know, and will provo 20 DO
agreeable and valuable commercial pa-
irons and ueighbors.
may assume that the establishment
OF direct line OF railroad from Your
city into West VirGiEin inspires some
curiosity among You, also, rs to tho
financial and business conditions, tho
commercial, agricultural and mineral
wealth OF section which, b. reason OF
such new line OF transportation, be-
comes Tor the first time tributary 20
this city. Indeed was advised that
would be expected TO speak OF these
things, and that this was the purpose OF
your committee in inviting W"s: Yir-
ginian to address you at this time.
In the last t%onty years the poDula.
ton of West Virginia has Increased -
per cent Her railroad mileage has in
creased S25 per cent Tho creator
amount Of this railroad mileage has
been built within tho last ten years. and
in 1892 We led all other states in railroad
building. All but eleven OF the fifty
four counties are now penetrated by
railroad lines.
The census OF 1890 shows the follow
Ing dccennial percentages OF increase in
the moro Important items OF wealth and
production in our state:
VI Per cen.
Value Of nine chief farm p7oducis.............. -
Value OF mineral wrI.th.................... .. III
value OF hlinerni -
Based upon this rapid progress and
increase in values, the financial situa-
ton OF the state and people has re-
sponded IN an exhibit oil increased
wealth and improved conditions OF liv-
ing. The comforts, and even tho luxu-
ries, OF the residents Of older conmuni-
ties are no longer unknown to our peo-
pie. Our cities and larger towns, ana
indeed many OF our Villages, nave sy3-
TENS OF water works, gas and electric
light plants, and other conycnicnccs to
public comfort.
TAXATION AND RANKING.
Our taxes for state purpo,cs, includ-
ing state school taxes, aggregate thirty
five cents on the 500 valuation. The
state is out OF debt, and, in fact, can
not create n debt undcr her con, titu.