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

sGt the basket nnd spilled the whole on
her territory. In any 0rcut tho fact re.
mains that within her boundaries Is
iound nearly cvnrY yAlunblu mineral do.
post ut every country, cXccp, the proc
iOus metals, gold and silver
ELEMENTS or WEALTH.
But her mineral wealth Is no. tho
only element upon which hcr people
may rely to lay tho foundation for
future wealth and prosperity. Except
In tho mountain ranges, hor soil Ia
mainly rich aud generous in tho yield
OF farm products. Its adaplability to
grazing Is scarcel Y CXcellcl, savO In n
small section Of Kentucky, known as
tho blue grass region, and | hav0 il,
from what regard rs good authority,
that tho number Of Rcros In West Nir-
ginia indigenous to blue grass exceeds
that which haI given Kentucky tho
reputation Of being the bUst grazing
state IN the Union.
Bat perhaps tho subject which inter.
csts you. rs representatives. OF large
manufacturing interests, Is tho plonti.
tude oil fundamental materials which
enter into tho manufactures for which
your city has established groat ropu.
tation. There arc moro than 100000
Ncroa Of forest lands in West Virginia,
10000 square miles Of coal, vast quauti-
tics OF iron orc, pools Of petroleum, aud
natural gas apparently unlimited, glass
sands, limo stone, pottOra' and fro clay.
Possibly, in view OF tho close relations
about to bo established, more BpCcilc
information on this subject will not 10
without interest.
TIMBER.
Our forests cover noarly onc-hnlf OF
tho surface Of tho state, aud embrace Il
great variety OF both hard and soft
woods. Tho leading variotios 0ro oak,
poplar, pine, spruce and hcmlock,
though much walnut, cherry and ash
can still DO found in tho interior coun-
tics. Moro than onc.third OF all tho
poplar in tho United States is found in
our state. The less valuable hard
woods, beech, hickory, maple and birch,
arc generally distributed throughout
tho state. Continuing the speaker 70.
viewed tho development OF the vast
lumber industry in West Virginia,
showing that already tho output OF thu
state runs into hundreds OF millions OF
feet OF lumber per year, showing that
l25,0O0,000 is poplar, 100000 feet hard
wood and 50,000.0O0 feot spruce. Ho
spoke Mt length OF the vast deposits OF
iron ore in the state and OF the oil de-
velopmeut snid:
OIL DEVELOPMENT.
Tho increased development has been
very productive in the past two years,
and is contributing largely to the pros
pority OF the people in the sections
whore oil is found. To give an idea OF
the rapid growth Of this busiucss-the
total oil output in the state in 1892 was
3,7577 ,3l3 barrels, which sold ut IN aver
age oil 56 cents per barrel, making the
amount realized from oil that year
s., l0i,096 10. In 1898 the total output
had swelled to S,391, 9S5 barrels, with all
average, price OF &C cents per barrel, or
an amount of s., 5SG,05O 90. an increase
OF over $S,000,00O in one year. The daily
average production during the month
OF January, 1891, was $1,000 barrels,
which sold at 81 cents per barrel, max
ing average daily sales amounting TO
S2l, $50 90. II this daily production
keeps up for the year 1894, and it is far
more likely TO increase than TO stand
still or decrease. the oil production OF
West Virginia this year will run to
nearly SS,000,000.
The number Of producing wellsiu the
state was 7GS in 1892; there were HOO
in 1898, and Mt the present ratio OF de-
velopm0nt will probably approximate
2.OO0in 1894.
This development, including pipe line
Investments, has cost over SlS,2S0, 900,
and has contributed in great degree to
the business prosperity and advance.
mcnt OF our state.
COAL AND COKE.
To tho gentlemen OF this chamber
who have, from their surroundings,
been accustomed to form estimates OF
the valnn and magnitude Of coal depos.
It's, perhaps my statements OF the i'm
mcnsity OF tho coal beds oil West Viz
glnia may not seem exaggerated. but 10
many m estimate OF the wealth that
lies hidden in the mines oil the state
seems almost too fabulous 10 be cati-
tied 10 cTedCncc. 4 celebrated Seolo-
Gist once said: "Ghe nations thSt rule
the earth are those that have iron aud
coal; thoy arc tho worlds kings, aud
make and unmake the worlds kings"
Judged by this standard, West Virginia
possesses enough OF the king making
substances to dominate and control
many nations. In coal alone we have
more actual workable acreage than
Pennsylvania or Great Britain, aud ono
thirteenth OF the whole deposit oil the
Unitod States. Il is n homely and
quaint saying that "the proof oi tho
pudding is the chewing OF the string"
and the same rule OF proof is establish
ing the value OF these vast coal beds in
the public favor. Our coal and coke
products have passed the experimental
test and the increasing regard in which
they are being received may be deter
mined from the rapidity with which
our coal fields are being purchased and
developed.
ISCGEASED PRODUCTION.
The coal production had increased
from 100000 long tons lin round mum.
bers) in lS6Oto 100000 in 1890, but
more rapid development has been made
since that time, rs tho tota. output OF
last year approXimated II ,000.000 tons.