Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-27

are judged and classified. BY process
similar % composite photography, the
character Of a city is made up and form
ed or the Individual characters OF its
citizens. the distinctive features OF
which are reflected 90 the composite eX-
hibited. Certainly the erviable reputa-
hon your city enjoys reflects only the
general intelligence, industry, honesty
and enterprise OF your citizens, and ] am
glad that there is, 40 last, an opportu-
nifty through the'establiShment oi.direct
railroad communication for a closer ac-
quaintance and more intimate social and
business connection with them on the
part OF
THE PEOPLE OF WEST VIRGINIA
This suggestion, however, may not be
received with the same degree OF eDthu-
aiasm by you that 10 lnvokes among the
Inhabitants OF the region beyond the
southern border OF your State. While
the reputation OF your city with Us has
been such as to convince us that you
will make desirable acQuaintanCes, j am
not so sure that ours will commend as
30 favorably 20 you. Until within the
last few years West Virginia was looked
upon as a child Of the war, whose State
lines shut out enterprise and marked
she abiding place of ignorant people 10
possession OF poor lands and inferior
minerals. Blood-curdling stories of
crimes; OF family wars carried 20 the
point OF eXterminating whole COmmu-
mites In our mountain Businesses, went
out 70 the people Of other States, and
doubtless came TO you. The few West
Virglnians. who lie those days appeared
10 your city, we're not, generally speak
ing, such specimens Of cultured man
hood as would be calculated 20 diSsl-
pate thess false impressions. When
from the interior, they were chiefly
raftsmen and horse traders, unaCcus-
toned % Society's conventions, ard
upon whom the Civilizing effects or
your excellent brands OF old Mcnon-
gahela whisky we're either entirely lost
or worked a complete undOlng. But
whatever may have been the impress
sions that prevailed among the people
of other Statesreg8rding West Virginia
and her people in the past, desire 20
assure you that we have to-day an intel
iigent and laW-abidlng citizenship.
They are Industrious and honest, gen
srOus and hoSD.table, full Of pluck and
energy, and 1 am proud 20 say that 10
the recent rapid development or tue
States resources, in the marvellous ad-
vancement of manufacturing enter
prises, in the wonderful growth OF
ALI HER NATURAL INTERESTS,
our people have been leaders, aud have
exhibited abilities and developed tai
ent for economic affairs of high order.
may. indeed, claim as citizens OF our
young commonwealth, many whose
names have become familiar 10 our COM
mon country as those OF distinguished
fnaaciers, statesmen aud iuriSts. We
cannot boast OF so high q culture as
may the State of Massachusetts, outwe
have that which is of more importance,
looking 20 the future, namely. lively
sense OF the value OF general education,
and our system of free schools is one or
the best and br0adest 10 the country.
We have we'll endowed State Uni
Ve-sitv. SIX STATE Normal Schools,
and numerous private aud SectarIau
colleges, commercial and business
schools, and Seminaries, all we'll patron
lied and efficiently managed We spend
annually in the cause of common school
education, So. 1G per capita 90 each child
Jof school age, and the average school
Fm-f0r the year 1S92, was . - months.
This educational progress Is generally
diGused throughout the State, though
of comparative recent origin and deve.-
oDment To 1865 there we're but 1873
public school houses, and $50 teachers
in the territory comprising the State OF
West Virginia. There are now over
5000 school houses aud 5000 teachers.
The growth of our educational work
may be further guaged by the great In
crease in the value OF school property.
In 1865 the total value OF property de-
voted 10 educational work was Sj2, $50;
in 1892 10 had grown 90 S-,1i6,234. 1
have entered into these particulars be-
cause 10 is generally considered thrOug-
out the country thai West Nirginlaus
have given the subject Of popular edu-
cation but little attention. How errOn-
eous such conclusion is may be seen
from a comparative statement OK
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL GROWTH
and that of the great State of Pennsyl-
vania, which justly stands among the
more advanced States in educational IA
cilities aud progression. The number
of teachers employed 10 our school
work seems small in comparison WITH
the %, 600 engaged in your state, but
when we consider that your population
is nearly seven times greater than ours,
"a will appear that the number of your
teachers must be increased 20 over 4O,-
600 90 make the ratio of teachers 20
population equal that OF West Virginia.
The average daily attendance or pupils
io Pennsylvania TO- 1912, was 1Os.sl9
liz should have been 1sG. $50 greater 20
have eQualed the average daily Attend
ancs ina West Virginia, which was l2S,-
O44 in the same period. That this edu-
cation growth should have been accom-
plished within a period OF twenty-five
wears shows the earnest purpose
and activity of West Virginia In
tbis direction, and her high APP
preciation Of popular education. But
think / have said enough 90 remove
apy false impressions that may have
been formed 10 the minds Of any OF your
citizens regarding the character aud In
telligence Of West NirEinians. / believe
that you will ind they are good people
70 know, and will prove to be agreeable
and valuable commercial patrons aud
neighbOrs.
may assume that the establishment
ofadirect line OF railroad from your city
into West Virginia inspires some curioS-
ftv among you, also, as 90 the hnanclal
and business conditions, the CONNER
ciaL agricultural and mineral wealth Of
a section which, by reas0a OF such new
line of transportation, becomes for the
first time tributary 20 this city. Indeed
vyos advised that ] would be expected