The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-05-19
The Resources West Virginia.
Manufacturer. Record Bal.imes4.


in phamplet form, is one of the best
presentations of the advantages OF
that favored section that has ever
been put forth. After touching up
on the educational interests and the
railroad development, Governor
Fleming devotes his attention 10 the
mineral and timber wealth of the
State and to the progress already
made in their utilization. There
are, said he, more than 100000
acres of forest land in West Virginia,
10000 square miles of coal, vast
quantities of iron ore, pools Of pc
troleum and natural gas apparently
unlimited, glass sands, limestone
potters' and fire clay The forests
cover nearly one half of the State
and embrace great variety of both
hard and soft woods. more than
one-third of all the poplar in the
United States" is said by Mr.. Elem
ing, to be found in West Virginia. -
"The activity, said he, that is dis
played in opening up and develop
ing the timber regions can scarcely
be understood by those familiar
with the old-time primitive lumber
ing methods in vogue in the earlier
days of the State. Huge saw mills
with all modern appliances for cut
ting and handling timber are locat-
ed in nearly all different sections OF
the country. One great mill that
cost 100000 to build has a capacity
for cutting over 100000 feet OF
lumber in year, and yet the mag
nitude of the timber wealth of the
State may be judged from the fact
that, Notwithstanding this enormous
capacity, this particular mill has
timber sufficient and easily accessi
BILE to it to supply it for thirty years.
There are other mills equally as
large and one even larger that are
turning the forests of the State into
merchantable lumber
Recent developments have proved
that there are immense oil deposits
in various parts Of West Virginia,
and it is now the third oil producing
State in the Union, and bids, fair,
according to Governor Fleming, TO
become the first. An idea of the rap
id growth of the business may be
gained from the fact that in 1892 the
total output of oil in West Virginia
was 1881, 900 barrels, while in 1898
the out put had swelled to S,3S7,9S5
barrels. The average daily produc-
tion during January 1894 was 81,
600 barrels, and tue prospects now
indicate that the oil production of
West Virginia for 1894 will be worth
$S,0O0,O0O as against $5,500,000
in 1898 and $2,100,000 in
1892. The number of producing
wells has increased from 76S to about
200 at present, with an aggregate in
vestment, including pipe lines, of
over $13,000.000. The chief oilpro-
ducing company of the State is now
paying out monthly for labor, ma.
terial, construction and rentals over
$250,000 or 100000 a year.
In 1880 West Virginia had an out
put of l 100000 tons of coal, while
in 1890 this had increased to 6.000,-
600 tons, and in 1898 the produc-
ton appropriated 100000 tons.
almost doubling within three years.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
mining of coal and manufacture of
coke are industries of such recent de-
velopment, West Virginia now
stands fourth in the production of
coal and second in that of coke.
with the opening of new railroad
lines" said Mr.. Fleming, "and the
extension of present shipping facil-
tiles, these figures will be largely in
creased within the next decade, as
the present development merely
skirts the vast area of workable coal
that will soon be accessible for cheap
and easy operation. A few wears
ago the region now penetrated by
the Norfolk d Western Railroad was
one of the widest, thinly settled and
undesirable portions of the State 1t
was a country where only the daring
hunter would choose to camp; rough,
precipitous mountains and scragey
timber marked a wilderness where
wild animals were secure in their
hidden retreats. Lands now WELD
ing $500 per acre could have been
had for the nominal taxes charged
against them. The Norfolk Il West
ern was built along its ravines, and
the busy hum of industry is now
heard in every valley. Galleries
are in operation in almost every di
rection, and at night the heavens are
ablaze with the fires of coke ovens,
and thousands of cars come and 90
daily bearing to distant markets the
products of the mines of the wonder
full region, and population OF
thousands of working people have
homes nestled among the hills and
valleys of this once neglected sec
ton" What has been accomplish
ed along the line of the Norfolk q
Western is but an illustration OF
what has been done along the lines
of the Chesapeake & Ohio, the West
Virginia and Pittsburg, the West
Virginia Central and other roads,
and it is but an indication of what
will be accomplished along many
lines of roads which will be built
during the next few years.
There is good ground for the en-
thusiasm which always inspires Gov
ernor Fleming when he speaks OF
writes of his State. 1t is State OF
such marvellous resources, of such
boundless possibilities; State where
wealth is being and must be created
so rapidly for generations to come
that the mind is dazed as we attempt
to forecast the future. When it is
remembered that this comparatively
small State, producing 100000
tons of coal a year, has 80 per cent
more coal area than all of Great Bri.
tian, whose output is now about 200.
UOo,oo0 tons year, we can begin to
form some conception of the future
extent OF this mining industry. AID
ded to its boundless resources OF
coal and petroleum are its vast for.
ests Of virgin timber it's liberal sup.
ply of iron ore, and Of almost as
great imnOrtance its ram RI a h .