The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-03-28
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tlat tnOy nau uCCOUlpilshCu Wlht Iuey
came ior, having deeply impressed the
Iron City's chamber OF commerce with
the importance Of establishing closer
trade relations with the great rich terri.
tory beyond tho southern bordor OF
Pennsylvania.
After tho meeting last evening lead.
ing Pittsburgh business men and cupi-
talists expressed themselves as having
had new interest awakened in them
by the great array OF facts and figures
presented in the speeches OF the West
Nirginians, and somo OF them confessed
themselves surprised at tho magnitude
OF the development now going on in the
interior OF the state and the wonderful
amount OF wealth yet 20 be developed.
"Our Pennsylvania conl fields are
rapidly being exhausted" said one,
"ano our forests are becoming depleted.
When l heard the statements presented
by tho gentlemen who addressed us, l
was more than ever impressed with the
fact that Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania
capitalists and manufacturers will have
to look in the near future across the
line into " est Virginia for their invest
ments and raw materials-whcre Nature
which so bountifully blessed Western
Ponnsylvania has extended her riches.
What is found there is but the continu-
alton OF our great mineral deposits
southwark. Our capitalists arc already
seeking investments in West Virginia
and moro will GO in that direction"
one OF THE ADVANTAGES.
Col. Ben Wilson, in his speech yes
tcrday, touched upon one OF West Viz
sinia's advantages which is not often
presented so iorcibly ms ne brought it
out. lie referred to tho adaptation OF
the lands in the interior OF tho state for
grazing purposes and the dairy, poultry
and produce industries. No state offers
more in this respect. Colonc! Wilson
called attention to the fac: that the
poultry and produce production oil the
country was greater than the wheat and
corn production, and that West Vir-
gna was go well adapted for these in.
dustrics by reason OF her ncarness to
tho great markets that she offered rare
opportunities ior ambitious young men
OF small capital. Tho new railroad con-
nec.ion with Pittsburgh added greatly
to the accessible market. He cited by
way OF illustration firm in Clarksburg,
which began the business OF buying and
selling country produce some years ago
on capital OF $500. and is low doing
business Of 100000 per year.
Among the others who addressed the
chamber OF commerce yesterday and
whose speeches could only receive
passing notice in tho report sent last
night, was Hon. Geo. c. Sturgiss, OF
MorGantown. Mr. Sturgiss' graphic de-
scription OF the progress made in mater
ial development in West Virginia was
attcntivcly listened to. Though brief,
it was very effective. Referring to tho
completion OF the railroad down tho
river he told OF how, moro than twenty
years before, when he came to West
Virginia n young man, Prof. Moore
hoad, OF Morgantown, had said TO him:
Remain hero with U.s.. There is q
great future before us." And taking q
mup he showed Mr.. Sturgiss the course
OF the Monongahela river and told him
that before many years railroad would
follow that stream from Pittsburgh into
the heart OF tho great mineral and lum-
Der regions OF West Virginia and open
up the natural gateway 10 tho south.
Ever since this had been his dream and
he was now seeing it realized"
WEST VIRGINIA LAND TITLES.
Whatever doubts there were in the
minds OF the men who listened to the
speeches concerning tho land titles OF
West Virginia were dispellcd by the
speakers. False reports concerning
these titles have undoubtly caused capl-
talists to hesitate often and have made
investments slow. Tho matter was
happily alluded to by Ex-Commissionc
OF Internal Revenue Mason in his ad-
dress yesterday when he said: in no
state in the union is there greater &C.
curity for life, liberty and prosperity
then in West Virginia. 1t has boon
charged, know, that our laws in rela-
ton to the laud titles are defective. AS
evidence OF this it is said that very ire-
quently We hear OF persons losing large
sums OF money through imperfect titles
to lands in West Virginia. If you will
tako the pains to investigate these cases,
you will ind that III every instant it
was the purchasers fault. Most OF the
cases arc when the purchasers buy
wild cat titles ut wild cat prices and
ye;, as 4 matter OF course, nothing but
wild cats. They were endeavoring 10
cot someting -ior nothing and failed.
West Virginians don't trade that way.
ut is true" continued Mr.. Mason,
that for many years the laws in rela.
ton to land titles in Virginia were COM
plicated and unsatisfactory. This arose
out OF the methods adopted by Virginia
Mt IN early day in diaposing Of the pub
lie lands. The state was anxious 10
have that portion oi her territory living
west OF the Allegheny mountains pop
uIated, and disposed OF the lands to pro.
poScd se,tlers with lavish hand.
Many OF the surveys were large and
not always very accurate. But little
effort was made to prevent duplicate
grants. In tho livery nature OF things
disputes arose over the.e grants and
conflicting boundaries. Then again the
owners cndcavored TO avoid taxation BY
keeping them off the assessors books.
This led TO harsh laws OF forfeiture with
frequent appeals 10 tue legislature for
the restoration OF tho title. Bu.
for several year, before the formation
OF West Virginia the old state
realized the Jolly OF this coursc and took