Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-01-10
S5ee,a, 10 n. .seisss-.

SDff1d, 20 ths SsSisEs'.
CHARLESTON, w. VA, January O.
The message OF Governor MacCorkle
was read in both houses of the LegislA-
| ture to-day 1t is as follows.
| To the Members Of the Senate and House Of
DC,CgateS:
GENTLEMEN:-I have the honor to lay be-
fore you my first biennial message. ex-
tend to you the most cordial welcome, and
hope that your service may be pleasant to
you as well as conducive to the good of the
State.
AS directed by the law, it is my duty to
report to you the condition of The State
and TO recommend what legislation 1 shall
deem expedient. | believe tue condi-
tion of the Sta.e to be unexampled
in her his DRY. Her finances are in
the best condition, her growth in ma
terial prosperity is almost without
precedent, her institutions have been man
aged with an eve single to the good of the
State, and if there is any corruption in any
official board or State institution it has so
far escaped the most rigid investigation.
Our sister States look with surprise when
they see our wonderful progress on the
road to prosperity and wealth. Our own
people, who thought they knew, and cor
rectly estimated, our hidden wealth, are
amazed when the hands of progress have
disclosed to them treasures of which they
hod not fha fainfaSt c0ncpntiOn
New Goals, great in variety, splendid in
quality, limitless in. quantity, and unex-
celled in advantage OF location, are daily
being discovered.
New minerals and new oil fields are
daily astounding the world with the vast
possibilities of wealth within our borders.
In nearly all reports the coal area OF the
State mas D5en placed at sixteen thousand
square miles. New discoveries OF coal
and new investigations place the amount
at not less than seventeen thousand sQuere
miles. New methods are obtaining and
old ideas are belug revolutlonized. Busl-
ness interests which few years ago were
unknown in our State are now the most
abounding in prospective wealth. Places
which a short time since were silent Will
| dernesses are to-day as wealth-produclnB
as any in the Union. Our lands are rapid
ly increasing in value, our products are
| finding new aud permanent markets, and
and the world is rapidly appreciating our
growing commercial power.
In 1888. the production OF oil was ll9,-
44S barrels. in 1892, the oil output of this
State in round numbers, was 3, 1O0OOO bar
rels. which were sold for 81, 100000; In
! 1888. S. 400 900 barrels. The Oil produc-
tion for West Virginia for 1884 will
amount to more than SS0OO,OOO, showing
the enormous increase OF S3,OOO,OOO over
1898. and more than S6,0OO,OOO over log2.
| Our possibilities of production will be
more keeuly appreciated when 1t is seen
from every possible indication that the oil
! belt extends from Wetzel and Marion
counties, on the Northern to Wayne and
Logan, on the Southern border.
IN THE PRODUCTION OF COAL
and coke the State has increased her pro-
! poruOuate lead. She is now fourth IN coal
and second IN coke production. As an IL
| lustration Kanawha and Fayette counties
alone produced one twenty-seventh (l-2O
of the coal mined in the United States.
! In 1876 there were mined within her bor-
| ders less than 900, 900 tons OF coal, but she
produced !, 100, 900 in 1877, 100000 tons in
iS7g. 2.240.O00 tons in 1852, 1000. 900 tons In
! Iss6 6 23l. $50 tons in 1883, g,22O,0OO tons in
| 1891. 10, ,7OS, SIS tons in 1898, and notWith-
standing the strike and unprecedented
! lOckOuts and the business utpfeSSlOu, inc
| State produced 942o, ,O65 tons in 1894.
In the production Of coke, unsurpassed
in Quality. the State is second IN the
| Union. Her increase Of from 22s, 600 tons
in 1884. TO 9.42S, ,06j tons 1894, IS another
instance of her vast aud varied progress
and unlimited capability.
In the production Of lumber the state IS
She has the largest body Of hard wood IN the
still maintaining her advanced position.
Union. and within her borders is one-third
of all the poplar timber Of the United
States our annual product is more thar
l25. COO 600 feet Of poplar; I5,OOO,.
O)O feet of hard wood; 5O,00J.0OO feet OF
spruce. with millions Of feet Of pine. Not
withstanding this vast output which IN
creases yearly, we have within our State.
great forests which never heard the rythm
of the woodman's AK, and scarcely ever
the sound Of human voice
| have with pardonable prize In oui
State discussed generally the subject OF
our good material wealth and its develop
ment. | believe that IL will most potently
call 10 our minds the great responsibility
resting upon Won 10 enact such Legislation
mar will broaden and strengthen the foun-
da ion of our state for greater future dc
velopments. Believing that this Will 0t
De the result of your labors, will, as
briefly as possi ole, discuss tue matters par
ticularly relating TO the government OF
Gfarp