Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-01-17
Governor MaccorkIe's Message.

The following is synopsis OF the
message of Governor MacCorkle, which
was read in the West Virginia Legisla-
ture on Wednesday of last week:
Il believe the condition of the State
to be unexampled in her history. Her
finances are in the best condition; her
growth in material prosperity is almost
without "a precedent her institutions
have been managed with an eye single
to the good of the State. New Goals,
great in variety, splendid in quality,
limitless in quantity, and unexcelied 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 re-
ports the coal area of the State has been
placed at 10000 square miles. New dis
coyeries of coal and new Investigations
Mace the amount at not less than l7,O0O
square miles. New methods are obtain
ing and old ideas are being revolution
lied. Business interests, which Few
wears ago were unknown in our State,
are now the most Astounding in prospec-
tive wealth. Places which short time
y
as wealth-producing any in the Union.
Our lands are rapidly increasing IN value
our products are finding new and per-
manent markets, and the world IS rapid
" appreciating our growing commercial
power.
Upon this vital question of material
wealth the Governor introduces large
number of specific illustrations.
FINANCES.
..The finances of the State are in
better condition than they have ever
been during her history. confidently
believe that no State in the Union makes
better financial showing than the State
of West Virginia The State owes no
debt and has been promptly paying all
demands which have been made upon
if. There was a balance in the treasury
October |, 1894, of S723.561, against
$3.50. 1854 on October |, 1893. The estl-
mated receipts at the treasury for the
wear ending September 80, 1898, are
1888. 73S and estimated expenditures Tor
same time S577,3lS."
THE STATE INSTITUTIONS.
For the State institutions | bespeak
the most searching investigation by the
Legislature. desire no whitewashlng
reports, but court the most careful IN
spection of both the financial ana 90
nestle management of any or all OF them.
Without exception the institutions III
this State are in my judgment as well
managed as any in the Union. There
are no known abuses or neglect, and the
boards have been universally requested
bv me to be rigid in their demand for
strictly pure and unselfish service on the
part of officials and employees, and sum-
mary removal in case of neglect and IN
efficiency has been by me vigorously
carried into effect.
STATE BOARD OF AGRIC CULTURE.
This board has been very earnest in
its labors and very active as well as
successful in its efforts TO encourage IN
telligent farming. A large part OF our
State is dependent upon agriculture.
and when the farmer is prosperous the
whole body-politlc feels the impulse OF
his prosperity. Our farmers are be-
ginning to see that it does not pay to
| compete with the purely agricultural
country of the West in the raising OF
| large grain. The future success OF the
West Virginia farmer lies in the raising
of the smaller grains, the cultivation OF
| the market products, the fruits and veg
etables and the intelligent preparation
of the dairy products for sale Inc
opening of mine and mandatory in al
most every valley will enable him to
make the change rapidly and prosper
ously, and will furnish him with mar
ket from which he can garner far more
wealth than he could under the old sys-
| tenn of the cultivation of the larger area.
THE STATE BANK EXAMINER.
THE work of this officer is before
YOU. 1t shows very healthy state OF
| finances in West Virginia; that no bank
failure took place within the State dur
| ing the panic of 1893 and only one sus-
pension, that the resources of State
banks in West Virginia during 1893
| amounted to $l2, 04S, 425. "a, and resources
of national banks for the same period
amounted to $l3, 497, 1927, making a
total of S25, 545, GILL. recommend to
the Legislature that the law relating to
the examination and public statements
of banks be revised, so as to make 1t
more nearly conform to the national law.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
"Our progress in education has been
| remarkable In 1870 our school fund
was 1929, 300; general school fund S233,
1902. In 1894 the school fund was
1856, 676 so and the general school fund
was 1897. 945.44 In 1870 the number OF
schoolhouses was 2,l13. In 1894 it was
1902. In 1870 the number of pupils was
1872. 1872. In 1894 the mum Der was 2S2, no.
In 1870 the average length of term was
four months and two days. In 1894 II
was five months. In 1870 the value OF
| schoolhouses and buildings was Sl,Ol2,-
932. In 1891 it was S2,376, 1856. In 1870
the average rate of levy for school and
building purposes was 30.6 cents on the
| 300. In 1894 it was ~ cents. Any
system under which such showing as
this can be made is not poor one.
believe that the whole school law should
be intelligently and comprehenSively re-
vised as whole by board or commit
tee. which at its leisure can make con
sistent and intelligent report.
BALTIMORE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
After showing that the Worlds Fail
at Chicago proved of incalculable value
TO West Virginia. Governor MacCorklt
says: The city of Baltimore proposes
to celebrate the one hundredth year OF
its incorporation by great fair to be
held in the year of 1897 This is TO bt
a grand exhibition of the resources OF
our country, and especially of our sec
tion of the Union. A splendid organi
cation has been effected, the best tinan
cial arrangements have been made, and
it bids fair in every way to be one of the
worlds greatest gatherings. This will
be great opportunity for an exhibition
of our wonderful products. The State
of West Virginia and the city of Balti
more are linked in iron bonds of com
mercial intercourse. A large part o.
our products are sold in Baltimore ant
our merchants purchase largely therein
1t is great port of entry, with widely
diversified trade, and it cannot but b'
helpful to our State to be brought int