The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-23
THE FIRST STEPS
For Geological Survey OF the
State will be Taken To-day.
THE STATE GEOLOGICAL BOARD
oonvsnss iu this city this sIOrnlnE-Ths
Board Intends 10 Have Survey Ofths
state that viii show Automatically the
Material Resource, of the IAulo MOun-
tain stats-GOv'rnOr Atkinson Will At
tend the Meeting.

The state geological hoard meets In
Wheeling this morning at 10 o'clock In
the office rooms OF Atkinson & Flick,
chapllne street 1t had been the pre-
vlous Intention OF Governor Atkinson to
have the board convene this evening at
7iaO o'clock, but on account of legal
business he found the change necessary
and last night telegraphed the other
members of the board TO that effect So
in case they can make the proper rail-
road connections, the board will be call
ed to order this morning at the appoint
ed hour.
The members OF the board include
Governor Atkinson, State Treasurer NJ.
A. Kendall, DR., Jerome H. Raymond,
president, and Professor It. c. Atkeson,
OF the State University, and superln-
tendeat James II, Stewart, of the expert
ment station, at Morgantown. The
board Is a result OF the act passed at
the last session OF the legislature d.
reotiny that preliminary steps be taken
to haze geological survey OF the
state and appropriatlng $4,000 for that
purpose. To-day the board meets for
organization, and consideration OF the
work before 1t.
II the last legislature had rested its
laurels upon the furthering Of COM
plete geological survey of the state, 1t
could have done so with pride. Such a
step has never been taken before, and
while the government has done work In
this respect. It has surveyed less than
twenty OF the flfty-Ave counties. The
board which meets In this city to-day
proposes to employ assistants and will
vigorously and carefully prosecute thu
survey on its own hook, but OF course
It win take advantage Of the United
States government engineers In this
state and the information they possess.
The benefits of the survey are too ap-
parent to need elaboration. The magni-
hcent natural resources of West Virgin
Ia have been heralded to the world from
time to time from the platform and the
press, but the world listened In vain al
most for authoritative statements.
There were no reports stamped with
West Vlrglnla's seal to even indicate
the formations Of the wealth of re-
sources that lie under the West Vlr-
ainla Hills" Only by local reports have
outside capitalists learned of West Vlr-
| ginia's coal, iron, OIL gas, timber ETC.,
etc.
For years there has been an agitation
FOR competent survey undertaken by
the state, and It's elimination Is
source of qualification to all those
having West Vlrginia's interest at
heart. No greater enthusiast exists
than Governor Atkinson and he has de-
voted much OF his time to n successful
undertaking Of the work. The board Is
composed OF learned. practical men.
who with efficient assistants will give
that which should have been given
years ago.
Speaking to nm Intelligencer reporter
last night Governor Atkinson said:
"The survey when completed, will
turn the eyes OF capital to this state.
Heretofore, capitalists have refused to
believe we were blessed with such re-
sources. We couldn't back up our
claims with the proofs they demanded.
| They wouldn't believe our hills teemed
with Conl and iron ore. or that our
mountnln sides are crowned by the
choicest timber. Nor would they be-
lleve that there are gas and oil fields
awaiting the touch OF the drill. Capital
is always timld, cautious, eager for In
yestment. but demanding positive
knowledge. 1t will hesitate no longer to
penetrate West Virginia, once there is
published a systematic map. showing
Just where lies our coal, our oil, and SO
on. ,
And" continued the governor, those
living outside the state are not the only
persons who know not West Virginia's
resources. There Is surprise In store
for all the dwelers Of the Mountain
state. The geological survey VIII re.
veal wealth not dreamed OF By the most
sanCulne."