The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-01-23
HIS LAST MESSAGE.
Portions of Governor McCorkle's
Message
Which Relate Directly to Morgantown
and Vicinity.

TO the Members Of the Senate and
House of Delegates
Gentlemen:-It is my duty to lay
before you my second biennial mes
sage 1t affords me great pleasure
to say that since our last meeting
the state has continued in its career
of prosperity.
Considered financially and indus
trially, the state is in splendid con-
dition. / think your growth in the
last four years has been unexampled
in our history. Our valleys are rap
idly filling with good class of
population. Railroads are being
built in every direction in the state.
The mountains are being opened by
the pick and shovel. The forests
are being cleared of their growth
and the improved farms are taking
their places. New and improved
methods of agriculture are being
adopted and the crops Of the farmers
have been very fine. From all parts
of the Union the eyes of capital are
directed to our splendid coal depos-
its. There has been a rush from ev
cry section of the Union into our
oil fields; and in the middle west no
state can compete with us in our
wealth of merchantable timber.
Without exception our towns and
cities have a healthy growth, new
manufactures are being erected, and
new products are being created with
in the state. Our rivers are being
improved by the general government,
thus allowing our coal the cheapest
transportation to the markets of the
world. We are becoming the great
rival Of Pennsylvania to-day in the
markets of the east and west, and
we are largely dominating the south
ern trade. Within short time the
Kanawha river, the key to one of the
great coal fields of our state, will
have its improvements completed to
its moath. Such is the case with
the Monongahela, which will be en-
tirely free from tolls, and the slack
water will be completed by the ma
tional government to Fairmont, thus
allowing the splendid Goals of that
region free and cheaper Transports
ton to the world, thus giving i'm
petus to vast industry in three of
the great counties in our state. Our
growth in all of our products has
been amazing. In matter of such
vital Importance to the state, / will
be pardoned when discuss the vast
growth within the short term of this
administration. West Virginia is
becoming one of the great producers
of petroleum of the world. From
last indications it seems there is a
greater field of oil under the state
than undei any equal amount of
territory in this country. In 1892
the state produced 3,S10,0S6 barrels
of petroleum. This was a wonderful
gain upon 100000 barrels in 1886:
but in 1896 this magnificent produce
ton of 1892 was increased to S,216,-
500 barrels, an increase of 100000
barrels.
So, with every product of the state,
a vast increase can be discerned.
ouch is the case in our great pro-
duction of coal. In 1892 we produc-
ed 9,73S,755 tons; in 1895 we pro-
duced / 1887, 1861 tons, gain within
that short time of 1,649, 206 tons.
The output of 1896 will exceed that
of 1895. This increase is unexam-
pied in the history of the United
States. This vast increase has been
in the face of national depression
and in spite of the closing down of
the mills and the silence of machin-
cry. But not alone have we increas
ed in the production of coal, but also
in the production Of coke. In 1892
the state produced 1,034, $50 tons of
coke; but in 1895 our production was
l ,2S5, 206 tons an increase of $50, 456
tons.
During the four years there has
been expended $4,000 for the Prepar-
atory branch of the University at
Montgomery, and $4,000 for the
West Virginia Colored Institute at
Bluefield. For the Pruntytown $685.
700; for the schools for the Deaf and
the Blind at Romney, SIG, 200; for
the West Virginia University at
Morgantown, $l17,5S1; for the State
Normal school and it's branches
more than quarter of a million dol
lars making grand total of appro
priation for higher education in the
State in the four years Of $55S,472.
4 X