The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-14

CHARLESTON, w. Va, Jan. 81
Governor AIacCorlSle transmitted the
following message to the legislature to-
day:
TO the Members of the Senate and House
Of Delegates:
GENTLEMBN:--It is my duty to lay
before you my second biennial message.
II affords me great pleasure to say that
since your last meeting the state has
continued in its career of prosperity
Considered financially and Industrial
ly. the state is In splendid condition.
think your growth in the last four years
has been uneXampled in our history.
our valleys are rapidly filling with u
good class OF population. Railroads are
being built in every direction of the
state. The mountains are being opened
by the pick and the shovel. The forests
are being cleared of their growth and the
improved farms are taking their places.
New and improved methods OF agrlcul-
ture 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 10 our splendid coal deposits.
There has been q rush from every 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 healthy growth, new
manufactures are being erected, and
new products are being created within
the state. Our rivers are being improved
by the general government thus allow
Ing our coal the cheapest transportation
TO the markets of the world. We are be-
coming the great rival Of Pennsylvania
to-day in the markets of the east and
west, and we are largely dominating the
southern trade Within q short time the
Kanawha river, the key 10 one OF the
great coal fields of our state, will have
its improvements completed to It's
mouth. Such Is the case with the Mon
onGalia, which will be entirely free from
tolls. and the slack-water will be COM
pleted by the national government TO
Fairmont, thus allowing the splendid
Goals OF that region free and cheaper
transportation to the world, thus giving
impetus to a vast industry in three of
the great counties Of our state. Our
growth in all OF our products has been
amazing. In a matter OF such vital i'm
portance TO the state, will be parduued
when I discuss the vast growth within
the short term of this administration.
West Virginia IS becoming one OF the
great producers OF petroleum in the
world From last indications 1t seems
there Is greater field Of oil under the
state than under any equal amount OF
territory In this country. In 1892 the
state produced $500 barrels of petrol
cum. This was wonderful gain upon
1O2, 900 barrels In 1886; but in 1896 this
magnificent production of 1892 was in
creased to S,2l6. 500 barrels, an Increase of
over 1000, 900 barrels.
So, with every product OF the state,
vast Increase can be discerned. Such IS
the case In our great production OF coal.
In 1899 we produced 9,73S,755 tons; in
1895 we produced 11,3S79G1 tons, a gain
within that short time OF 1,Gi9.206 tons.
The output of 1896 will exceed that of
1896. This increase is uneNampled in
the history OF the United States. This
vast increase has been in the face of a
national depression and in spite OF the
closing down OF the mills and the silence
Of machinery. But not alone have we
Increased In the production Of coal, but
also in the production of coke. In lSR
the state produced 1854, $50 tons of coke:
hut An 1895 uhr production was l,2S5,2O6
tons. an increase OF 25O,45G tons.
This product of our state was peculiar
IL affected by the iron industry, and in
1892 and 1898 we were also affected by
the labor troubles within the state and
over the country.
This increase within the four years,
also extends TO railroad building. IN
1892 we had 1,S0G miles of railroad; in
1895 we mad increased IL to 2,UI5 miles,
and the railroad valuation had increased
from SI7.5l9.793 90 in 1891 to a valuation
Of So, AL, 1856 90 in 1895, an increase IN
valatiun of $4s27,77S 90.
The State Funds.
The governor pointing to the growth
OF the three state funds from 1892 to oc-
tober, 1886, says:
The state find was Increased from thir-
ty-six thousand, in round numbers, IN
1892. TO the splendid sum OF S2SS,OVO IN
round numbers I'm 1896 That the gen
oTal school fund was swelled from $29l,-
900 in 1892 to 1927 900 in 1886. That the
school fund from the sum of Sl5i.OVO in
1899 was increased to S26l, 900 in 1896. And
from a total in the treasury on the first
day Of October, 1882, of SiS2 900, there was
ON the first day OF October, 1896 the
magnificent sum uf $S27,0OO to the credit
OF the state. No state in this Union has
a more magnificent statement OF Its
financial affairs, and Il Is with pardon-
able pride that point to the conserving
OF the affairs Of the state WITHIN these
years.
j Will be pardoned for this array OF
figures, for in no other manner can
possibly show to the world the wonder
derful and uneXampled progress oil ms
state In 1892 we had total of AZ state
banks against 60 in 1896. The otal capi-
tai paid in 1892 was In round numbers
s2,47O.O00 as against S3,265,OOO in 1916 nm
Increase in five years OF over W per cent.
In 1882 the deposits subject to cheek IN
state banks were IN round numbers,
IS. S3l, 900 az against $iO,6O9OO In 1896, an
increase of more than q per cent, In
1891 the surplus fund was S626,OOO IN
round numbers. as against $9O3OOO IN
1896, an Increase OF nearly 72 per cent.
The real estate, furniture and fixtures OF
the state banks within the state an
creased from $4,000 In round numbers
In 1891, 10 the sum Of S96a,OOO in 1896 an
Increase In that time OF llS per cent.
| What state can show In the midst oil the
| falling times any such prosperity as mas
chung TO our hills and our vallcys2 WITH
| In two years not bank has failed wlthln
west Virginia. and the percentage oil
| failures within the state, with one eN.
| ccptlon. has been smaller than that OF
any state IN the Union. our taxes nave
| been reasonable. and our collections
have been careful.
In The department Of the schools our,
splendld progress H. also unprecedented
| in the work which has been done. I'he
| Trrpducible School Fund has been IN
| creased from S732 900 IN 1893 to SS3iOOo
| IN round numbers IN 1896, on Increase or
| SiOg. 600 In four years. within this tlme
| there hng been constructed the Normal
| School Building at Sngphurdstown NJ a
| cost OF $t49G3 IS; the building at Mar