Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-06-26
A STATES PROGRESS.
SENATOR SCOTT TALKS OF
WEST VIRGINIA.
Remarkable Increase of Prosperity
Under Mckinley Administration
Coal, Oil and Lumber Industries Are
Active-More Money In the Banks.

Coal, Oil and Lumbe Industries Are
Active-More Money In the Banks.
"West Virginia came into the Repub-
lican column in 1892, when it gave
President Harrison plurality Of All
votes" said United States Senator Ma
than B. Scott, a member of the execu-
tive committee Of the Republican ma
tional committee. ''We followed this
up with a plurality of II, 4S7 for Pres
ident Mckinley in 1896. This year we
expect that West Virginia will give
President Mckinley a plurality of 30
900 votes.
Our State is growing steadily every
year as a manufacturing State. Our
big industries are those of iron and
steel, tin plate and lumber. We make
considerable pottery and glassware,
have many textile mills, and manufac-
ture to a certain extent many OF the
goods that enter into daily consump-
ton. That these industries have I'M
proved under the administration OF
President Mckinley goes without say
ing, and the people know the reason
why.
Coal Is probably the largest pro-
duct of West Virginia. In 1895 we
mined 100000 tons; last year cur
output was 1S,75O.OOO tons. The in
creased demand was caused by the bet
ter times. 1t gave employment to near
1y 1000 more men. Not only that,
miners worked in 1895 only 195 days.
Last year they were busy nearly every
working day. With a large output from
our coal mines. with activity in our
lumber mills, the demand for the pro-
ducts Of our farms and OF our factories
has increased considerably.
West Virginia farmers grow diversi-
fed crops Our oil belt Is another
source Of profit to the State. Five years
ago we only produced eight million
gallons of oil; last year upwards Of
twelve million gallons. We are pump
ing oil in enormous quantities, and
there is no sign of the supply decreas-
ing. Wool Is one farm product from
which our people have learned some
thing. In 1856 all the sheep in West
Virginia were worth less than $500, 900.
Since then their value has increased
so per cent, while the wool Is selling
at 100 per cent more than 1t brought
while Prof. Wilson's theoretical free
trade tariff was experimenting with
the country at the expense of nearly
every industry, whether of farm or
Go1J IN t1a TTpitod
"You must remember that West Vir-
ginia has a population Of but 1000
900 people, and we do not claim to do
big things. Still our farmers can look
with satisfaction at the value Of their
live stock. which has increased by
nearly S5,OOO,OOO since 1896; also at the
amount Of money on deposit in the
banks Of our State, which has increas-
ed from S5,OO0,0OO on July 10, 1894, to
$10,000OOO on June 80, 1898. The in
crease in the number Of depositors has
been equally gratifying. from 1928 in
1894 up to 81 900 last year. With these
facts of gain in the wealth Of our State
there has been a corresponding de-
crease in the number Of business fall
ures. The liabilities of those who were
in trouble in 1896 were nearly 100000.
Last year they were only $250,OOO. Our
people, too, appreciate the feature of
the gold standard law, which simpli-
f1es their currency. They realize the
difference between the adminiStra ton
Of the national finances under Presi-
dent Mckinley when they compare
them with the mismanageme under
President Cleveland. Then we were
borrowing money. from Europe at
whatever rate of interest the foreign
ers chose to make us pay, while during
the last year we have been loaning
money to Europe, and still have more
that we can spare to send there should
1t be needed.
''The State of West Virginia is in
small way but the reflection of the con-
ditions IN all of the other States Of the
Union. If the people everywhere
would but vote according to their
sound thought and better judgment,
then President Mckinley would be re-
elected by reclamation in the electoral
college, just as he will be renominated
by reclamation in Philadelphia.
The Peoples Wealth.