The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-06-27
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 Lumber Industries Are
Active-More Money in the Banks.
"West Virginia came into the Repub-
lican column in 1892, when 1t gave
President Harrison plurality Of 4,41l
votes said United States Senator Ma
than g. Scott, member of the execu-
tive committee of the Republican ma
tional committee. eve followed this
up with plurality of 11,4S7 for Pres
ident Mckinley in 1896. This year we
expect that West Virginia will give
President Mckinley a plurality of 90
900 votes.
"Our State Is growing steadily every
year as a manufacturing State. Our
big industries are those of iron ana
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 or
President Mckinley goes without say
ing, and the people know the reason
why.
Goal is probably the largest pro-
duct of West Virginia. In 1895 we
mined 100000 tons; last year our
output was 1S,75O,OO0 tons. The in
creased demand was caused by the bet
ter times. 1t gave employment to near
ly 1900 more men. Not only that,
miners worked in 1895 only 1915 days.
Last year they were busy nearly every
working day. With 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 1896 all the sheep in West
Virginia were worth less than 100000.
Since then their value has increased
so per cent, while the wool is selling
at 100 per cent more than it 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
field, in the United States.
"You must remember that West Vir-
ginia has a population of but 1,OOO.-
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 $5,OOO,OOO since 1896; also at the
amount Of money on deposit in the
banks Of our State, which has increas-
ed from $5,O0O,000 on July Is, 1894, to
$1O,00O,OOO on June 80, 1899. The in
crease in the number of depositors has
been equally gratifying, from 16,2S8 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 fail
ures. The liabilities of those who We're
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-
fies their currency. They realize the
difference between the administration
of the national finances under Fresi-
dent Mckinley when they compare
them with the mismanagement 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 a
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.