The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-22
west Virginia Booming.

There is no state In the union that
has such a bright outlook for the fu-
ture as West Virginia. She has made
wonderful strides in development in the
past ten years, but that progress will
be Immensely outstrlpped by the adj
yancement the state is bound to make
in the coming years. She is now first
in oil production, third in coal, and has
made a remarkable showing in the
manufacture of coke. the total output
Of that product last year footing up
nearly two million tons. Operations in
this line are becoming exceedingly
brisk. Large tracts Of coal land are
being purchased every week, and when
spring sets in a number Of new mines
Will be opened and many new coke
plants erected. Speaking of the actlv.
ity in this state, the ConnellsvIlle Cour-
Ter states that 1.-THE Boomer Coal &
Coke Company has Just Installed ten
ton electric motor for interior haulage
at Hardwood and has plans for the
building OF fifty beehive coke ovens.
Patrick BIlllet, of Knoxville, Tenn, has
sold out his Dorchester property to
Philadelphia capitalists, and 1t is re-
ported that the latter VIII erect large
coke oven plant thereon.
The American Coal & Coke Company
of Fairmont has recently acquired 5000
acres of coal on Bingamon creek and
nearby streams This vast territory
does not touch any railroad and road
must be bunt to secure means Of trans
portatIon. A survey was made some
time ago from the mouth Of BIngamon
creek through Marion and wetzel coun-
ties to Fishing creek. If built the road
will connect with the Monongahela
River Railroad at Enterprise and the
West Virginia Short Line at smithheld.
The length OF the road would be about
twenty-five miles and through a very
rich farming country"
Hand In hand with these investments,
the inpouring Of foreign capital, goes
the extension of present railroad lines
and the building Of new ones. The
Elkins-Davls railroad interests are
stretching out and will enlarge their
field by connection with the Greenbrler
river road. The Coal river valley Will
be opened by the construction Of the
Pocahontas, Coal River & Kanawha
Railroad. which is to be constructed
from st. Adams, W. Va, where 1t will
connect with the Chesapeake & Ohio
system, to point twenty miles distant.
In letter TO the Manufacturers Rec
ord General c. C. Watts. OF Charleston.
w. Va, president OF the railroad COM
pany, writes that the Equitable Com
struction Company has been formed to
build the distance mentioned, and has
already begun work. Mr.. Watts states
that the building Of this line will cause
the opening OF several mines of what
Is known ms the BLACK Band" coal, and
that several lumber companies will es-
tabllsh plants also In this portion Of the
state. New York capitalists are re-
ported as interested in the development
OF the coal properties.
on the heels Of this comes the an
nouncemen; of the projected railroad
from Parkersburg to the coal fields of
Clay. Nicholas and Braxton counties.
The proposed railroad begins on the
Ohio river short distance above Will
Iamstown in Wood county and runs
thence by the way Of Parkersburg up
the Little Khnawha river to the mouth
pf Reedy; thence up Reedy 10 Spencer
In Ronno county; thence from Spencer
10 the town Of Newton; and thence
probably by the way Of Rogers Fork
over the divide to the vl'ors NJ Elk,
where 1t 10 hoped to form TIC Junction