The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-24
A Good state to Live In.

The address of Governor Atkinson
before the State Editorial Association,
in session at Parkersburg, on West
yIrginia's present and prospective pos
slbIltles and the work Of the press
In the development and history of tho
state, should be read by every young
man who is about to devote his energies
and apply his wisdom to his life work.
It has not been so many years ago
that young men were leaving West
Virginia for the west for the purpose
OF lettering their condition. They did
not know at the time that they stepped
from the door of opportunity into a
lane of Indifferent results. The young
man Of to-day knows better. Here at
home he has all the opportunity he de-
sires, for rewards are sure to come to
those who apply themselves diligently.
The development of West Virginia in
the past few years. as outlined by Gov
ernor Atkinson, reads like a fairy tale,
but 1t is nothing more than the present
alton of the plainest facts. We have
made the most wonderful strides. and
the whole country is looking on with
admiring awe, astounded at what has
been done and wondering at the limit Of
our possibilities.
The closing sentences Of the govern
or's speech are worthy of recital at
school exhibitions, and his entire adj
dress should be in the hands OF every
pupil in our public schools throughout
the state, as it contains more informa-
ton about the physical, Industrial and
social conditions of the commonwealth
than is found in all the Biographies and
text books ever written. 1t is insplra-
tional as'well as educational. The gov
errors peroration was eloquent, and
what is best of all, eminently truthful,
and we therefore reprint 1t. The gov
ernor said:
Mr.. President, we have In the Noun
ain State no malaria, no graSshoppers.
no mosquitoes, no razor backed hogs, no
cyclones, no deep SHOWS. no long win
tiers, no glaciers, and panthers and
bears and wolves and foxes are rapidly
going, and are well nigh gone. We
have no state debt: taxes are reasona-
bic :churches are furnishing; our
schools are us good as the best: we have
over million population: upwards Of
n million dollars in our treasury, and
yet we have but fairly started into bus
mess Talk about West Virginia, my
brothers, she Is to-day the rush-lIght
of the republic. She is the coming COM
monwealth OF the continent. Sha is the
hub of the universe in natural wealth.
She is the flag ship in the procession
of progress She is the wonder Of the
century, and is the favored state for
young men TO live in and for old men
to die in. She is the Eldorado Of the
coming century. Her coal fields are
richer than the gold mines Of the Trans
vaal Her timber Is taller than the &C.
dars of Lebanon. and her oil pools are
more valuable than the gems of Col
conda or the silver Of the Klonlikc. We
have the watermelon and the pome-
granate and the grape. We have the
milk, the honey and the peach. We
have tall men, sun-crowned and
brawned and brave. and the prettiest,
happiest, sweetest women beneath the
stars. Our rock-rIbbeG mountains
tower in the sunlight. and catch the
first rays OF the rising and the last rays
of the setting sun. Our valleys are
as charming as Scotllnd's wales. and
our water is as llmpid as the fountain
OF Treve. at Rome, and he who tastes OF
II will return again.