Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-04
ADDRESS o. GOV. ATKINSON
ro M pNLIvERED AT CHARLESTON
TO-DAY, PRIOR TO THE
INAUGURATION.
REVIEWED BY THE RETIRING Gov
ERNOR-A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN
OF THE MOUNTAINS.

Special to the Register.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, March A.
The following copy of the pre-inaugur-
al address to be delivered tomorrow by
retiring Governor G.. w. Atkinson has
been sent out by the Governors private
secretary:
NY Fellow Citizens of West Virginia.:
In retiring from a four-years term
as the Chief Executive officer of the
State, 1 beg your indulgence in offering
a few general remarks, before I in
troduce to you my successor in Of
fee.
Under our constitution it is the duty
of the Governor to see that all OF the
laws of the State are properly en-
forced; and yet, as a matter of fact,
he possesses but little absolute power
over matters of government. You will
not be advised, therefore, of what /
have personally done during the admin
istration just closed, as what the oo-
serving of you have seen done by the
official establishment of the State.
That West Virginia has grown, all
most marvelously, during the past
quadrennium, no one will question. We
have seen our output of carbon oil
reach nearly twenty million barrels in
the year Of 1900, giving us first place
In that production of all the States.
We have grown to second place in the
production of coke, and the increase
In the coal mined in 1900 over 1896 is
greater than the entire production of
the State in 1890. Our output of coke
in 1900 was 2,496, 107 tons-an increase
of SIG per cent. over 1897, and our
output of coal in 1900 was %, 1000, 900
tons, an increase of 61.3 per cent. over
1897. We are now third-and will be
second within a year or two-of all the
coal producing States of the Union.
In the lumber industry we have made
equally rapid strides in development.
While in agricultural growth, we have
surprised ourselves, as well as others
outside Of the State, who have taken
notice of us. Our West Virginia hills
and wales are fertile, the climate is
good, and our farmers rare coming
steadily to the front. Taxes are reas-
onably low, and we have conscien-
tiously and rigidly enforced u laws,
and withal we have been just to all
concerned.
We have expended on public build
ings and public Improvements upwards
of a half million dollars more money
during the past four years, than dur
ing any preceding q~uadrennium, with
out increasing the rate Of taxation,
and have more money in the treasury
than ever before at this season Of the
year, and all bills against the State
have been paid and nc debts incurred.
Mountaineers always love liberty.
Our West Virginia people are, there
fore, specially devoted to freedom.
Love of country, next to love OF home.
is the sheet-anchor of society. A peo-
pie established in patriotism are strong
individually, and when associated for
political purposes, suggest great pos
sibilities. Patriotism has figured con-
spicuously in setting the standard of
West Virginia character. 1t is a fact
worthy of note that our sturdy West
Virginians stubborniy refused to be
dragged into a rebellion against the
flag, and what is now the territory of
this State always remained loyal to the
Union. Happily, our school children
are taught the lives and characters of
the %country's founders and defenders,
and that purity, principle and justice
may continue to predominant in the
affairs of the State. The study of the
careers of Washington and Lincoln
should be kept up, until the deeds of
their noble lives are reflected in the
conduct of coming generations. The
American flag should float above every
school house, and our children should