The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-10
IGL ASS MAKING IN
WEST VIRGINIA
The Industry Has TrebIed in That
State During Past Year.
DEVELOPMENT OF COAL LAND
Many Millions of Dollars Being Invested In
|, Mineral Properties in Virginia, West vir-
GINA and Astonishing the
Power OF Piedmont Streams.
.DEYELo PMENT OF COAL LAND
.- -
I (specia, Dispatch to, he Times.)

Especial Dispatch to, he Times.)
s BALTIMORE, January 9.-Dur-.
Ing the past week the press Of
6 leading Southern ciucs have INDUCED in
congratulatory comments upon TIE pro-
gress OF their respective communities in
the fiscal year just ended, and have re-
Elected in figures of increased bank
clearings, expanding building operations
and growing industries an exceedingly
healthy condition OF affairs in the South
from the Potomac to the Rio Grande.
The year has been a notable one in many
respects, and especially for the uncover
ing of new resources in the South for
the rise Of industries about the great
storehouses of coal, iron, lumber and
phosphaIes, oil and natural gas. In West
Virginia, for Instance, the business Of
the manufacture of glass trebled in
1901, and in this weeks Manufacturers
Record, State Labor Commissioner Bar
ton. of Wheeling, is quoted on this point
as follows:
There is an exodus of glass manufae-
turers and workers from the Indiana
glass belt to the cheap fuel fields Of
West Virginia. 1 never In many years
experience, noticed such a boom in any
one line Of manufacturers. AS an evil
dence Of the unparalleled activity of the
glass trade in West Virginia. will men
ton the fact that in one line, window
whereas twelve months ago we had not
one. Cameron has a plant. Morgantown
one, Clarksburg two, and there is one
each at SiStersville, Warrington and
Huntington. l have information that
others are contemplated. In the other
departments of glass manufacture, great
Strides have been made Many Indiana
men are arranging to establish plants
here, They are driven out Of the West
ern gas belt by lack Of gas. Coal In the
furnaces is expensive and oil much moro
so. Thousands OF inquiries have been
received by West Virginia glass COM
panies from Indiana workmen wanting
positions here. These indicate the trend
of matters.
STEAD ADVANCE.
Whatever the difficulties may be north
Of the Ohio in regard to the cost of fuel,
they are not likely to extend to the
greater portion of the South as soon as
the extensive plans for the marketing of
fuel oil from the Texas fields and from
other fields in the Gulf States, yet to be
developed, have been perfected. The de-
rand for tank cars, tank barges and
piping from that quarter has steadily
advanced, while arrangements are under
way for opening markets for the wuel
In industrial centers already established
as well as upon. sugar and rise planta-
tons, while the suggestion that the oil
might be employed right at the wells in
the generation Of electrical energy by an
adaptation OF the methods which have
turned Niagara Falls into q source of
tremendous power for distribution over
a. wide area,.Sis. being given serious
thought by men best able to put It into
practical effect.
In the meantime progress has been
made in making available as creators Of
industrial energy the streams of the Pied
mont south from Virginia to Alabama,
while the growing conviction of the value
Of these streams from manufacturing
standpoint is demonstrated by the unan-
imous and hearty support by the States
most directly interested in the project
for great national forest reservation In
the Appalachian Mountains at the head
waters Of streams flowing toward the
Ohio, the Mississippi, the Gulf and the
Atlantic Ocean.
3isAs COAL DEVELOPMENT.
All, of these projects have not d.
minlsed the development of the coal
mines in the Virginias. Tennes-
see, Alabama, Kentucky and the Indian
Territory. The United States Steel Cor
poration announces that a subsidiary
company will at once build not less than
5000 coke ovens in the Pocahontas field.
which means the development of that dis
trict on still larger scale than has yet
been seen, while negotiations are pending
for the consolidation of the New River
district coal and coke plants and for the
purchase of number of large tracts Of
coal lands in Virginia and West Virginia
for some of the other great operators OF
the country. The coal developments in
these two States, but especially in West
Virginia, represent investments that ag-
gregate many millions Of dollars. In
Alabama the demand for coal property
is also growing rapidly, and many plans
are maturing for enlarged operations in
that State. In fact, the whole coal ter
ritory Of the South is witnessing greater
activity than ever before, and yet the
demand for coal exceeds the output. thus
making most opportune the great fuel
oil development of Texas. which must
materially accelerate the worlds indus
trial advance, without lessening the ag-
gregate consumption Of coal.