The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-05-29
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in harvest for years to come. With
nearly every square foot of land in Har-
riscn county, as well rs . great portion
of Marion county, under lease with the
quarterly rentals coming in regularly as
the dates they are due come, the real
greatness Of the future of the county has
scarcely tegun, and. the agriculturalists
of the county are destined to line on
easy street. Many of these have al
ready sufficiently enjoyed those changes
as. to be able to move to the metropolis
of their respective counties and live in
luxury the balance of their days and rear
them families and educate them under
the influences of city life, if that. may
be better than the wholesome atmos.
phere of q rural neighborhood, a ques-
tion we very much doubt. Hundreds OF
thousands of dollars are paid out yearly
not only to labor, but to the property
owners by the oil and gas companies
which have been operating in these two
counties. The day has long since gone
when the farmers of these two counties
have to rake and scrape to get the
wherewithal with which to pay their
taxes. They are really on easy street
and about their only complaint is that
there is SO much labor to be done in
other lines at wages higher than is Gus.
t9'nary in farming. that there Is scare
ity of labor both annoying and hamper
ing TO them. Where they would employ
labor to conduct their farms, they find
themselves confronting a proposition,
namely, that, 81 they till the soil and
harvest the grasses, they must do II
themselves. But they do better now
without the wearing out of their lands
than when they found It necessary to
toll from early morn to the late hour.
OF night.
Commercial lines are just as active as
the industrial, upon which they depend,
for without industry there could be no
commerce. Production first and consump-
ton second is well-tixed principle in
the existence Of human society. The
magnificent industrial activity of the
central part of the state has resulted
in the founding of immense and active
commercial concerns. These do mar
Vicious business, really of such gigantic
proportions that there is only faint
conception of its real stupcndous magni
tude. As a natural result. large sums
of money are paid out by them to la
Dor, both skilled and ordinary. This il
another astounding change from that of
ten years ago. The day was, and not so
very long ago, when the pay rolls OF
these concerns were of little real CON
sequence. They employed but few men
and gave them only very ordinary
wage. Today they employ thousands and
pay them double and treble that of ten
years ago.
Again, the spirit of the people to take
hold of great undertakings and carry
them to successful end. such a. was Civ
en- birth by some OF the prime movers
in the development Of the valley along
the river. is conspicuous and attracts
the attention of the world, which. even
the present generation. once knew them
only rs seng.diggcrs and the piclsers OF
berries for circus-day money. Wonder
full Is the change in this respect and COM
mendablc. indeed, the spirit. What the
infinite greatness it win accomplish
within another ten years only the super
natural intellect can foretell.
With all these splendid conditions.
there is more real peace and prosperity
Astounding in the section than was ever
known. The people are happier and
more content than in all their lives be-
fore. The disturber has no place among
them; he receives not even formal vel
come, and his position is one of hnmiliat-
ing isolation. The man who is inclined
10 create discomfort and bring on state
OF inactivity is soon in full realization
that his designs are vain and will end
only in barrenness.
All in all, the central part of West
Virginia. especially Harrison and Marion
counties. should be proud of the situa-
tion and hopeful of the future.