The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-05-29
'MERR-IMAN,S GOODS
cLARKsBURG TELEGRAM.
Friday, May %, 1908.

CLARKSBURG TELE9RAM, q,
Friday, May %, 1908.
our GRAND, GLORIOUS PROGRESS.
This is pay day with two of the most
important industrial concerns in the
'aGonongahela valley between this city
and Fairmont In the neighborhood Of
two hundred thousand dollars was paid
out to the laboring classes in the en-
ploy OF the two concerns. In addition
30 this large amount great sum of
money was expended by other concerns,
commercial and industrial.
This splendid situation is worthy of
special mention, owing to the fact that,
while every one knows that much money
Is being spent in the development of the
resources in and around Clarksburg and
In the Monongahela valley. yet NO one
has more than general cSpceptipn of
che stupendous amount. The idea pre-
walls that the Industries of the section
result in good-sized pay roll, but only
. few really consider it SO great.
The change in the times is scarcely
conceived by the average reader. For
eetful of what the conditions were not
more than decade ago, he little ap-.
preciates the rapid strides which have
been made since then, or being acquaint-
ed with them, he thinks but little about
chem. since they have beer, OF gradual
nature and of an every day occurrence.
Accustomed to see the advance day by
day, he really fails to appreciate the real
graudem and greatness of that progress,
and dismisses every new venture with
the kpewiedge for the time being that
another industrial or commercial stride
has been taken. Busy at the trade. pro-
fessiVn or avocation he follows, he fails
70 realize or gain proper conception of
the true greatness of the country. He
negiects to study conditions sufficiently
to become acute to the fact that Clarks-
burg, Fairmont. and Harrison and Ma
rion counties, and the Monongahela in
particular, between these two modern
and active cities. constitute one of the
most magnificent and powerful industrial
regions in the United States, and yet
such Is the case. He knows that the
section ia great. hnt has only an abstract
conception of it. The situation, however.
i. different with men who are identified
with the great industries, men whose
talents, time, energy and means are max
ing the counties mentioned what they
are. Familiar with the vast operations
going on, they have nm intelligent ap-
preciation of the conditions as they nc
tually exist. venturesome and almost
without prospect of just reward. they
risked their MI ten or twelve years ago
IN incipient development of the NATURAL
resources OF the valley. little knowing
At what moment it would he their lot
to go to the wall financially. But with
an extraordinary foresight, almost super
natural. they believed in the future
greatness Of the valley and central West
Virginia and bravely took the step
which was 10 result IN fewer years than
one would naturally expect in marvellous
0-NCtoPultbt " NiAt iMO cOdhtts'.
was movement which has brought the
uroroteTs fair reward and splendid
livelihood TO thousands upon thousands
OF honest, worthy toi!ers. 1t was thc
beginning Of new towns and the pres
ent extensive population of both Harri-
SON and Marion county. Possibly. not in
the history OF this section has there oc-
CURED such an important movement. un-
less il be the construction of the BAL
timore Ohio railroad and its various
divisions.
But that is not the only thing that has
figured in the advancement Of the two
great cities in West Virginia and the
great and wealthy counties. Of which
they are the county seats. The railroad
building and operation have brought
about splendid results along the line Of
advancement. True, in most instances
the building of the roads depended upon
the step taken TO develop the minerals
and timber OF the two counties. which.
Of course. could not have been under
taken. II il had not been for the opera
tons Of the railroads. Again the deyel-
opment Of the oil and gas lands in this
section was another important stimulus
n the industrial circles, and untold bcnc-