The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1906-06-29
Resources of Kentucky.

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Resources of Kentucky.
The subjoined article FROM the Man
Record makes timely and
reading ;or Kentuckinns,
particularly Dor us Of the Eastern
section;
RICH IN NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
This State, so rich in Natural adj
vantages, so ahundantly supplied with
resources out Of which to create vast
railroad traffic, has now but enc
mile OF railroad for each of its twelve
square miles OF territory, and IT'S
possibilities IN that particular are
indicated by the fact that Massachu-
seus mas one mile Of railroad for less
than four square mile, Of territory,
ana the New England States rs a
whole. with a combined area 80 per
cent greater than thAt OF Kentucky,
have more than twice It's railroad
mileage. or one mile 81 railroad iar
each eight square miles Of territory.
There IS no reason IN nature why
Kentucky should oct equal Massaehu-
setts railroad mileage as compared
with It's area. When that equality
shall exist, Kentucky should be able
10 surrass Massachusetts In manufac-
turing. agriculture ana welith, be-
cause Kentucky pc e'sss advantages
as to the. material 70 be developed
Into wealth through industry which
Massachusetts, utterly lacks.
While there has beaA a marked
Improvement in the Industrial devei-
opment Of the State during the last
five years, the record Of the uweniy
years from 1850 to 1900 is hardly
commensurate with the natural re-
.5urcss Of the State. The figures
for these two years, 1908 and 1900
are as follows:
1850. 1900.
Establishments 5,32S 1866
Capital ...... si5,SiS.OS9 slOi.O7O,7s
Wage earners.. 1891 1896.
Wages -. s1i.657,Sil s 22.lS4,1si
Products 49,. 75,4sS,S77 l54lG6.sG.
Population 49,. l,GIS,G9O 2,ii517
Kentucky has been blessed to AZ
unusual extent IN the abundance ant
variety of It's resoIrces In its Goa
and timber and Other raw ma,eriali
It has the foundation for great man
ufacmring interests, and in its fer
tile soil II has the eambihty Of pro
viding an ample food supply for
great industrial population. In mi
combination of soil Of exceptiona
fertility and a great mineral and i'm
I Der wealth II holds an exceedingl,
strong strategic position.
:, A GREAT COAL AREA.
It has coal area Of 1880 squar
miles, greater by 6.OOO square mile
than the coal area OF Great Brita.1
but while Great Britain is annnnll
mining 3GO.OOO,OOO tons Of eCal, Ken
lucky Is mining only 775O,COO tons
The larger part Of the coal measure
lie in eastern portion Of the State
where the conditions, such rs natura
!. drainage and case of drift mining
= give to that section advantages pron
7 ably not surpassed elsewhere in tn
: country, and where Goals of the fines
( etelm and coking qualities are foam
D In vast abundance. The coal meas
: ures in the western part of the Stat
i. cover about 5000 square miles.
Z Throughout the coal regions of IN
y State there is increased activity II
: railroad building and in mining opel
2 atlons. This is especially true In N
e southeastern portion, where vas
d stretch of country Icing shut out froi
connection with the outsite world
: being opened up by new railroa
n lines. The extension Of the Chesa
+ peake and Ohio into the Elkhorn col
y fields, where ooking coal equnlir
e Conaelisville and by some regardt
/ as superior, will be followed by gre
n mining operations In that territor-
IS relching through this Chesapeake al
|, Ohio branch the lake regions and Il
!, cities of the West.
a other roads heading from the A
d lantlc coast through the Carolnas
h the Breaks of the Big Sandy and
J. other points in the same territoi
@ will give Eastern outlets And so Y
:; may look for mining development
n SoutheaStern Kentucky somewh
u commensurate with the almost baun
~ les wealth of high-gade coal In tn
,,..ssz..S!st. Ls-sds d. e. - -ssee- - lrci
J. work under way, another means
,r transportation for this field will
vi nrovi,ed Through the imprOypmpnt