The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-02
Great YEAR FOR
WEST VIRGINIA
THE STATES DEVELOPMENT HAS
BEEN MAGNIFICENT FOR PAST
TWELVE MONTHS.

West Virginia forged to the front
in industrial development 4 1906 at u
pace exceeding its fast gait In the
other years since Its marvellous de-
velopment period began. This was
true In all lines. With the possible ex-
ception Of the number OF corporations
chartered by the Secretary of State.
as compared. for instance to 1904,
which was probably the high water
mark year for that feature, says the
Wheeling Intelligencer.
Essentially a fuel State West vir-
ginia's coal production was immense.
How great will remain for the Official
figures to disclose. The output vas
limited solely to the extent Of the
capacity OF the railroads to furnish
needed cars, but at that 1906 will con-
siderabfy overcome the record output
of 3S.ooo.ooo for 1905.
At the beginning OF the year, 70 per
cent. Of the State was covered with
timber, but the activity in numbering
made a material reduction. The
boom in numbering has had its con-
dominant in the agitation for the pre-
%servation of the forests. This agita-
ton is designed, however, more
against the reckless burning of wool
lands, Just as the agitation to pre-
serve the natural gas is designed as
much to stop the criminal waste Of
gas by oil drillers as 1t Is to prohibit
the pumping of gas out Of the State.
In numbering the chief development
for the year was in Randolph county,
where many large tracts changed
hands, while in Nicholas, Webster and
Pocahontas, there was a great in.
rease in the amount OF timber cut.
The coal strike that afflicted Ohio,
Indiana, Pennsylvania and other coal
States was virtually of no effect in
West Virginia during the early sum
mer, when It para1yzed the coal trade
elsewhere. There was not trouble Of
consequence throughout the State dur
ing the year.
The outlook Is just as bright for
continued good business in all lines of
business activity and development. No
cloud is on the labor horizon AMI
trade conditions are in a condition
that promises uninterrupted handt-
j caps for an indefinite period.
Absolutely the only complaint is dl.
rected against the railroad for their
failure to keep pace with the demands
on them for transportation. On the
Baltimore C Ohio. the Chesapeake G
Ohio and the Coal & Coke, in particu-
lar, this complaint Is deep seated and
acute. The railroads e physically
unable to supply shippers with cars.
They have placed large orders from
time to time for more cars ana have
been lavish In their promises to salts
fy the demands made on them, but
the situation is no more improved than
1t was eight or twelve months ago.
The truth Of the matter is that the
development has exceeded the capac-
ity of the railroads to handle. West
Virginia is a large production State,
and 1t requires constant vigilance on
the part Of the railroads to supply suf-
ffcient delivery. Time was when the
railroads in West Virginia could
promptly supply shippers but that was
when West Virginia was an indus
trial infant. Now it is grown a giant
AMI 1t calls for vastly increased mo
tive power and thousands OF cars
where it used to require only dozens.