The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-16

tlemen are doubtless familiar With tho
scope. plan and purpose Of the Expo.
sition. i viii not further take your time
in discussing the subject. except 10
say that IL is necessary that what.
ever Is done should be done without
delay. IN
State Board Of Trade.
The State Board Of Trade, organ.
lied less than three years ago, Will,
the Honorable George G. stnrgiss as
president. who was succeeded at the
last meeting OF the Board by the Hon.
orabIe Henry G. Davis, has done good
work ion behalf 5of this State, and
promises greater results in the flu.
tnre. 1t is the kind OF organization
long needed. It does not concern il.
self, I am glad to say. wholly with
things merely material, but is doing
the work,.or at least In part the work,
of civic Organization. At its last
meeting held in this city the discus.
sions took wide range, and were
practical and helpful. Committees
were appointed to consider a number
of steps. to draft bills for presentation
to the Legislature. and the like. Ev.
cry thoughtful citizen of this State
must have long wished for some such
an organization, where the enterpris.
ing and broad-minded citizens OF the
State would be brought together, ex.
change views, broaden their views,
and stimulate their patriotism. The
Ohio Chamber Of Commerce has been
of Immense benefit to the State OF
Ohio. It has initiated and brought to
a successful conclusion a number of
the best laws on the statute books OF
that State. 1t has interested itself
especially In the fundamental ques-
ton Of taxation, and generally In all
other problems connected with the
body polite and pressing for solution
The benefit OF such an organization
to this State can not well be estimat-
ed. Such an organization, Of course,
must have funds to carry on its work,
and think the work is SO important
that it ought not to depend upon the
chance of voluntary contributions
alone. therefore heartily recon-
mend that an appropriation be made
to further the work Of the Board, suf-
ficient at least to pay the salary of n
secretary. This would be a small
return for the benefit the State re-
ceives from the labors of this organl-
cation. AT It's session 1t considered
such important subjects. among 9th.
ers, rs the preservation of natural
gas, the regulation OF railroads, law
prevnting the sale of goods in bulk,
the jamestown Exposition. good roads,
the taxation of banks, the supervision
of insurance companies. and the pure
food law. This board is composed OF
tweuty-eight constituent bodies, be-
ing boards OF trade OF various munict.
pal corporations, representing every
section and every interest, and list
Of Its officers and members shows It's
representative capacity. It's sole OBJ
ject being the advancement and up
building Of the State. it would seem
to be an enterprise peculiarly entitled
to the consideration OF the Legisla.
ture.
Waste Of Natural Resorees.
.
i commend to your consideration
the remarks of DR.. T. G. White, the
State Geoiogfst, contained in the re.
port of the state Geological and Eco
nomic Survey, concerning the waste
of our natural resources Specially
important are his words as to the
great and criminal waste OF that all
most perfect fuel and lightgiying
mineral resource, natural gas. Had
not this subject been called to the at
tention of the last session OF the Leg.
islature by Governor White, the state.
ments of Dr. White would be astound-
ing. This is the fourth time DR.. White
has officially called attention to this
great waste. and which, as he says.
"still continues, both from direct es.
cape into the air from unplugged wells,
from oil wells, from leaking joints,
and from extravagant and wasteful
methods of utilizing the gas" More
over, he says. mot single line OF leg
.islation has yet been enacted to pre-.