The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-04-12
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ARTICLES ON the STATE. PR

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ttizens and, like Isreal of old, We
eel that we arc truly - favored PEG.
,le.. !. 4. Z 3. e.
but, In the business world, with
The boundless RESOURCES which our
country possesses, development does
not happen by accident, nor do grea
results come in a day. The first step
in the Development Of our State came
when the people Of The territory west
of the. mountains broke away from
cid Virginia and set up In business
for themselves as the State Of West
Virginia, 1t is not necessary to dis:
cuss the causes leading up to this
crisis in the history Of our State, but
in looking about to discover what
influences have been potential in
brlngi. 6 about our present growth
and prosperity We are naturally led
10 our lightning as a State.
Without any intention Of disparage.
ment Of any Of the leaders who took
part in the establishment Of our state.
hood, | think It not only appropriate,
but Just, to state that In my opinion
TO no one influence were we much In.
dcbted for the success Of the move.
ment as TO the editor Of a newspaper,
Hon. a. ". Campbell. His paper was
the head ard front OF the agitation for
statehood. It's Inspiration, Its guide, It's
counsellor, its hulwark, Its leader. In
Editor Campbell, them an who never
held an Office" the man and the occa.
sion met. His work was incompatible,
his purpose inflexible, his vision clear,
his advice sound and his spirit and
leadership unconQuerable. It may tru.
ly be said that one newspaper and Its
fearless editor made West Virginia
possible and never was the "power
of The pressr more wisely exhibited
and the results more slorlously acbley.
ed. The Wheeling Intelligencer under
the editorship Of Mr.. Campbell did
a work for West Virginia that will
abide for all time.
These thoughts lead me 10 say
something, though inadequate, con.
corning its influence In the State
growth and development which Is too
often overlooked and too little appre'
ciatcd. This anniversary issue of-thc
Pennsboro News, one Of the brightest
and best Of our county weekles, Is It.
SCH " "iie .A"'''p's " '''"t ""'e"
''m now 10 u'se"ss'
The development Of West Virginia
In the sixties and seventies naturally
cahie very slowly, following the raw.
ages and reaction OF war IN a "bor.
der State and the tide Of immigrd.
lion 10 the great west and northwest
poured past our hills and valleys
Without n look. Wheeling was our
only city; Huntington was In embryo
and jusi startling In the early seven.
ties; Charleston was a small town.
Prkcrsburg had up TO 1850 less than
six thousand inhabitants, and our
other principal towns were small. The
policy OF the Baltimore and Ohio rail.
road our only Translate trunk line.
In tLosc days was repressive Of local
development.
VtSi v,rr,,,, on,oro, lilo o,,,.,.,
more honofuuv h,t stu, ;,o.o,,s.,,..,,
came slowly Al, over Tho s,.ta ,hor.
had been nj wort for so,,o roors ,n,
in tho cipbt;cs they brcomo mor. mn,
mcrms. an influence Tim, ho,or ;,
reach out and be felt IN tho op,s,dc
w,;sl-the local newspsncrs wc,,
Virginia Inns bcen sIn.ularlv fortunate
in the character and abj,;ty Of It's
ncwspa. els for the nest twcntv.f,vc
or more years, The State r,as dome III.
tie by 'ts laws to encourage them ye,
no State has owed more IN their amor
nriSo and ovrtoi,ottor =, to c..
natural resources. The seed sown
for many years in special. Industrial,
irnce editions. in the 4aily and weekly
mentinu rp nnd hnrnlI,uy oF Tho n,I