The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1907-07-05

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into the possession of the West vir-
ginia archiyist and historian. Profess
sor Lewis, and has been shipped to
the jamestown exposition. 1t Is the
best and most complete of its kind
in existence and will lend much to the
attractiveness of the history exhibit
OF West Virginia, as the patriotic
owner intends.
Ill
To represent her most impo tant
industry the state OF West Virginia
has erected at the jamestown EXPOSE
ton one OF the most original monu-
ments ever seen in the world. 1t is
constructed OF coal shipped from the
mines of the Little Mountain State
and consists of nineteen seams placed
geclogically. representative of the
different strata which make West
Virginia the second coal producing
state in the Union.
This coal column occupies a COM
manding position along the water
front near the West Virginia state
building. 1t is 1879 feet high. 16 feet
square at the base and 10 feet square
at the top. The work of engineering
Is said to have been one OF the most
difficult of the entire exposition. Neil
Robinson, Of Charleston, W. Va, was
the contractor. OF the states appro-
priation but $1,000 was provided for
the coal monument, and as this fea-
ture developed into a structure cost
ing nearly $4,000 the members OF the
commission acted as guarantors Of
the additional amount until it was
assumed by the railroads
-Four hundred tons of coal were
used in its construction. The entire
weight OF the tower is 700 tons 1t
is outlined with strings of electric
lights. gigantic searchlight crowns
the apex, the whole forming a land
mark by. day and beacon by night
The illumination is visible across the
roads. up the bay and. even far out
at sea THIS monument was dedicated
July 2, West Virginia day.
III
Former Secretary John G. Carlisle
has been in conference with Gov.
Dawson. Of West Virginia, Attorney
General May and other officials OF
that State, upon the subject OF the
answer TO be made to the United
States Supreme Court in the matter
cf the debt settlement between vir-
ginia and West Virginia There is a
question Of some s25.OOO,OOO to s4O,-
100000 in issue between the two
Commonwealth The Supreme Court
at its last sitting, oyerruled the de-
murrer Of West Virginia in the case
AT bar, with privilege to make reply
at the October term of court The
conference had to do with the pre-
liminaries Of the answer to be made.
Washington being selected as the
meeting place for the conference on
account Of this city's accessibility and
other attractions. As the conference
was entirely preliminary no statement
OF interest to the public was given
out.
This case promises to be one OF the
celebrated law suits OF the times.
When West Virginia was separated
from the Old Dominion, it is alleged
that a provision was made that the
new State should bear a proportion
Of the State debt. There is a squab-
BILE now over the settlement The
demurrer OF West Virginia, recently
overruled by the United States Su-
preme Court, was very spirited doc
ument, in the course OF which the
suggestion was made that perhaps the
Supreme Court could not make West
Virginia pay anyhow. Whereupon the
court mildly intimated that the Ques-
ton of its power TO enforce judg-
ment would be treated when the occa-
sion should arise. In the meanwhile,
West Virginia will have opportunity
10 make another showing in court.
II is said that II West Virginia should
be cast for the proportion of the debt
IL would be heavy obligation on
the State. An Interesting bit Of Cos
sip in this connection is the state
ment that some years ago bill was
offered in the Legislature providing
for the funding OF the outstanding
liability at a low figure. but the bill
was beaten and the man who Offered
IL was defeated alse. II the State is
now held to accountability the pro-
portion will be much larger
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