Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-09-13
STATE HOUSE NEWS

Oue VI the moss remarkable things
in the charter business Is the large
number OF oil aud gas companies
that are Incorporated. on TWP GER
tain days during the present week
there were eight charters issued by
the secretary OF the state and OF this
number six were TO corporatins ON
powered q engage IN the oil and
gas business. 10 apparently is an in
dication that tho oil and gas bust
ness Is proving profitable. and also
that the state is fast increasing IT'S
output OF these two. Statistics show
that nearly all the gas as well as
the oil goes beyond the borders of
the state AS a matter OF fact
about nineteen-twentieths of ALI the
gas produced in this state goes out
OF the state, mostly TO PENNSYLVANIA
and Ohio, and Is fast building mn
centers in those states on what &c
secured from our own West Virgin
Ia. Pittsburg industries would suf-
Ter an incalculable loss were they
disconnected with the West Virginia
gas fields. and the same Is true or
Columbus. Cleveland, Detroit and
many other smaller cities in our
border states that are wonderruI
manufacturing centers, but which
get the fuel from our own soil Tho
nope OF making West Virginia man
utacturing state has been the fond
est dream of many OF the prosner.
Gus men We have. but slow progress
mas been made along that line from
the fact that too many legislators
nave not been able TO see n I'm tbe
same light Foreign companies have
come into the state and built nine
lines hundreds OF miles in length
and piPed the oil and gas TO distan,
/ points and there used Il TO mako
enormous profits while we have LET
II pass our very door without max
ing an effort to use n here uhoro
greater profits could be made he
cause the great expense OF transpor-
tation would be saved. There Is If
tie doubt but that our oil and gas
properties have contributed little or
nothing TO tive support OF the state
and while West Virginia rs husband
ing all this immenso wealth I'm be,.
soil, a a state is proRting little or
nothing by IT, At the same time
she Is enriching the border states
which are taking advantage 81 our
laXity. Only in recent years are we
doing anything I'm the lumber buei
ness, and as yet We have scared,
made start. Today the railroad
are doing an enormou3 business in
hauling rough lumber to New Eng
land TO be made into furniture and
then ship It back here for us to use
The question OF legislatlng West Vir-
sinia into manufacturing state has
been given much thought by onr
best thinkers. but as yet they have
not round solution OF the prob
lem that would meet with popular
approval. This may be due 70 the
fact that the average man is NOT
able to grasp such gigantic cues
lions that can only find its solution
IN the future. Too many are look
ing only for what the morrow will
bring forth and let those that follow
solve their own problems.
The department of schools reports
that there will be but about .5O0
examination papers to go over from
The last examination. While this Is
smaller than the department had OK
pected, II IS larger than has been
me custom for the last examination
IN the year. The teacher situation
Is better at this time than for some
years past. with good prospects of
all the schools being taught during
the regular school year. The in
crease in salaries. probably. had
more to do with the present condl-
lions than any other one thing
Many who relinquished teaching
when they could not get $50
month. and who az the same time
held No. certificate. have uttle
trouble now to get that much or
more. and I'm consequence more
teachers are going 10 remain teach
ers this year than has been the
custom for some years The situa-
ZION Is further improved by the large
number who sought 10 become teach
ers and received certificates Sal.
aries OF $5J and $50 per month
VIII Keep good and successful teach
ers in The business as educators
while lesser sum viii not. and tho
various school boards OF the tate
have learned this after having their
schools remain closed by failure TO
get the kind Of teachers they want
ed
State Treasurer Ogdin IS back at
his desk and is getting busy with
his campaign TO succeed himself. uD
appears 10 have little fear but thai
he will again be given the nomina-
ton and that 81 he gets that he is
conhdant Of reelection. The fraae-
urer has been spending some TIM
on his farm since his return from
jamestown where he looked after
The states exhibit for some time I'll
lowing The rofirou1cuf of yrfr.,r