The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-07-04

: Wisd en- 20 81 hts q projectors could Z not
be etpected: IS But soon the iethargyt
z which had so marked the early his ,.
torytof the territory embraced within
ns limits gave way to the new spirit, ,
and the land which so long lay as Il
were asleep became aroused and a
Hyigor manifested itself that gave pro-
mise, since well justified, for the
future. 49, ,.,... - .....-1T
And now West Virginia has come
TO her own; her lands are, demon
strattng their value; her resources,
the existence OF which was more
IMAM suspected a century ago, but
the immensely of which is now only
i beginning to be appreciated, are :
I speaking for themselves. The whole
country Is partaking Of the warmth
that comes from the fuel that the
ages have stored in her hills; and
her. flowing wells are furnishing
power Tor the worlds activities and
light for cities and towns, for homes
\ and shops. And these do not tell
I all her greatness, which is develop
Ing in many. other directions. What
] ever may have retarded the growth
| or the country we are considering.
the causes Of thereof have disappear
ed; and the long-overlooked wealth
or this commonwealth is being
| brought to =, the attention OF the
world. Can we say that the progress
| Of the future is to be less marked
than in the recent past? Her peo-
| pie are three times as numerous as
when she entered the Union Already
her railroad system has an extent,
whether measured by area or by
| population, that is greater than that
IN most OF her sister states, and vet
IT. has by no means reached a limit.
Doubled as 1t has been in Is years.
which Is true Of only one other state.
newly projected lines of much pro-.
mise are to bring her nearer and
| nearer to the markets Of the world
SO that she may be able to supply
furnish so readily and cheaply as
any other state or province in the
| Thus has this once neglected but
| delightful region become one Of the
great commemorative Of the repub-
| TIC, Her area ia limited, 1T is true;
but we do not need to look far to
| realize that vast territorial extent Is
not essential to greatness We see
| another Of our commonwealth little
! beside this smallest Of all in the
south, and with a harsher climate
| and less fertile soil, holding a lead
."
recognizes. There yet-anether 1
still more diminutive, and with no
better soil or climate, furnishing the
world, with its timekeepers as we'll
| as supplying many other Of It's needs.
| Moreover, they and others like them
! are supplying from the savings Of
| their wage-earners the moneys that
propel vast undertakings.
1t has been said that the land
| which has the best of the earth's
| products, where are to be found the
best men and women, Is that where
| frost and thaW are met with. And
1t has also been said: "If the elm
ate is too moist and too hot, the ex-
uberance OF vegetation renders the
labor of man insufficient to keep it
In subjection; and the infections Of
malaria destroy the habits Of syste-
matte and daily industry. If too dry,
vegetation Withers, and the labors
! or the husbandman: are not reward
ed s}. by bounteous yield of tho
fruits Of the earth. II the growing
season is short. the variety Of crops
is small; If continuous, the anchor
ating effects Of freezes are lost. The
most happy combination appears to
be that IN which the amount of
humidity and sunshine Is Just suf-
f1cent to produce the highest degree
OF perfection and maturity In the
crops, and where the degree of cold
Is lust enough to invigorate the
| physical system. ameliorate the soil,
and destroy the germs of disabling
diseases. A soil th2t will produce
one crop well. is not$so valuable as
one that will produce a dozen. The
writer must have hadi in. mind a re-
gion very. much like that of the
youngest state OF the south. 1t Is
not necessary for me to say that he
could hardly have advertised West
| Virginia better than in this descrip-
| ton of desirable land. For surely
1T Is. yours. and it speaks for itself.
/ have tried to point out. some of
the elements Of your states present
prosperous condition as well as the
| causes of that condition. I am glad
to know that your citizens are COM
! ing more and more to appreciate
| their responsibilities and are holding
their public servants to a strict ac-
countability in the discharge or their
| official duties. There will be less
| discussion as to the functions of the
| national government and the gov
ernments of the states when each
commonwealth shall realize and
| meet her responsibilities as a mem
Der of IAN tndestructible union Of in
destructible states"
What Is to prevent your state, with |
its eCuable climate, from supporting
in comfort and prosperity q popula- |
ton vastly greater than that which |
Is now contained with in it's borders, |
with industries much more diversi- |
fed and many times more productive |
than those which are bringing to it |
riches and wealth untold?