The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-11-10
President Fleming Opens It's
Fourth Annual Gonven-
ton at the Waldo.
"A HEARTY WELCOME
Large and Representative
Gathering of the Business
Men of the State.

AT the hour OF going to press this
afternoon President a. 3. Fleming,
of Fairmont. was concluding his an
nnai address to the West Virginia
Board OF Trade, whose fourth annual
convention opened ut the Waldo ho-
tel this morning at o o'clock with 4
large and representative gathering OF
business men of the state present.
President Fleming expressed great
pleasure for the opportunity of at
tending such representative assem-
bly,. He discussed at considerable
length the splendid progress Of
churches and education in the state,
reviewed in edifying manner the ag-
riculture of West Virginia. depicted
concisiYely the progress OF manufac-
turing and timber development and
gave exhaustive attention of coil, oil
and gas productions of the state and
closed with an outline OF the respon-
sibility that rests on the various
boards of trade In the advancement
and stability of legitimate business.
Incorporated in the address was the
following interesting review of the
struggles of the state in attaining
its present conspicuous position in
the business development of tho
country:
Gentlemen, feel I should be
somewhat neglected. of the opportun-
.ity this occasion affords, If did not,
with words OF encouragement, unite
some words of admonition, and sug-
gestion for our future work.
From the formation of the State
in the gloom and distress OF Civil
war to the present the trend has al
WHY'S been to higher condition of
education. civilization, and business
prosperity. Sometimes enterprise
seemed to lag some times obstacles
seemed insurmountable, but ilSsh by
inch and step by step we have fought
our way until we stand almost on the
apex of success and look back with
proud satisfaction as we contemplate
the distance we have travelled, and
the heights we have scaled. largely
through our own energies, struggled
and self-denials, for until recently
West Virginiaus had but little help
or announcement from capital or en-
ter prise beyond her own borders.
The maxim of the ancient sons Of Is
raeI that nothing good could como
out of Nazareth was practically ar
piled by the people of other States to
West Virginia Even our nearest
neIghbors seemed TO entertain an
opinion that our vast resources OF
coal were substantially worthless, our
timber of inferior quality, or so far
from market as to he unavailable and
our lands mountainous and until
able
''In the face or such pre-judgmrnt
without Investigation az knowledge.
West NiriyinIans were FOR many years
forced to rely mainly upon their own
energies; not only to develop their
resources and provide methods to
transport them, but 10 break down
the barriers OF prejudice that denied
their commodities access to the mar
IScts of the country. The pioneers in
such undertakings had no holiday
job. In railroad building they were
confronted with natural obstacles
that rendered such work costly and
Iaborfous In coal development they
were mot by the keen competition oil
regions more faNorably situated In
distance and railroad grades Tor
cheaper transportation t" market
In timber production they were mel
by tho Impedimcnts Of rough country
and long distances to railroads.
''Ir then. through all 'thcsc un'
toward aud dSrouTUginE conditions
our enterprise built and equipp'o
railroads. opened coal mines and Sc
cured markets against all competition
established schools and colleges. felled
the timber and manufactured and
transported it, organized corporations
for works of general Improvement. In
stalled great manufacturing concerns
developed agricultural interests. ane
converted the prejudice OF our neigh
bOrs against our commodities into
such an appreciation of their value
that they have come into our stae'
ana bought a large portion of them
B H. AS say--we could do NIL thes'
things with the odds 80 heavily
against Us, what may "" expect nov
that our reputation and standing u'
one of the richest and best States II
the Union has been established in ths
minds Of all"
The gathering was called to order
at 10 O'Clock Tuesday morning in the
assembly hall OF the Waldo hotel by
Presiden, \. - FLEMING. An invo
cation was delivered by the Rev. II
T. McClelland, pastor OF the First
Presbyterian church of the city.
Hon. Raymond Maxwell. of The
Clarksburg Board OF Trade, was in
tfoduced by the president, and de
fIvered the following cordial address
oY welcome;