Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-09-19
ADVANTAGES OF
WEST VIRGINIA
Hon. George c. Sturgiss Says
West Virginia is the Best.
NEED MORE BOOSTERS
FOR MOUNTAIN STATE

FOR MOUNTAIN STATE
People of Western States, Cities and
Towns Can Give Us Pointers in
Telling Of the Reasons Why Home
is the Best Place on Earth-A Trip
to the Coast.
Hon. George G. Sturgiss has re-
Gently returned from a trip to the
Pacific coast for the purpose Of learn
ing from personal observation the con
ditions and wants of the Pacific coast
fisheries and the shipping interests;
matters coming under the jurisdiction
of the house committee on merchant
marine and fisheries, to which he has
given much study since his assign
ment as a member of That committee
He met some eight or nine OF his
colleagues of the house, ~traversed
the coast states, including California,
Oregon and Washington, stopping at
San francisco, Portland and Seattle,
besides passing through some sixteen
states and four BritishrAmerican prov
inces, ana conversing with many peo-
pie in all these states and provinces.
In an interview he declares that West
Virginia mas more attractions N
fewer drawbacks for the average mar
than any of these atates or provinces.
The only occupation that seems to
have superior conditions is that OF
far ming and stock raising, and this
is partly caused by the cheaper and
more level lands, but this is largely
offset by the longer hauls and nigh
.er freight rates, and the rapidly ad-
vancing price OF lands.
West Virginia" he said, lis most
advantageously situated near the
great markets and cities, like Pitts
burg and Cincinnati, Baltimore and
Philadelphia and New York with rail-
way connections east and west and
north, with the Monongahela, Onio.
Cheat and Little Kanawha rivers,
giving access to the Mississippi and
the gulf, while the great lakes with
their tonnage of ore and coal, with
cheap freight, add to the other great
advantages of geographic location.
The climate is more enjoyable and so
lubrious. NO great tornadoes or
earthquakes, no prolonged periods OF
floods or drouth, no great storms OF
snow, and periods of intense cold,
disturb business, or cause loss or
apprehension or uncertainty as to the
permanence of future operations. All
these are advantages too little on
sidered, and when to them are added
our forests, water power, varied and
easily mined and superior coal, natur-
al gas, Oil and minerals, West Virginia
has a pre-eminence of the things that
make for comfort, convenience and
permanent prosperity, plainly appar-
ent to tine traveller and close student
of such conditions.
''The things that most impress a
citizen of this state who trayerses the
three thousand miles between here
and the Pacific states and studies the
latter, are the strenuous life and ac-
tivity and sublime faith of the pee.
pie in the greatness of their future
and the superiority of their resour-
ces and the natural advantages of
their geographic situation on he
worlds map. They are all ~optimists.
all boosters, and nc knockers, al
ways singing the praises of their
timber, mines, fisheries, and the trade
N m That the Orient is to
bring to them when the fleets Of
American butt and owned ships shall
give them their own in this most val
mable commerce. Boards of trade,
city governments and private citi-
zens vie with each other in seeking
to impress the stranger with the
wisdom of investing and sharing with
them in these advantages which they
paint in glowing and fascinating
colors. In the street cars. on the
railroads, in the hotels and every
where the advertisements .of these
advantage s are posted or distributed.
Cordially, sympathy and willingness
to freely impart information are
everywhere marked and well nigh
universal. NO expense Is spared, no
loss of time is considered too great
to help the visitor to learn and I'M
derstand what they have that they
think is worth seeing.
by contrast with these western
people we are conservative, too deep
ly interested in our individual affairs