The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-06-29
AT MEETING
OF COAL men
AND OTHERS
- II
Enthusiastic Address is Deliq-
cred to the NeMMin-
ing Institute.
DIG COAL, AND SELL COAL
Is the Motto, But Do Not Waste
It, Every Operator
Should Observe.

Ex-Governor George w. Atkinson
delivered the following address Mon
day before the State Coal Mining In
stitute here:
Mr.. Chairmansand Fellow Citizens:
MY friend, Mr., Hanford, kindly In
yited me to be present on this oc4
casion to deliver an address on any
subject might choose. replied to
his courteous invitation by saying 1
would gladly attend, butsI distinctly
stated that must be 'sandwiciled' in
the program, and that my theme
would be "A Few Scattering RE
marks. And here am, the first fell
low on the roll, and am therefore
forced to lead the German
"Mr. President, we are assembled
here in this thrifty inland city ofsour
rich Mountain State to discuss our
vast resources, how best to develop
them, and how. to conserve and pre-
serve them from extravaganza and
waste, and how best also to preserve
the lives OF our coal miners by secur-
ing the very best means Of ventilation
and protection while they are engaged
in mining our coal.
Richest State in Union.
Everybody, Mr., Chairman, knows
that West Virginia is the richest
State in the Union in coal and oil and
gas and hardwood timber. So l will.
spend no time on those questions, and
will pass on by simply saying that
West Virginia stands irst in oil and
gas and hardwood timber, and is sec
ond of all the States in both coal
and coke. Pennsylvania alone leads
US in those two industries, and she
ought to, not because she has more OF
the coal and the coke than we have
over here in West Virginia, but be-
cause she began her development ff-
ty or more years ahead OF us. Fifty
years of start Is a mighty big adj
vantage in a foot race. We have
nearly double the coal acreage OF,
Pennsylvania, and 1t is conceded that
we have quadruple her acreage in
coking Goals, consequently, it is only.
a matter of comparatively short per-
fod OF time for our. great Mountain
State to be first in the production of
coal and coke as well as to hold first
rank in practically everything else in
industrial development OF course IL
will take quite while to surpass our
neighbor on the north of US in popu-
lation, because she is the second State
in the Union in population and re-
sources, and necessarily awe viii. have
to bark on her trail in that respect for
a long time before we oyertake her in
the race. But 1t is not population,
but resources, that we are assembled
here to discuss, as well as the pro-
lection of the live sof our coal miners.
Our People DO Things.
Everybody knows that West vir-
ginia Is State where they do things
worth while; State here there is
grown on the surface and mined be-
meath foruane-yieIding products of
colossal magnitude; State where
mammoth development forces are at
work, and State upon which the.
eyes of capitalists, promoters and In
vestors have concentered as one Of
the coming great States of the Repub-
lie. She is now solving great prob
lens of vital Importance. and her res.
iuyenation is attracting the attention
of Investors everywhere. he have
here in West virginia he raw ma,
terials; 1t requires money to develop
these raw materials. We have the
natural STUN Others have the cold
cash. 1t takes cold cash to develop
what nature has Bestowed upon US.
1T is now up to tie fellow who has
the 'ducats' 70 come over and. help
US. And at the same time make him
self Independently rich. Many have
already come. Others are coming.
1t is now in West virginia, as It Is
everywhere else. a question Of the
survival Of the fittess. First come.
first served. The field IS open to an
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