Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-12-12

Ex-Governor VIM. A. MacCorkie,
of Charleston, president OF the West
Virginia board OF trade. paints
picture Of optimism for the future OF
West Virginia and the South in the
current issue Of the Manufacturers
Record stating that he believes the
next year will be a great year in the
development OF Substantial properties.
He writes as follows:
Every indication points to theSview
that this year will be a very great
one in the South. The panic and the
hard times did not destroy the devel-
opment 1t attenuated the stream OF
money which was fbwing into the
South AMI stopped for a while the
amazing increase in all OF the natur-
al development which has been for
the last few years going ahead in the
South From a number of sources
within the last 80 days have noticed
renewed activity in the development
of matters in the South: as, for in
stance, a large coal property, in
which We were interested about sir
months ago, was exploited to be
shown to some Northern capitalists.
They held UP their work by reason OF
the closeness of the times, but at the
same time held on TO the property, so
the matter was taken up, not from
the beginning, but with the lmowl-
edge OF the situation, which they had
carefully gained, coming in very use
full at this time Another matter in
which / was interested was taken UP
by a number of new people. A rath-N
er remarkable occurrence took place.
After inquiries fer information had
come to me from some very rich cap
italists / began to 5pok around for
authoritative information on the
property in question made inqui-
ries from number Of well-info1-ned
experts and well-informed people for
this information, which ! wished to
be authoritative and carefully COM
piled. | could rot find it as I wished
from anyone with whom I was ac-
ouainte,i. and after a lot of investi-
CATION it was suggested to me that
the files of the Manufacturers Rec
ord might give me some information
turned to them and found in It's
files the finest and most authoritative
discussion Of the property that I have
seen anywhere. In addition to that
was general discussion of the sec
ton in which the property was stu
ated which was without doubt supe-
rior to any special report I have seen
anywhere from any report in my
state This report was accepted by
those able and careful people as a ba-
sis for their information, and upon
its statement they concluded to spend
a large sum of money in the further
development of the property, an OF
which confirmed the statement OF
the Manufacturers Record, ana they
have practically agreed upon the pur-
chase and development of the prop
erty under consideration. beg your
pardon for this illustration, but the
splendid and careful work which has
been done by the Manufacturers Rec
ord for the South is the greatest
monument in that line and the great
est mine of information Which is to-
day extant concerning the develop
ment and natural resources of the
South. / believe that next year VIII
be a great year in the development OF
the substantial properties Of the
South. The great depression in
stocks, certificates ami bonds and
floating evidence of property is turn
ing the attention of the investors to
ire fact that while there have been
great fluctuations In the price OF this
class of property. that there has been
no greater nuctuauon IN uhe price ol
coal, timber, and mineral lands and
well-situated properties within the
limits of the South Whilst we have
seen the slaughter in the stock mar
Rets, there have been no bargain
counter sales in good properties in
the South Here and there special
sxigencies have compelled people to
part with their property. but the
property itself has suffered no de-
preston, and there has been no fiuc
tuation in It's value and its producing
ability. I think the Manufacturers
Record will have great year in CALI
ing the attention of the world to these
hos rfl