The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-06-30


Iinahstrial iey pf course if
Twill take qtiit while "a surpass our
fnetghbor on the orth IS ns In
Iiation because she b the seeond State
iii tie Union ID ponpla tfon and sres
sources and sne cessariI II siweSwill haye
ftoabark On her raill ia Z lat Irespectstor.I
along time before We pysrtakes her iii
the race: But tit Is not population.
but resources. that we are assembled
here to discuss. as well as the pro:
lection OF the lives Of our Coal miners.
Our People Do Things.
Everybody knows that west viz.
ginia IS a State. where they do things
worth while; q State here there rs
grown on the surface and mined ;be--
meath fortune-yielding products OF
colossal ma gnitude; State where:
mammoth development forces are mt
work and q State upon which tbs
eyes OF capitalists, promoters and In.
yestors have concentrated as one OF
the coming great states OF the Repub.
lie. She Is now solving great prob.
LENS OF Vital Importance, and her re-
juvenationfis attracting the attention
Of investors everywhere. We have
here In West Virginia the raw ma.
terials; 1t requires money to develop
these raw materials. We have the
natural stun. Others have the cold
cash. It takes cold cash to develop
what nature has bestowed upon us.
It Is now up to the fellow who has
the 'ducnts' to 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, rs it Is.
everywhere else. n question OF the
survival Of the tittest First come,
first served The field Is '5pen to all
corners All are welcome. Twenty
years ago our best coal lads were
quoted at SIS to $40 er acre. Now,
those same lands can not be bought
at $50 to 500 per acre. and even
more. and still prices are advancing.
This proves what Is going on in West
Virginia, and it proves also what Is
yet going to come to pass within our,
borders. Coal lanls now quoted Mt
500 per acre will bring $500 lnsitl,
OF five years or less. This Is an, evI.
dence OF positive. progress. and 1t Is
every word true. 1t Is not yet too
late for capitalists to butt In IT
they continue to.'stand off. 1t will be
their fault; not ours. West Virgin.
las doors open inward-not outward.
and the latch string Is always on the
outside.
"Mr. Chairman these 3public-splrit-
ed citizens have met here to consider
how best to develop our vast resour-
ces. and at the same time to see that
they IRE not wasted. we want cap.
iteltsts to come anreng us to dig the
dusky diamonds from beneath our
soil. We need skilled farmers TO cul.
tiyate our rich hillsiles, our valleys,
and plateans. we invite mechanics
to make their homes with us. to work
up the raw materials which bene.
flcent Providence has l1vishe;l upon
us. We need teachers and preachers.
to aid us In developing the higher
elements OF our natures. We need
all this s2rt of help. and to all such
we extend a welcome hand and most
cordial greeting.
Dig and Sell Coal.
"There has been a great deal OF
talk lately about the total exhaustion
of the timber and the conl OF our en-
tire country. 1t must say. my friends.
have very little sympathy with that
sort OF talk. am earnestly and for
ever against waste OF any and all
kinds. because twillful waste makes
woeful want says an old proverb. Any
sane person should oppose this waste.
But have very little sympathy for
that class OF economists who urge lis
to go slow In the use Of coal anil
! timber lest Our great grandchildren
might be left without fuel hundred
years in the future. Well. suppose
they are. That will be their. business
and not ours. Every generation
should take cnrc ofitself. It is false
economy for us OF the present to
mortgage the future for our poster
ity. It should be the BUSINESS OF
future Z, generations to take care of
themselves. It should be the bust
ness OF our West Virginia people now.
to dig and sell all the coal they can
at profitable prices, and to cut and
sell all the timber they can in judi
cious way. and to pump out OF the
bowels of the earth all tho oil ani
gas within their reach. provided they
commit no waste. Because to do SO
Is business. and business conducted