The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-07-30

West Virginia WIS In Il prinative con-
dltlon, she needed but few laws. Be
ing a part OF old Virginia, when she
was born into the sisserhood of states,
naturally our first lawmakers copied
from the mother, and the result was
that most OF the early statutory law
was taken verbatim from Virginia.
At this time the development of the
State of Virginia west of the Ale
iShenies was insignificant and the
population was sparse. Our great
natural resources were scarcely
thought of, and our cities and towns
were but villages and hamletS Our
mountains, hills and valleys We're COW
erred with virgin forests which had not
been touched by the woodlands ax.
Our state had not been cut mp and
intersected with great lines of rail
roads which are potent factors in de-
velopins our vast natural resources.
In the last twenty years our COM
monwealth has made q wonderful
growth. Capital and labor have come
in and touched our natural resources.
rs with u hand of magic, and caused
our people to prosper and our state
to blossom like rose. Railroads
have been built across our state, and
up aud down our rivers, throuAw hills
and down valleys, until almost every
section Of this great commonwealth
may be reached by steam rail. The
electric car that people knew but lit
tie of in central West Virginia twenty
years ago. is now shortening distance
and carrying you to your doors. Cities
are being built with miles of paved
streets, and the automobile with great
and accurate, speed. takes the place
of the horse and carriage. The bust
ness man in the eastern panhandle
may step TO the telephone in his o.
flee, and communicate to his friend
on the banks of the Ohio river, with
ease, accuracy and distinction. Our
cities are lighted by electricity and
darkness is turned into daylight by
the genius OF man< Coal we have in
and under our hills by the thousands
of acres and in almost an inexhausti-
Bile supply, yet it has givenAway for
heating purposes to natural gas. Ma
tional and state banks have been in
stituted all over our state for the con-
venience and dispatch OF business.
located in our cities and the buyer
need not leave the state to make pur-
chases. Thus, by few instances, We
see that our state has made great
progress.
New Conditions Arise.
"Then as the state grows, develops
and progresses, new conditions arise,
and old laws must he changed and
new ones made to meet the demands
of the times. The laws that govern
ed our people well, half century ago
would not be sufficient today. Prior
to the acts of 1903, ii was not u
crime In this state for u tiduciary TO
iiciary. Before the use OF steam and
electric railroads we had no laws con-
corning them. Until nil and natural
gas we're discovered, and it became
necessary to lay lines of pipe and
build stations and tanks, no act was
passed relative to these. Not until
our coal was being developed and
great holes in the hills were being
made, were there any mining laws
nacted. The growth and develop
ment of this great commonwealth
made is necessary for The establish
ment of the departments OF Mine In
spector, Commissioned of Labor, State
Librarian, Bureapu of Archives and
History. State Board OF Agriculture,
Protection and Regulation of Labor,
Commissioner of immigration, the
Humane Cociety and others. So We
see the law making body of our slate
must he walchful of the states Won
derful progress, and the Interest of
her people.
'rhisfis progressive nation. She
will always so forward and her pep-
pie will prosper so long as is kept at
the helm of her government, such a
fearless. conscientious, wise and God
fearing man as Theodore Roosevelt,
Like our nation, this state is prosper.
ing under the wise leadership OF a
conscientious and patriotic statesman,
William Ne @. Dawson. Much credit