The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-06-29
GOV. ATKINSON
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comers. All are welcome. Twenty
years ago our best coal lands we're
quoted at SIS to $50 per 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 out
borders. Coal lands now quoted at
500 per acre will bring $500 inside
of five years or less. This Is an evil
dence Of positive progress. and It is
every word true. 1t is not yet too
late for capitalists to butt in. II
they continue to stand of. it viii be
their fault. not ours. West Virgin
las doors open inward-not outward,
and the latch string It always on the
outside.
Mr.. Chairman. these public-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 are not wasted. We want cap
itallsts to come among us to dig the
dusky diamonds from beneath our
soil. We need skilled farmers to cul-
tiyate our rich hillsldes, our valleys
and plateaus. We invite mechanics
to make their homes with US, to work
up the raw materials which a bene-
ficent Providence has lavished upon
us. We nede teachers and preachers
to aid us in developing the higher
elements OF our natures We need
all this sort OF help, and to ali such
we extend a welcome hand and a
most cordial greeting.
Dig and Sell Coal.
There has been a greal deal of
talk lately about the total exhaustion
of the timber and the coal OF our en-
tire country. must say, my friends,
| have very little sympathy with that
sort of talk. am earnestly and for
ever against waste of any and all
kind. because 'willful waste make
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 us
to go slow in the use OF coal and
timber lest our great grandchildren
might be left without fuel a hundred
years in the future. Well, suppose
they are. That will be their business
and not ours. Every generation
should take care of itself. 1t is false
economy for us of the present to
mortgage the future for our poster
ity. 1t should be the business OF
future generations to take care OF
themselves. 1t 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 judic-
ious way. and to pump out of the
bowels of the earth all the oil and
gas within their reach, provided they
commit no waste. Because to do so
is business, and business conducted
according to business principles is al
ways proper, and such enterprise
should be fostered and encouraged By
all well-meaning people. | expect to
live to see the day when our produc-
ton of coal and coke and timber and
oil and gas will quadruple the pres
ent outputs.
Oppose Extravaganza.
Now, do not misunderstood ME,
my friends, am as much opposed to
extravaganza and waste as anyone
can be; and am free to say that
there is shameful and wretched
waste of our valuable resources now
going on within the borders of our
commonwealth. at the meeting OF
the governors of the various States
at the Nations capital only a few
weeks ago much good was accomp-
lished by bringing into the lime-light
the wanton waste OF the natural re-
sources of the entire country. Our
own State geologist, Prof. |. c. White,
was there and startled the people by
his array of facts and figures along
these lines of scientific investigation.
1t was there brought to the attention
of the public that II the present