Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1909-03-02
Senator Campbell to Charles Town.
New Workers.


nual dinner of tie Charles Town Tor as
| it is now termed the West Virginia.
Society in New York. and made very
interesting address. as follows
know of no greater temptation to a
"Stay at Home to break the habit. than
to receive an invitation TO dinner of the
West Virginia Society ofthe City of New
York. for it is one of the few occasions
on which we can touch elbows with those
who have gone out from home and brought
credit to their State by making good in
the battle of life.
AT the close of the great conflict Rob-
ert E. Lee, the knlghtliest soul that ever
suffered in heroic If Lost Cause, adj
vised those of his following who were
about to emigrate to other States and
countries, to remain at home and develop
the marvellous resources of their mother
land. Many did SO and today, despite
the devastation of the war, the South is
as prosperous as any part of the Union
But one cannot but surmise how much
greater her development would have been
had ell the sons of the South followed
the advice of her great commander.
While you. my friends. have been max
ing good fight here, we at home have
not been standing still. West Virginia
has turned her face to the morning and
IS taking her rightful place among the
richest and most progressive of the
S ates.
Coming up here today drawn by power
created by West Virginia coal, in cars
built Of West Virginia lum Der whose
wheels are fabricated with West Virginia
oil, over rails fuxed with West Virginia
limestone, looked out on harbor made
safe by the skill of West Virginia en-
gneer, the late General Craighill, to re-
member that its great commerce is made
possible by West Virginia discovery.
Tor at Shepherdstown, on the Potomac,
James Rrmsey the inventor OF the steam
boat, performed the first successful ex-
pertinent in steam navigation long before
Fulton, who copied and perfected Rum
sey's invention, was heard of. The
horse that brought me from the Ferry
probably wore Charles Town made har-
ness. Some of the high sounding des-
serts we find on the menu are very likely
based on Jefferson county apples or
Hampshire county peaches served in
glass made of Morgan county sand. and
il some of those attending other bapquets
next morning want to cool their fevered
brows. they will probably do so by turn
ing a tap made at one of Charles Towns
most fourishing factories, after which
they can doubtless read in the morning
papers how Clarence Watson, a West
Virginian, continues to capture all the
b de ribbons at the horse shows. and that
General Watts, a West Virginia horse.
continues to make all other trotters look
like selling pIaters, and TO hold the
worlds record.
SO think the Little Mountain State,
as she is miscailed, is going some" after
all. What misnamer that is, when we
consider that one of West Virginia's IS
counties is as large as the State of Rhode
Island aud richer IN natural resources.
But you will pardon me if | refer now
more particularly to the good old county
SO many of US are proud to call Home
for Old Jefferson has always been to the
front, and please God she will always
remain there In the first DAYS of the
Revolution it was a Jefferson company
of Minute Men that marched SIX hun
dred miles from Morgan's Spring and
brought to Washington. before beleagurec
Boston, the first help from the South
| While Jefferson was against secession
aad her representatives in the Virgins
Convention SO voted, yet the die bein2
cast. she sent more men intosthe confed
crate army in proportion to her popula
ton than any county in Virginia. anC
low well they acquitted themselves th'
| history of their country tells.
But now, close to where Braddocl
crossed on his i'll fated march to For
Duquesne and where the guns of Chew
Ridge. the Shenandoah has been har
Battery awoke the echoes of the Blus
messed to electricity and today the town
in Virginia and West Virginia within
radius of twenty-five miles are dependin,
on that lovely stream for their light ant
power Verify. Peace hath her victor
les no less renowned than war" The
development OF her limestone is becoming
a great industry and as shale IS abundant
/ Jefferson IS destined TO become in thi
a &c Of concrete one of the great cemen
manufacturing centres of the east. II
those present who II ave as yet been deaies
the great privilege of knowing il, won't
say that we have the best climate. tb
finest roads, and the most productive sol
in West Virginia. and if we have some Q
the homeiiest men we have the best ant
l1veliest women on Gods footstool.
Perhaps no better description of tn
Valley of Virginia can be given. l.ha
that of the old darky who IN trying I
describe to his master dream of Wis
to heaven. and words falling him to ds
pict the giories and delights of the Me-
Jerusalem, said well boss. tell you,
WAS jest like Jefferson county" Inc
dentaliy / may remark that we have ha
no panic or hard times at home, and thu
Jefferson was never in more prosperor
condition than she is today.
And we are Pioui Of the successes tina