The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-10-14

1913 ......... .,..... 1,O0U,UVU
1902 ..s....... $780, 900
1885 .....>. 4,OU5, 796
1911 ............ 9,222,665
lSOo ..,.... ,........ 22,647,2U7
l9ol -. ...... 4S,091, $50
1914 (Estimated) 100000 900
1921 (Estimated) 900
The above table shows that the
cCal output of, West Virginia has on
an average Increased about q mill
lion tons a year and doubled in
every seven years. While the same
rate of increase may not continue,
yet If it should, the production In
1921 will be 2OO,0OO,OU0 tols. The
states output has increased faster
than the country's entire production
of b1tuminous coal, which in the
same period has doubled on an aver
age every ten years. OF its treas
ures in steam producing power, it
has given freely and the prosperity
OF many towns; cities and States is
due, In q measure, to the Goals OF
West Virginia, which cover a great
er area than the Goals of Pennsyl-
vania.
III LOW "SIS DuL twenty
one coke plants in the United States.
There are now more than 900, with
100000 coke ovens, producing in
1907 40,00O,000 tons Of coke. More
than half of these ovens and of the
production are in Pennsylvania,
while West Virginia comes second,
with about 10000 ovens, and pro-
duction in 1907 Of 4,112,896 tons.
t.
ng, keeping step with the great
growth in the iron trade.
Oil.
When the State was formed it's
3eople were devoted largely to farm
ing and stock raising, as very little
had been done towards developing
it's mineral wealth. =, While the ex-
istence of; oil apd. gas was known,
yet the extent of. the fields was I'M
known, and practically no develop
ment had been made. Now, when
fifty years have nearly expired, West
Virginia is furnishing oil not only
to nearly all parts of this country,
but practically to every portion of
the civilized globe. Probably no
one product, from any single local
ity, has SO wide distribution as
petroleum. BY the present method
Of transportation, 1T flows In a con-
tinuOus stream hundreds of miles to
the great refining works at the sea-
board. 1t is the 'basis of one Of the
greatest corporations in existence,
and its production gives employment
to an army Of men.
Gas.
Not less important Is the natural
gas industry. Man had discovered
and utilized for some time the ele-
| ment in fuel to make gas, but the
| earth contained great accommodations
of natural gas, largely local to West
Virginia, awaiting the hand of man
| to lead it ito the surface. Besides
| its qualities as an Tl1uminant, it
proved to- be an ideal fuel for heat
| ing and manufacturing purposes
| The desire to reap Immediate bene-
| fits from it's sale induced the own
ers Of the gas to convey it beyond
the boundaries Of the State, where
| manufacturing was already we'll es-
| tablished, and it now furnishes the
| motive power to build up many Of
the industries of nedghboring States
Thus the riches Of West Virginia
| we're poured, and are being poured
| into the laps Of others instead OF
contributing directly to her own
| greatness.
| Railroads.
! When West Virginia was created
| III 1868 there was practically but
one railroad in the State, and that
the Oldest in the country. The Bal
timore e. Ohio passes through the
State on It's way from the sea to the
Ohio River and the West. Stock
men had to drive their cattle and
farmers hauled their crops long
distances to points Of shipment. 1t
was not uncommon to 60 100 miles
| to a railroad. What would now be
thought Of community so isolated
At this time there are but three
counties in the State without rail
road, and in 1913, 1t is probable
there will be nearly 1000 miles Of
railroad in the State-enough, II
they were in parallel lines running
East and West, to cross the State
every twenty-five miles. These ar
teries of commerce are what has
made the State prosperous. They
have made available it's natural re-
sources, and thus given value to Its
lands and what they contain. With
out them, the timber on the hills
and the minerals beneath would be
comparatively useless and valueless
The railroads haNe brought them
into market and made them essen
tial factors in industrial life.
AS an illustration OF the effect OF
railways upon values. compare the
assessments Of the counties of Hardy
and Pendleton. which are without
railways, with the nefghboring coun-
ties Of Randolph and Tucker, that
have these facilities.
without Railways Is
Hardy ...........E.... 2,428