The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-10-14
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The wealth OF Hardy and Pendle-
counties in 1880 was nearly three
times that of Randolph and Tucker,
but In the meantime railways have
invaded the latter with the result
that they are now assessed at nine
times the amount of the other two
counties, which are stiNl without
railways. The average increase in
wealth Of the two counties without
railways since 1880 has been 1870
per cent, while those with railways
has been 22O7 per cent, more than
10 times as much. There are other
counties which through the intro.
duct1on OF railways have made equal
| advances, notably Mercer and Nc
Dowell. In Braxton county the as
sessed valuation Of railroad prop
erty in 1904 was $242,276. Since
then the Coal & Coke railway has
been buMt through the county, and
the assessed valuation of such prop
erty in 1908 was $2,546,960. The
assessed value Of all property In the
county advanced In round numbers
from $2,800,0OO; in 1904 to Sill
100000; in 1908, or more than four
times as much. The Coal B. Coke
railway last year paid over $4,000
taxes In this county. West Virginia
owes much to the railways within
its borders, and to increase it's pros
perity and commerce should encour-
age by all proper means, the build
Ing of additional lines, the money
for which comes from other States.
Any new construction means the ad-
dition Of just that much to the tax
able property Of the State.
According to It's area, West Vir-
ginia is behind its netghboring
States in railway mileage, as the fol-
lowing table will show:
Miles of railroad per 100 square
miles of territory:
West Virginia 1859
Maryland ....... ..14.9O
Ohio ....;.. 49,. .22.76
Pennsylvania 25.20
Railways are the greatest Of all
agencies in the expansion and de-
Velopment of modern times. They
have quickened immeasurably the
progress of civilization and brought
The world into closer relationship.
They make available the resources
of the country.
They create and increase values.
They are permanent institutions,
interviewer with our business and
personal affairs. go
| They make manufactures possible
by assembling material and supplies
and transporting the finished pro-
ducts.
They shorten distances and save
people time and money.
1>hey require large capital and
keep money In circulation.
They are large consumers of all
Kinds OF manufactures, especially OF
steel and iron.
They give employment to large
numbers of persons.
They pay large amounts in taxes
They lessen the price OF househo old
goods and articles Of consumption.
They bring within reach Of the
many, what would otherwise be
luxuries for the few.
They make possible the present
efficiency of the mail service.
They aid in the preservation of
peace by mobilizing men.
They encourage discipline and
promote stability among the people.
They lessen, by facility Of trans
portation, suffering and distress In
time Of public calamity.
They advance the cause Of Chris
tianity. >..
They are the direct means Of sup
port OF one Of every ten persons in
the United States.
They constituted last year more
than one-sixth of the assessed valua-
ton Of all the real and personal
property In West Virginia.
They paid in 1908 about one
fourth Of all the taxes collected In
West Virginia.
They brought into the State dur
ing that year $4O,OOO,OOO for coal
transported therefrom, and gave
employment to large portion of It's
people.
Towns.
i When the State began it's career,
there were but few towns Of any
size, nearly the entire population
being engaged in agricultural pur-
suits. There are now about $50 In
i corporated villages, towns and cities,
! with a score or more containing
over 5000 people. The new ones
are to be found along the railroads,
and principally where the mining In
dustries have hourished. Not until
there is utilized within its borders
the valuable essential 1t contains of
manufacturing life, will there grow
up marts Of trade and centers Of &C.
tlvbty, such as have made the neigh
boring State Of Pennsylvania great
and powerful. We have spent near
ly fifty years In demonstrating to
the world that we possess nearly all
the requisites Of commercial great
ness, now let us begin the next half