Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-03-12
NEED MANUFACTURING PLANTS.

NEED MRNO AZ OhlN1 FLAW .
Just at this season OF the year the
state press, combining its efforts and
deductions with the opinions OF many
earnest students of conditions exist
ing throughout West Virginia. in en-
gagged in the ~commendable purpose of
creating this state a better state, Its
cities bigger and better cities, its peo-
pie a more c|ontented and prosperous
people, The greatest apparent need
in West Virginia today is more manu-
featuring plants that will work up the
states plenteous supply Of raw mater
ial Saturdays Clarksburg Telegram
editorially sounds the real keynote to
what is so badly needed in every sec
tion of West Virginia. The editorial
referred to we herewith reproduce,
and ask for 1t a careful %perusal. Says
the Telegram;
For the future good of West Nir-
ginia there is entirely too much Of is.
natural resources shipped out as raw
material and not enough of them man
ufactured in the state. Blest as West
hiSlulR 10 Win idAuI al lf6Odl "
every description, it is deplorable that
the manufacturing industry is not
much greater than it is. For instance
practically all our coal and timber is
being shipped out of West Virginia
in the raw state. There ought to be
lines of industry here requiring a
large consumption OF coal. Especially
painful is the fact that Woodworking
establishments are so few in this
state. For a reason not yet explained
there seems to be a lack of apprecia-
ton of such an industry. As a result
almost all of the fine timber of the
state is being shipped into other
states as raw material.
Visitors from this state TO Virginia
and North Carolina can not under
stand why West Virginia should fur
nish the many hardwood factories in
those states with raw material and
fail to convert its raw material into
the finished product within its OWL
borders. As noted by the Bluefield
Telegraph, hardwood such as is used
in vast numbers of furniture factories
at High Point, n. c.. is hauled largely
from the big mills of southern West
Virginia. The factories at High Point
have a haul OF 400 maes and over on
lumber, and are using Pocahontas and
Clinch Valley coal in the boilers at a
cost of $4,000 TO $3.50 a ton, run-of-
mine coal. The manager of one large
furniture factory in eastern Virginia
unloading several cars of oak lumber,
when asked where it came from re-
piled that it was purchased from a
company in southwestern Virginia,
naming a town very near the Tennes-
see line.
There is a saving at least of IS to
perhaps as much 1915 a 900 on lum
Der alone, a good profit on furniture.
because one on the ground can often
contract in this state for the lowest
grades at a lower figure than one
buying 500 to 500 miles away. The
saving on coal would be an interesting
item to a large manufacturing plant.
How does it happen that states fur
Their south of us and with the supply
of hardwood cut out long since ESQ
far as oak and poplar goes) have Sc
cured so many of the factories while
we with all our advantages have COM
paratively none? One answer to this
question. and perhaps he chief one.
is that our railroad hasn't lone any
thing to induce manufacturing. Coal
has had all the rights of way. Every
thing is done that can possibly be
done by The southern roads. chambers
of commerce and citizens to advertise
their section, and every courtesy is
shown trade journals and the press
generally. Consequently they get all
the fire advertising Of a host Of CORES
~pendents and those who are inter
ested In locating in more favorable
manufacturing sections. Bluefeld. II
is said. has turned away some SPLEEN
did manufacturing industries, because
we couldn't offer a lot for a reasonable
price.
IF this state ever expects to build
up its towns permanently it should
begin to look out for manufacturing
plants, and be sure to get hold Of such
as are experienced in the business;
and get them before we cut all the
timber we have and ship it away to
be made up into goods and get our
part of it shipped beck in the finished
product.