The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-10-27


dollars to pay. these old debts. The
retiring Democratic officials sought
to deceive the public by calling at.
tention to certain money in the treas.
ury. but this happened to be $500 900
of railroad taxes that did not belong
to.this State, and was merely held in
the treasury until 1t could be distrib-
uted to the counties where 1t belonged
They talk about the expenses of
Governor Glasscock's administration
last year being double that Of former
Democratic administrations. Have
they forgotten that in the ten.year
period. from 1883 until 1893, they (the
Democratic more than doubled the an.
nual' expenses OF the state govern
ment, and at the end OF that decade
were unable to keep out of debt with
S5-cent State levy? Today all the
obligations of the State have been
met and about half million dollars
of the appropriations for the biennial
period are yet in the treasury and UNI
expended, The State levy is now Az
cents instead OF IS cents, and prac.
tically the equivalent Of all taxes col
lected under this levy is being re.
turned to the counties each year to
be used by them for running their
schools. In fact. 1t may be said the
counties pay scarcely any State tax.
/ The statement that 1t is costing twice
as much to run the State government
now as in 1893 is not true. Have our
Democratic friends forgotten tina.
with their alleged superior wisdom
they were forced TO double the State
expenses in ten years?
Where Economy Is Proven.
Would they not consider it re-
markable that the Republicans had
not yet doubled these expenses after
a period OF sixteen years? Yet these
facts are borne out by the records. II
the pace set by our Democratic friends
was the correct one, the Republican,
would have doubled the running ex.
penses of the State six years ago. 1t
Is true. that It costs more TO run the
State government now than 1t did six.
teen years ago.
Let US examine this question: Has
the State expanded or experienced an
enlargement during these sixteen
years that would call for the expend-
iture of double the money spent by
Governor MacCorkle? The answer to
this is found in a story Of growth and
development that almost defies the
comprehension OF human intellect,
and is without counterpart in the
wondrous story of the progress Of the
States Of the Union. Sixteen years
ago the wealth of the State, as shown
by assessed valuations, was about
$500, 900 900: today. 1t Is over $1,100,-
100000. Then the banks, State and
National, held deposits aggregating
$4,000, 900; today the total deposits in
all our banks is $4,000, 900. Then the
value OF all our school property was
less than $4,000 900; today 1t is nearly
$4,000 900. Then we were mining about
10000, 600 tons of coal, valued at less
than 100000; last yea. the output
Of our mines aggregated 59.000,0OO
ret tons, valued at about $50 1000, 900.
Then there were 200 mines in opera.
ton; today we have SIG. Then 5000
men were engaged in mining coal; to-
day $4,000 men are employed in our
mines. Then we had about $500 miles
Of railroad and traction lines; today
the State has over 5000 miles OF such
lines, Then the. Aggregate postal re-
ceipts of the entire State was about
100000; last year 1t was SI,734, 3S2.37.
Then the State University had an at
tendance Of 244: today the University
and its branches have an enrolment
of over 1900. Then the aggregate en-:
rollment OF the six Normal Schools
was about 1000; today one of the six
Normal Schools (Marshall College,
has more pupils enrolled than all the
others had then.
A Remarkable Growth.
During this period of sixteen years
$500 new industries have been estab-
lished in the State, employing 76,5O0
people and backed by capital aggre.
eating $176,000,O00.
During this period ten new State
institutions have been established and
twelve old ones practically rebuilt.
During Governor Whites admins
tratlon alone more than s., 100000 was
spent for brick, stone and mortar go
ing into new buildings.
Since the Republicans came into
power there have. been erected in the
State about 1000 new school build.
ings new ones and old ones replaced),
the number of pupils has increased
about 10000. requiring about 1880
more teachers, the length of the school
term has been increased so per cent
and the salaries of teachers increased
over so per cent. And thus We may
carry the comparison to hundreds OF
other avenues of human endeavor.
Nearly everything that goes to make
State great and prosperous and a peo-
pie happy and hopeful has increased
from four to seven times in West Vir.
ginia during these sixteen years.
THE only explanation that fair.
minded people will ask Of the Repub.
llcan party Is how 1t has been pos.
sible to keep from doubling the ex-
penses of the State during these six.
teen years in view OF all this advance.
ment. This has been accomplished by
sane business methods. The several
State institutions have been managed
with prudence and economy. Anti.