Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-08-23
THE GOLDEN JUBILEE
OF WEST VIRGINIA
Mountain States VIII Next June cele-
brate Its Erection In
1868.

AilDOuE0 lNt EftAA-LtANtHbthA Atht-
bration of the birth Of the State OF
West Virginia does not occur until
June 20, 1915, preparation for the
great event is well under way, and
the commissioners. who include many
of the most eminent citizens OF the
State. are doing all they can to make
the affair national. They are sending
| fourth mass of interesting matter in
regard to the Panhandle" which has
been more euphonionsly and poetical.
Ily ehristened the Mountain State"
/ and that the celebration itself will
make West Virginia's wonderful beau.
ties and vast resources and amazing
developments better known than ever
before.
The center of celebration activities
will be at Wheeling, but the commits
sioners are arranging for a general
celebration in every town and ham
| let, that the people most remote from
Wheeling and unable to get there shall
have lively part in festivities which
shall be all aglow with patriotism,
One of the interesting features Is
that the commission viii give prize
OF $500 for the best poem or song re-
lating to the State, and for this the
competition Is open to the world, Il
is expected there will be some rare
productions In response TO this liberal
offer, and the theme is one Of the
most tempting. Not only is the older
history OF the State replete with ro
nance, bus the story OF its erection
into a separate Commonwealth, as a
secession from the "Old Dominion"
on account of secession surrounds its
modern history with gDmance born OF
one of the most tragic passages in the
story of the Union and makes Its
place in the roster Of States wholly
unique. All this 10 expected to in
spire those who have the companion
ship of the muses. to an effort in song
which will rival the Maryland, Ny
Maryland" OF the tieishhoring State
or OF an epic or historic creation
which viii be for all time one OF the
States literary treasures,
The thrilling story of the conditions
under which the State came into exist
ence; the refusal Of nearly half hun
dred counties to join in the movement
for secession when an ordinance to
that effect was enacted by Virginia;
the several solemn conventions OF
representatives. from the protesting
counties met to consider the tremen-
dous question of separation; the pro-
vision government and recognition OF
the act of President Lincoln; the rat
ifcation of the first Constitution on
March 26, 1853. and the Inauguration
of the first governor, A. l.. Foreman,
June 20. 1863, the date of the actual
beginning OF the activities of West
Virginia as a distinctive integer Of the
federal government, make an epic
which is not paralleled In the creation
of any other State OF the Union.
OF course, however it is not intend
ed that too much Of the history Of
that time shall be talked OF in connec-
ton with this golden celebration, but
that the whole affair shall be rather
recitation and glorification of the de-
velopment of the Commonwealth since
its natal day, and in general way of
it's romantic history since John Leder-
er made the first explorations and
/ Morgan built the first cabin in Berke-
| ley county.
/ West Virginia now has splendid
/ capitol at the Capital City of Charles.
/ ton, costing with the grounds ST.
225, 600, completed in 1885. costly
annex completed in 1902 and fine
governors residence completed in 1893
which with it's grounds cost 100000.
More than a score Of State institu-
tons. educational Institutes hospit,
ais, homes and a tuberculosis sanitar-
ium have a value of many millions.
There is nearly score of notable pri-
vate and UNCONVENTIONAL colleges and
seminaries.
West Virginia has an era Of 24,780
square miles. 1t has been called the
Most northern Of the Southern States,
the most Southern of the Northern
States the most Eastern OF the West
ern States, and the most Western Of
the Eastern States" In 1860, the last
census just previous to the erection
of the State, the population Of the 81
counties which compose the present
> Commonwealth was 376,6S8 The popu
, lation according to the census of 1915
was 1,221,119. In 1870 the assessed
, wealth was Sl40,33S,279, and in 1911
it was $l,114 900, 900.
In the State there are nearly 10000,
900 acres and in these acres there arr
: more than 100000 farms. the average
: size OF the farms being ia acres. No
: fewer than 100000 acres are Ans
coal lands. The annual product o
! coal is valued at s52,339,524: of lum
/ Der, s15.000,000; oil, s16,0OO,000; ant
E gas. s15,000.000. The number of Goa
y mines in operation in 1910 was s2e
and the number of men employed. Z