Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-10
Coal Production and Iron and Steel
Mills Leaders in States Wealth
Producers.

Producers.
Showing an increase not equaled by
any State east of the Mississippi river
in proportion to size and population,
the advance sheets of the Census Bull
letin, giving in detail the manufact-
ures of West Virginia which will
shortly be compiled in a 20-page pam
phlet, were announced by Director
Durand, of the bureau of the census
of the department of commerce and
labor.
West Virginia is in general more a
mining than a manufacturing State.
Over one-half of the counties have
deposits of bituminous coal, in the
production of which the State has
held high rank for many years, its
output in 1909 being exceeded by
Pennsylvania only.
The State is, however especially
well adapted to the developments of
manufactures, The vast deposits of
coal the abundance of petroleum and
natural gas, the extensive timber
areas and the excellent water power
facilities which are being rapidly de-
veloped are directly responsible for
the States phenomenal growth as
manufacturing State.
Since 1869 the growth of the popu-
lation of the State has not been able
to keep pace with it's growth of manu-
featuring industries. During 1869 an
average of 11,672 wage earners, rep
resenting 2.6 per cent of the popula-
ton, were employed in manufactures,
while in 1909 an average of 1888
wage earners, or So per cent of the
total population, were so engaged.
During the period from 1859 to 1909
the gross value of products per capita
of the entire population of the States
increased from $55 to $133. The man
ufactures of the State now represent
O8 per cent of the value of the man.
ufactured products of the United
States
Thousands In Factories.
In 1909 West Virginia had 1855
manufacturing establishments, which
gave employment to an average of H.
463 persons during the year and paid
ont in salaries and wages, $38, 40, 900.
OF the persons employed, 1888
were wage earners. These establish
ments turned out products to the val
ne of $1G1, $4,000, to produce which
materials costing S92,S78,000 were
used. The value added by manufacture
was thus S69,072, 900, which figure
best represents the net wealth created
by the States manufacturing opera
lions during the year.
The figures for the past decade
show that during the last half of this
decade, or from 1904 to 1909, the man
ufactures of the State made far great
err progress than was the case during
the five years prior to that time, or
from 1899 to 1904 During the latter
five years the average number of
wage earners increased 46 per cent
as compared to % per cent during the
first half of the decade.
Second Tin Plate State.
In the manufacture of tin plate West
Virginia has become the second State
in the Union. When measured by the
value of its products the tin plate in
dustry becomes fourth in it's value to
the State as compared to other in
dustries. West Virginia, with six
mills, had total output for 1909 val
ued at $9,257,524.
Under lumber and timber products
are included statistics for logging and
saw mill operations for planning mills
and for establishment engaged in the
manufacture of wooden packing boxes.
This industry afforded employment in
1909 to an average of 1858 wage
earners and turned out products val
ued at $2S,750,000, these figures rep
resenting 1872 per cent and 17.S per
cent of the respective totals reported
for all manufacturing industries of the
State. Much of the virgin timber has
been cut, but extensive areas in all
parts of the State are still wooded.
With extensive deposits of coal and
because Of the favorable location OF
that part Of the State in which the
steel works and rolling mills are stu
.tod, West Virginia is particularly
well adapted to the manufactures pc
culiar to This industry. Between 1899
and 1894 practically no change took
piace in the value of manufactures OF
cea nc eel products, but between
| 81. and 1909 there was an increase
| of SS,5S0,00O, or 66.7 per cent greater
| saws Director Durand than the in
| crease of any other State manufacture
| ing iron and steel products. AS meas
| ured by value of its products, the iron
| and steel industry is second in impor
| lance in the State.
Leather Industry.
| With an abundant and convenient
| supply of oak and hemlock bark, there
| was a marked growth in the leather in
| dustry of the State during the decade
| 1899 to 1909. Measured by value o.
| products, this industry was third II
| importance among the industries o.
| state in 1909. Although the mum