Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-08-29
THE GOLDEN JUBILEE
OF WEST VIRGINIA
Mountain State VIII Next June Ceie-
brate Its Erection In 1868.

EaitAA'ttA NiAO SNAhl 7NNANNhtAhtAA WIZ
bration of the birth of the state of
West Virginia does not occur until
June %, 1913. preparation for the great
event is we'll under way, and the com
missioners who include many of the
most eminent citizens of the state, are
doing all they can to make the affair
national. They are sending forth
mass of interesting matter in regard
to the Panhandle" which has been
more euphoniously and POLITICALLY
christened the Mountain State" and
that the celebration itself will make
West Nirginias wonderful beauties
and vast resources and amazing devel-
opment 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 hamlet,
that the people most remote from
Wheeling and unable to get there shall
have a lively part IN festivities which
shall be all aglow with patriotism,
One Of the interesting features is
that the commission will give prize
of $500 for the best poem or song re
lating 10 the state, and for this the
competition is open to the world. 1t
is expected there will be some rare
productions in response to this liberals
offer and the theme is one of the most
tempting. Not only is the older his
tory of the state replete with ro-
nance, but the story of its erection
4 into a separate Commonwealth, as
secession from the "Old Dominion,
on account Of secession surrounds it,
modern history with romance born OF
one Of She most tragic passages in tho
story Of the Union, and makes its
place in the roster of states wholly
unique All this is expected to inspire
those who have the companionship OF
the muses. to an effort in song which
will rival the Maryland, My Mary
and,' of the neighboring state or OF
an epic or historic creation which viii
be for all time one of the states lit
erary treasures.
The thrilling story of the conditions
under which the state came into exist
ence, the refusal of nearly half hun
drod counties TO join in the movement
for secession when an ordinance to
that effect was enacted by Virginia;
the several solemn conventions Of rep.
respntatiVes from the protesting cOun-
ties met to consider the tremendous
question of separation, the provisional
government and recognition Of the
act of President Lincoln; the rati-
Gcation of the first Constitution on
March 20, 1863, and the Inauguration
Of the first governor. A. l.. Boreman,
June %, 1863, the date Of the actual
beginning of the activities Of West
Virginia as Q distinctive integer of the
federal government made an epic
which is not paralleled in the creation
of any other state in the Union
or course, however, it is not in
tended that too much Of The history Of
that time shall be talked Of in con
neetion with this golden celebration,
but that the whole affair shall be rath-
or recitation and Qualification Of the
development of the Commonwealth
since its natal day and in general
way of it's romantic history since John
Lederer made the first explorations
and Morgan built the first cabin in
Berkeley county.
West Virginia has an era of 24,7S7-
capitol at the Capital City of Charles
ton, costing with the grounds $l225-
00o, completed in 1885, costly annex
completed in 1902 and a fine govern
or's residence completed in 1888,
which with its grounds cost $lo0,Q0o.
More than a score Of state Institutions,
education institutes, hospitals, homes
and a tuberculosis sanitarium have
a value Of many millions. There are
nearly a score of notable private and
UNCONVENTIONAL colleges and seminar
les