The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-01
STATE ADVANCES FASTER
THAN ANY OTHERS IN EAST
Coal Production and Iron n Steel
Mills Leaders In States Wealth
ProdueerS
Wheeling Figures Show This City
Well In n Lead Of All Other
Cities
1T =. Il ARNOLD.
Inteiigencer Bureau
WAahinEfon. u. @ Anrl m

any state asst of the Mississippi river
In proportion to size and population,
the advance sheets OF the Census
Bulletin. giving in detail the manu-
features Of West Virginia. which will
shortly be compiled in a 2O-page pam
phlet. were announced by Director
Durand. OF the bureau OF the census
OF the department OF commerce. and
labor. today.
West Virginia is in general more a
mining than a manufacturing state.
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 DEVELOPMENT OF
manufactures. The vast deposits of
coal. the abundance of petroleum and
natural gas. the extensive timber
areas n the excellent water power
facilities which are being rapidly de-
veloped are directly responsible for
the states phenomenal growth as a
manufacturing state.
Since 1868 the growth of the popu-
lation OF the state has not been able
10 keep pace with its growth OF manu-
featuring industries. During 1869 an
average OF 11,612 wage n rep
~resenting 2.6 per rent OF the popula-
tion. were employed in manufactures.
while in 1903 an average of 63.Sq3
wage earners, or 90 per cent OF the
total population. we're so engaged.
During the period from 1869 to 1903
the gross value OF products per
capita OF the entire population of he
state increased from $55 TO Sl3a
The manufactures OF the state now
represent .OS per cent of the value
of the manufactured products Of the
United States.
Thousands In Factories.
In 1908 West Virginia had o.5S6
manufacturing establishments. which
gave employment 10 an average OF
I,463 persons during the year and
paid out in salaries and wages S3s,-
10000.
OF the persons employed. 63.S93
were wage earners These establish
ments turned out products to the
value of Sl61.95O.0OO. to produce
which materials costing S92.S7S.OOO
were used. The y1lue added bv
manufacture was thus $~Gg.O72,OOO.
which figure best represents the net
wealth created by the states manu-
featuring operations during the wear.
The figures for the past decade
show that during the last half of this
decaue, or from 1904 TO 1909. the
manufactures of the state made far
greater progress than was the case
during the FIVE years prior to that
time. or from 1899 10 1904. During
the latter five years the average num-
Der Of wage earners increased as 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 Industry becomes fourth in its
- lue 10 the state as compared 20
Nther industries. West Virginia. with
six mills. had a total output for 1903
valued at S9.257,j2i
Under lumber and timber products
are included statistics for logging
and saw mill operations. for planning
AAAAa9 eAaA ~ nNnhIAENNAItHN ENGAGED
In the manufacture of Vo6den mack.
Ing boxes. This industry afforded
employment en- 1909 10 an average ~
1853 wage earners and turned out
products valued at S2S.T5U.OOO.
these figures representing 2g2 per
cent and lIS per cent Of the respec.
tive totals reported for al manufac.
turing industries Of the state. Much
Of he virgin timber has been cut. bu,
extensive areas in all parts Of the
state are still wooded
With extensive deposits Of coal and
because 81 the favorable location q,
that part ~ the state in which tho
steel works and rolling mills are s.fr.
ated. West Virginia is particularly
we'll adapted 10 the manufacture DO.
culiar 20 this industry Between Isgg
and 1900 practically no change took
place In the value OF manufactures a
Iron and steel products. bur between
1905 mad 1903 there was an Increase
of 3~s.9Fp.O0n. OF CcT Dor rari
greater. says Director Duraud. than
the Increase 81 any other state manu-.
featuring iron o. steel products As
measured by value of ne products
the Iron n steel industry .s second
in importance .n the state.
Leather Industry.
With an abundant and convention,
supply ~ oak and hrmro,k bark
there was "a marked growth I7 tho
leather industry NJ the state dnrIrs
the decade 1899 20 1909 Measured
by value ~ products. tb.s indusfr,
wac third in importance among fhe
Industries ~ tho state in 1909 Al
thourh tho number OF faunerIra do
creased from 13 .n 1905 10 gu .r
1909 there was an i@ncreaae pf Cgs
Or Gel per cont. ln tho average mum
Der NJ naRe rarner4 in tho leather
manufacturing Industry There Wa.
ALEC an Increase ~ f3ff.0DD. or 7e
p'r cent. ln wages and 1f.s.40uu
or 1868 per cent. in fro value ~.
products during This period
The large deposits ~ white pIlicIuul
sand. admirably adapted fo FIas.
making. found in West NIrvIuia. and
On abundant supply ~ coal and afu
RAJ Raa have caused Il wonderful.
Uonfh in fhn glass manufarfIrIng I1
oua'ry Tho number OF establish
m'r's engaged In fb'a Industry .n
creased from &c In 1899 fo 30 Ir
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