Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-02-21
WEST VIRGINIA FIRST
Leads All Southern States in Value
of administering
industries Great.


Edwin W. Parker. of the United
States Geological Survey, writing in
the Manufacturers Record, calls at
tention to the unfavorable light in
West Virginia as placed by the ex.
portation of her raw materials when
millions Of dollars could be realized
annually if the products we're utilized
by manufacturers in the state.
Mr. Parker says:
On account of its great wealth in
mineral fuels, West Virginia stands
first in importance as producer
among the southern states. with
about 30 per cent of the total More.
over, in 1910 West Virginia ranked
second among the states in the value
OF mineral output, and in 1911 il rank
ed third. In the quantity of coal pro
duced West Virginia ranks next to
Pennsylvania, but falls below Illinois
in the value Of the product, although
tue Cbtl vi Il " a. iIOiD the IliutS Vi
West Virginia is much superior in
quality to that of the rival common,
wealth OF the Mississippi valley. The
writer has frequently commented on
the unfayorable light in which West
Virginia is placed by the porsation
of her fuel at the expense of compe-
tent remuneration 1t need not be re
peated here Suffice IT to say that
the three fuels constitute 80 per cent
or more Of West Virginias predue-
ton, coal in 1911 representing So per
cent, natural gas % per cent. and pc
troloum 10 per cent. In the produc-
ton of natural gas the plu-perfect
fuel for mary manufacturing enter
prises and for domestic heating aud
cooking, West Virginia ranks first
among the states. In the production
of petroleum, ali of it high grade
West Virginia ranks fourth among
the states. 1t should not stand below
that in the value Of its manufactured
products. II is not among the first
25. Not more than 20 per cent. of the
coi1, petroleum or natural gas, all of
them the best Of their kind are con
sumed for useful purposes within the
state
Great Opportunity
Here lie some OF the greatest OPP
portunitics for development that the
south may offer abundant and cheap
fuels OF the highest grade begging for
local utilization that will put stop
to their expiration Coal mining in
West Virginia in 1911 showed slight
decrease of about 3 per cent as com
pared with 1910 Coke-making show
cd a decrease Of 40 per cent and yet
tho quantity Of coke made from West
Virginia coal in 1911 was larger than
in 1910. But the coal is shipped from
West Virginia mines to coke ovens
at Joliet and South Chicago. Ill, at
Gary and indianapolis, Ind, and at
other points, and helps to swell the
manufacturing statistics of those
states
Next to fuels, the clayworking in
dustries constitute the principal fea-
ture connected with mining in West
Virginia, and the products of the bilns
represent 4 per cent. of the total pro
duction. The pottery products make
up two-thirds of the total output of
the clay-burning kius of West Nir-
ginia, and are exceeded in value by
those of two states only, Ohio and
New Jersey. West Virginia is the
pioneer state in the use of vitrifed
brick, the first use OF this clay pro
duct for street paving having had
place in the city of Charleston. Vitri
fed brick ranks next TO pottery
among the clay products Of the state.
The principal quarry products. of
West Virginia are sandstone and
limestone, the latter prcdomiuating in
the proportion of about to t. The
northern part of the Shenandoah val
ley is particularly rich in lime stone
of excellent quality for blasj-furnace
duX, and approximately 20 per cent.
of the limestone produced i'm the state
is used for that purpose The re-
aainder is used chiefly for railroad