The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-07


sition among manufacturing localities in
the United States. To say that 1t is first
in cheapness and abundance of fuel is
strong statement, but it is true IL is
central in the greatest natural gas ais
trict known 10 the world. 1t is authori-
tatively shown that within radius OF
twenty-five miles from Clarksburg as
center billion Q,o0o. 600 ,000 cubic feet
of natural gas is produced each day.
This gas is of the very best quality, ana
is used exclusively by the manufacturers
of this region. to whom rate OF cents
per loo cubic feet is offered, together
with a contract for a period of years.
This is the lowest rate known Pipe
lines also carry gas from Clarksburg
wells to the cities and towns of Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana,
where 1t is used for heating and manu-
featuring purposes. As high as 2oaOOO,ooo
feet has been sent to Pittsburg IN
single day. The durability of the supply
is all conjecture, but wells drilled twenty
years ago have not diminished in pres
sure and yield. 1t is believed by experts
Nthat natural gas will be available here
for many years to come. A reduction
would mean loss to distant points. A
total loss would mean that artificial gas
would be turned into the pipes from re-
torts located adjacent to the great beds
of coal Sling the hills in all directions.
Vast Coal Fields.
The State of West Virginia contains
200 square miles of coal territory, al
mos twice as large a deposit of coal as
that of Pennsylvania, Coal mining IN
the country about Clarksburg is the chief
industry, more men being employed In
the development OF the coal field than
in any other occupation. In large con-
tracts coal is sold to manufacturers as
low as Is cents per ton, but even at this
exceptionally low rate very little coal is
consumed locally, owing TO the cheap
gas and the triling cost of handling, as
compared with coal. There is coal I'M
derlying forty-nine out of fifty-five coun-
ties of West Virginia.
A Clean City. =
While Clarksburg is a city of factories,
1t is a smokeless one, a spotless town
compared to places where coal forms
the fuel. The bright, clean appearance
of buildings is apparent at once to all
visitors and in connection with this is
the fact that there is less need of fire.
ouent coats of paint and use of muscle
in scrubbing than is the fact in most
cities.
Wealth in Layers.
The natural wealth of this CIarksburg
region is in layers. First, there is soil
second to none in any part of the United
States The blue grass growing natu-
rally and freely-is equal to that of Ken
lucky, all garden and farm crops Of the
north temperate zone are produced, fruits
flourish, and the live stock raised on the
splendid pastures of hill and valley ranks
with the best in the whole Union. For
many years before men delved into the
hills for coal and oil and gas Harrison
County, of which Clarksburg is the seat
of justice, was a foremost one In the
;y ThOISa Of
of cattle raised in this locality have
gone into the export trade. and cattle
are still being sent froR here to for
eign countries.
Under this bountiful soil lies vast beds
of what is known as Pittsburg coal, the
best grade of the bituuinous variety.
Deeper down are enormous reservoirs of
oil and gas. The daily output of oil in
Harrison County is estimated at 10000
barrels, of coal the production runs into
many trainloads every day. In this con-
nection the timber supply should not be
overlooked There are some 1900 square
miles Of virgin forest in West Virginia,
most of it central in the State and tribu-
tary to Clarksburg. The largest body of
hardwood timber in the United States
is found in West Virginia. A large por-
ton of this timber is being made up into
the very best grade of furniture. and
for this reason Clarksburg offers excel
lent opportunities for woodworking in
dustries- There are many varieties of
lumber. the leading ones being white
oak black oak hickory, white walnut,
black walnut, cherry. maple, hemlock,
chestnut, and birch. Large quantities of
hardwoods cut in this State are sent
abroad
Not n Boom Town.
Clarksburg is not a boom town of re-
cent origin. 1t took its place on the map
during the Revolutionary period. The
original settlement was merely a row
of log huts. erected on each side of
single street. and as the troublesome
times of the period made it imperative
that they should be for defense and
not ornament. one cannot suppose that
the town showed any of the beauty OF
which it can now justly boast.
1t has its name from Gen. George
Rogers Clark, the Indian fighter of the
West of that day. In lisa the Legisla-
ture of Virginia made il the county
seat of Harrison County. Bishop Asbury,
of the Methodist Church visited there
in 17Ss For many years growth was
slow. 1t was a mere inland mountain
hamlet until 1856, when the advent of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad gave the
town an impetus that has been far
reaching. Railroad facilities thus ana
subsequently established combined with
the unlimited supply Of coal, oil, and
gas as fuel, which were soon unearthed
the first manufacturing concerns were
induced to locate here. From that time
on the progress and development of the
community has been steadily going for
yvard. until today. from the erection of
few log cabins, there is a city with
all the modern conveniences of many
larger cities. 1t is stated that the
Clarksburg district gives the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad one-sixteenth of its
gross freight revenue.
The State of West Virginia.
In 1865 Clarksburg had a little more
than 1000 population. It was not the
scene of any special military activity
during the civil war, but troops of the
two contending sides in the great con-
hict were in and around the town at diff
ferent times. The fittle community, of
course, felt the pinch of the war times
It was during the serious period of the
war, in 1868, that what is now West Vir-
ginia seeded from the mother State and
set up business on its own account 1t
is said the movement for the origin of
the new State had its inception in a
meeting held at Clarksburg. Be that as
il may, West Virginia is now well on the
map, and few equal 1t in natural re-
sources. and Clarksburg is second only
tc Wheeling in Importance.
Population.
The city of clarksburg proper has