The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-14
STATES FINANCES DISCUSSED
FREELY BY HON. FRED 0. BLUE
EXHAUSTIVE REPORT GIVEN OF
HIS FINDINGS. AFTER
GREAT STUDY.
Spoke a Evening Session That Pre-
eeded Banquet Held by State
Board OF Trade.

The States finances were discussed
0y State Tax Commissioner Fred o.
Blue. OF Charleston. In one of the most
important papers before the annual
convention of the State Board of
Trade. now being held In this city. at
last nights session in the Market
Auditorium Following the conclusion
OF the paper a general discussion of
the subject. A. well as methods OF
taxation and suggested changes, was
INDUCED In for an hour preceding the
banquet held at the Windsor hotel.
Mr.. Blues paper follows:
The limited time viii not permit
elaborate discussion OF the subject
West Virginia has such a storehouse os
natural resources that her needed reve-
be raised. without serious burden on
ny person or on any business. The
tcsk. Is TO overcome opposition. The
ton and Hesitation. I believe that your
nrst impression will be that some OF the
susEestsens made in this paper are
II L. trite when your attention Is called
90 the facts that We have $4,000 square
m s OF coal 1900 square miles Of
timber. thousands OF acres OF fruit pre-
dncinE soil equal 70 any. and that VIC
OF coal. 1ss 1000 900 cubic feet OF gas
with value OF over iss. 600 900 at point
% consumption. IL million barrels or
ton OF gas and fourth IN production OF
OIL. yet L. not the development or the
states resources destructive rather
"of the IS. coo. 900 tons OF coal annual
" produced. less than ten per cent
thereof In consumed within the state.
connective engines. OF the s3s. 600 900 OF
cubic feet OF gas produced annually. 81
per cent thereof goes beyond the limits
OF the state. largely to furnish fuel for
manufacturing Industries that tend TO
enrich other States. and practically all
out the state. there to be refined or con-
verted into products that go upon the
markets. Only about half OF our rsrrn
is Pr Se 81 State the rough Limbo
IN the state.
We are sending our energy and raw
material out OF the state. 20 come back
TO us In the form OF the finished pre-
duct. and We. in exchange for the price
OF the natural rough commodity pay
transportation both ways and the woges
Of skilled labor residing beyond ogr
borders. II would seem there Is needed
encourage and bring about the construc-
tive development. Thousands and thou
sands Of acres OF our best coal are
royalty and who seldom. n ever, see the
properties they own in free.
TO a greater or less extent the same
may be said as 90 the ownership or oil
ana gas and timber in West Virginia
Why should not the States natural re-
sources he made the means OF construct
growing towns and cities and prosperous
farms and horae markets for every pro-
duct from fairs and field. IL IL needed
IN West Virginia to realize that those
things can be accomplished.
There IL another resource in West
Virginia that needs careful attention.
So. long as these rock-ribbed mountains
stand and the rain falls. we will have
great natural water power. This ma
the constructive development OF the
state. This - the day OF the high unit
IN the manufacture OF certain kinds of
Perhaps IN no state. other than West
Virginia. can be found the natural water
power and the ideal coling coal side by
duction of electric energy. together with
the coke. largely make the necessary
combination for the high heat unit steel
The European war has called atten-
tion to the dependence OF the United
States on Germany for potash supply
and to the feet that we get our sodium
nitrate from Chile. The government has
called attention TO the fact. however.
that one OF our domestic supplies OF
NITROGEN compound lies in the fixation
OF atmospheric nitrogen by electricity
that. however. cheap hydro-electric de-
,neaiopment rs, rs necessary TO establish this
nshed. would make our large agricul-
tural and Industrial interests free from
the uncertainties OF the foreign supply
Natural sosnsry.
Another great resource OF West Vir-
Etnia. and one thar seems TO have been
entterly overlooked. lies in our noun
tains and hills and streams-our natural
scenery. We have been told that the
mountains are barriers TO our develop
nent. They are not. They may be util-
fzed and made great resource. To the
east and west are great cities and
densely populated states.
II the state would awaken 20 the op-
portuntty. and build properiy-rOuted
good. permanent highways for the con-
Nenlence OF her people. IL would be Of
inestimable benefit. The state would be
filled with tourists. We have been call
81 the switzerland Of America Geo
graphically we are favorable located.
Ihe great resources OF the state would
be presented then In way more favor