The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-10


the lungs. No alcohol or harmful
drugs. Always insist on SCOTS.
Scott & Bovine. plooladeld. M. is-a7
ent time iustiiies my position in this
matter: for instance. the risk in the
Pocahontas field is s1.70; In the New
River field. s4.12 Including Eccles
and Layland exploslons); Talrmont,
Silt; Tucker, $1.15: Kanawha,
sl.07: Mingo. s2.22: Logan, s1.65
Preston and Barbour. $.54. Yet the
price Of the low. volatile coal with
I few exceptions is greater in the mar
ket. SO the injustice OF fiat rate is
obvious to all.
West Virginia has high rate Of
casualties as compared with many
other states. In my opinion there is
only one way to successfully deal
with this important question aud
that Is by a closer cooperation.
which 1 assure you the mining and
compensation departments OF the
/ state government have been attempt
ing to obtain. and this will continue
to be their policy.
The number of fatal accidents last
year on the inside OF the mines was
i24, and on the outside thirty-o ne. a
total of 455 for the year, and de-
crease OF eighty-six from the previ-
GUS year. Our coal tonnage produced
for the last year. however, was less
than the previous year by 1864, All
tons. and the record discloses the
fact that there was a fatality for ev-
cry 10000 gross tons produced. Our
total gross tonnage for the year end
ing was 64,11S,677, with an average
price OF ninety-seven cents and an
average cost OF production per ton
over the state averaging ninety-cents.
1t Is easy to see what would have
happened to this industry If the pro-
posed additional fifteen cent differ
entail had been added to freight
charges on western shipments. l am
sure each and every industry owner
must feel grateful for the bold posi-
ton taken by the entire citizenship
in Its defense of the coal industry
against such a needless outrage.
Not against Coal Industry.
1t should also put at rest another
thing, gentlemen, and that Is that
there is anyone opposed to the coal
industry. a certain group OF men,
numbering about half a dozen, have
tried to create the idea that I am
lined up against the coal industry.
should be glad to have recalled one
act OF mine, either in private or pub
lie life that tends 10 substantiate such
an assertion. The coal industry OF
this state has no stronger supporter
than myself, and those interested in
1t will find no one going further to
protect 1t from injury. The only
thing 1 have ever asked is co-opera-
ton and a willingness upon the part
OF those interested in 1t to give sup
port TO our states best interests for
the purpose of continuing the devel-
opment along with the other classes
OF industry and citizens, and this,
gentlemen. will be the demand in
the future. regardless of who occu-
pies the gubernatorial chair. This ia
an age when men are practical and
recognize the rights of others in
business as well as in private life.
1t is period, too, when men are
taking more interest than ever before
in economics. social and civic ques-
tons. for which we should indeed
all be glad.
States Finances.
| We have heard much of our states
financial condition and about the
various revenue laws that were
passed at the last session Of the leg
islaturc. l commenced early in my
administration to point out the fact
that the state was in condition bor-
dering on bankruptcy. but few
seemed to take me seriously. l as
sure You it would have been more
pleasant for me to have been able to
report a substantial surplus in our
state treasury. but such was not the
case and / was not willing to accom-
modate those who without investl-
cation took the position that no adj
ditional revenue was needed. when
1t was quite plain that what did
eventually happen would befall us II
relief were not offered by the legisla-
ture, which resulted. as / had fore
casted, in the state being compelled
to suspend payment OF the current
obligation until additional revenue
was provided. So we experienced the
crash. and then relief came.
For the first time in the history of
the state We know our actual financi-
al condition. as should have been the
case all through the years past In the
development of our state: but not
until chapter forty. OF the acts of
the Legislature Of 1915 assured that
the state would be run upon a bust
ness basis in the same manner in
which YOU conduct your business.
The first audit by Mr.. Dover, OF
the accounting department, is at
hand, and It disclosed that the state
has accumulated a deficit which
amounted to S776,151.Os on July 1,
1915. If the entire amount appropri-
ated had been expended prior to
July l. 1915. the deficit would have
totaled s1,5S9,246.O6. With the aid
of the additional revenue provided
by the second extraordinary session
OF the 1915 Legislature, but which
were not constructed on account Of
the lack OF funds. and will DO able to
meet the appropriations made by the
1915 legislature for new buildings,
repairs and improvements, and the
expenses Of maintaining the depart
ments and institutions. and will, ut
the end Of the two years-June 80,
1917, have surplus Of more than
100000. ~ 4sa n
Lower Levy. .c q I
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