The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-07-21

steady growth in population. Ac-
cording to the thirteenth census the
population of West Virginia has in
creased from 959,800 in 1900 to II
221,119 in 1910. While West Vir-
ginia's percent Of total increase in
population is practically the same as
excess of that of the other states
around it. There has been remark
able increase Cos per cent? In the
cities and towns having a population
OF $500 or over. In fact, there are
but eleven states in which the per
centage of increase In the urban pop
ulation has been greater than in West
Virginia, and of that number all but
one (F1orfda) are situated west OF
the Mississippi river. At the same
time it shows that the increase In
rural population has been relatively
higher than in the surrounding
states. That the state is still strong
ly agricultural is shown by the fact
that efghty-two per cent of the pop
ulation at the present time Is classed
as rural. There are but two states
east of the Mississippi river in which
the percentage of increase In rural
population has been greater than IN
West Virginia.
Astonishingly rapid has been the
increase of population in our cities,
that increase ranging up to 500 per
cent for cities of 5000 and over dur
ing the decade.
With $4,000 square miles or terri
tory. in less than thirty-three years
cur state has increased in population
from 500, 900 to one and half MIL
lion. Our educational institutions
took firm root in their development
in 1892 and they have been going
forward, forging rapidly totthe front:
comparing favorably with those OF
any other state 81 the Union. Our
hfeh school system has increased
with great rapidity until we have now
142 high schools, with a student body
numbering 1850. Our school
youths number In all grades 100000
with 10, 900 teachers. West Virginia
is one of the few states in which the
teaching of agriculture in the com
mon schools has been required by
law. 1t has numerous normal schools.
three institutions of college rang and
state university. Between 1900
and 1910 the expenditure for common
schools Increased from two to four
million dollars. and the value OF sall
public property used for educational
purposes from 81, sis 900 to $1O,-
$4,000.
Ideal In Location.
Our commonwealth has the natural
resources and all the requisites to
make it one of the first states of the
union, located as it is in favorable
position both as to latitude and lon-
[-gitude.. Upon the lofty SUBMITS OF
Its mountains nest the we'll defined
system Of winds blowing In opposite
directions, where the clouds meet
from opposite seas and mingle their
rain.
west Virginia has an elevation of
from ESQ to 1860 feet above the sea
level. 1t has more blue grass than
its sister state, Kentucky. Its fruit
lsyies with that Of the Pacific states
In flavor. While its horticultural de-
Ivelopment is young. it's future is In
deed hattering. The improvement OF
our farming. through the extension
and agricultural departments OF the
university has gone forward and
progressed In way that is marvel
E Gus in the last few years. compare
lively speaking. In West Virginia g
mountains is found some OF the most
beautiful scenery in the world.
AS I have said, 1t is the belief OF
West Virginians that the story Of our
states development Is yet to be told
as part OF the bright record OF
achievement that is to be written by
the people of the United States. This
exposition and the great occasion for
1t are prophetic of the development
and progress which are likely to take
place In invest Virginia during the
next twenty years. We can judge
the future only by the past. Il see. no
reason why there should be any halt
In the development of our great nat
ural resources. The world traffic
through the Panama canal Is destined
to open up, vast possibilities In the
way of new markets for our unsur-
passed steam Goals. Not only ia West
Virginia coal OF quality and char
acter particularly suitable for these
new markets on the Pacific coasts Of
both North and South America. but
IT can be put down at tidewater at
cheaper cost than the product OF any
other field. The prospective growth
of our coal industry alone would
seem to insure banner prosperity
for US during the next two decades.
Country Life Enlarged.
And pari passu with all this indus
trial .deve1opment are being realized
the aspirations and dreams of men
Eand women who are working along
educational lines for civic and social
advancement, for the conservation OF
the public health, the enlargement of
country life, for the attainment of q
larger measure OF social Justice In our
Industrial system, for better and hap
spier West Virginians. & asrwells as Tor
n better and greater West Virginia.
Who can tell? The future may have
even better and greater things ~