Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-09-09

and thriving cities OF the state, with
numerous wholesale and banking in
terests, is located in Mercer county.
Splendid permanent pixies are being
built, radiating out of Bluefield and
Princeton. Mingo was not organized
as county until about 1900, which
municipal entity came about because
of the prominence taken on by reason
Of the coal development Ten years
after its birth Mingo property valua-
tions had swelled to $1,221,885. Now
Mingo county pays taxes on a valua-
ton of $14,5O2,347.
AS to Fayette county, which stands
second in coal production, the figures
at hand do not tell the whole story.
with the completion of the Chesapeake
& Ohio railway along about 1872.
Property values then were far from
significant. Along about that time the
sheriff of the county traded tax tickets
for the hides of wild animals. The
lands of the county, except those in
the immediate front of New River, had
very meager value, and not until
1890 was there any development OF
the coal land in any of the territory
now traversed by branch railway lines.
In 1885 the property valuations had
grown to $2,40O,544, and 1904 capita
tions were reported. In 1914 the prop
erty valuations had been boosted to
$25, 405,986 and 10000 capitations were
ass Issed.
Kanawha county, wherein is located
the capitol of the state, has grown
Of the development of the coal indus
try. Had 1t not been for coal Charles.
ton, which is one of the richest of
West Virginia cities, could not have
emerged into its present attractive
status. The volume of whoIesals
trade in Charleston, which is, per
haps, larger than in any other West
Virginia city, save one, is dependent
almost wholly on the prosperity of the
coal industry. Property valuations In
1885, then, even, stimulated by the
infant coal industry, were 5000, 464,
Now they are 355. 1880. having been
multiplied nine fold. In the same pc.
Rod capitations increased from 7,128
to 1920.
At this time Marion county Is rich
in three great mineral resources
coal, oil and gas, though 1t was the
Development of its coal acreage that
gave to Marion county its great indus
trial impetus. The other great deVel.
opmentg came at much later date.
the coal production In Marion county
was started at date earlier than
1885, which Is the date shown for com.
parsons in this article. In that year
property valuations, which were very
meager before the coal development,
had grown to s5,1S9,481. In 1914 they
had reached the amazing sum Of $48,.
8S3,388. being peculiar combination
of Fights and three's. Marion county
stands third among the counties in
coal production. The largest pro.
ducing company in the state has it,
headquarters in Fairmont, which ID
one of the busiest and most prosper,
GUS cities in the state; its various
manufacturing, mercantile and bank
ing institutions getting large proper
ton Of their support out OF the coal
business.
Harrison county. while entitled ia
be classed as typical coal county, has
An item Of value to It's credit that does
not. generally. pertain to coal producing
counties. It is rich In farming and
grazing lands. its surface being GOV
cred with splendid blue grass farms
Nevertheless, it is its minerals thai
+ afford the chief part OF the valuations
that 90 to make Harrison county the
second in point Of richness Of all the
Continued on fourth page.