Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-08-10
The Truth About weS yirvin;,

virginia. lou VIII see in ont
lihe the most irregular State in the
o"'on' It's borders extend from the
MIDDLE of Pennsylvania on the north
u below the center of Kentucky ON
c south; and from the middle of
onio on the west, to within fifty.siN
niles ci Washington on the e,s,
within these borders, and contrib.
u'"S materially 10 their irregularity
are 10 be found two panhandles, one
more man any other State in the Union
mas Not only do the panhandles add
W the irregular shape Of the State
OUT the people living in these sections
nave diverse opinions and thought
ABOUT conditions and government, which
aaaS wealth of thinking that the
state draws from which is possessed
by no other State
You will also note. in your examin.
stionS OF the map. the fact that ono
man has pointed out: west Virginia
IS the most southern of the northern
States and the most northern of tho
southern States; the most eastern of
the western States and the most west
ern OF the eastern States" Another
man has said: at is d good
state for the shape il is in"
Not only is West Virginia the most
irregular in outline, but it is also the
most mountainous of all the States
IL mas been well called the "Switzer-
land of America" and is frequently
referred TO as "The Little Mountain
State Our State motto, Montani
Semper Liberi (Mountaneers are al
ways freel, describes the geography
OF our State and at the same time in
dicates the spirit of her people
III we are to take a bird's-eye view
OF this State from the top of its high
est mountains, we would see on the
western side, bordering the Ohio river,
wide plains which gradually recede
into rolling hills and broad valleys
which narrow into deep ravines and
canyons in the upland regions. Be
tween these valleys rise hills which
east of the center grow into huge
mountains that stand out against the
SKY like immense giants, and form
the famous Allegheny range which
acts as dividing line between West
Virginia and Virginia.
The hills and mountains Of our
State make range in elevation from
the highest point, 1869 feet, to tho
lowest, 260 feet above sea level. This
wide span Of elevation produces an al
titude equivalent to more thon thous-
and miles of latitude. 1t so affects the
temperature that vegetable and for.
est products of West Virginia are such
as may be found from the southern
line Of Virginia to beyond the Cana
dian borders.
Owing to the diversity of climate
caused by the wide difference in ele-
walton in the various sections of the
State, we find three well-defned life
zones; the Carolinian, the Transition
and the Canadian. These life zones
afford opportunity for many different
kinds Of animal life to make West Vir-
ginia their home. In the mountain
regions may be found the black bear,
deer, wild cats, panthers and many
other smaller animals. Also we have
200 known varieties of birds which
have been officially listed.
The highest recorded temperature
for this State is LOT degrees, the low
est, 33 degrees below zero. Every
body thinks about Florida as being
a State of perpetual summer where
people enjoy the invigorating sunshine
the year round. But careful observa-
ton has proved that there is more
sunshine in West Virginia than there
is in Florida, and less snowfall than
in Ohio and Illinois. The climate is
so favorable that some of the most ia
nous summer resorts in the country
are to be found here. Guests from
all over the world visit White Sulphur
Springs and other West Virginia re-
sorts each year.
Whether we see the hills and valleys
Of ever-changing scenes or the huge
mountains covered with luxuriant for
ests, there is beauty, grandeur and sim
plcty on every hand. AS Isaac Walton
said Of the world, we may well say Of
West Virginia: Doubtless God could
have made a more beautiful place, but
doubtless God never did"
Our place in the sun is fixed. The