The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-08
Pittsburgh Man Declares
State Needs Advertising
to Get Outside Attention
InnumerabIe Advantages OF
West Virginian Pointed
Out to Bankers.

Declaring that the mineral, agrt-
cultural and commercial advan-
tages of West Virginia are innu-
merable, P. D. Harman OF. the Ma
tional Stockman and Farmer, Pitts
burgh, this afternoon told the dole
gates here for the group six con
vention of the West Virginia Bank
ers' Association that a campaign OIL
publicity is needed to bring the
state to the attention OF the outs De
world, Mr.. Harman spoke of "Seli-
ing West Virginia to the World.
Patriotism, like charity, should
begin. at home" Mr.. Harman de-
clared in opening his talk. The
man who does not believe and Fee
that he lives in the best VILLAGE.
town, city or state should get ready
to tear up stakes and move to some
other place where he feels that he
will be appreciated and where he
can appreciate his environments.
"It is very doubtful whether
there is a man, woman or child In
the great commonwealth or west
Virginia who is not only proud of
his state and his locality and eVery
one with red blood in his veins Is
IcduV ~ fhelSLo LLAO Ae<AA
the Mountain State.
UNFORTUNATELY for the state and
for the people who live in it the
great wealth that's found within
its confines and the Opportunities
for successful business Operations
are generally v unknown to:sthe 5rlost.
OF: :zthe people living outside of At.
This is%probably due Iao TO 4tllet
mod y q r the.Aeit iZe1fs 4of feS me- state
than to- any other cause. If some
OF tieFneWer territories Of this caun--
try had had as much to blow ahout
as West Virginia has had they
would have bosted their propos1-
tions to the extent OF doubling
their population and increasing
their manufacturing many fold.
'tAs to the mineral wealth Of the
state, the last reliable reports
show that the annual output of its
coal, oil and gas has had a value
close to s2oo.ooo,oOo dollars. This
is only excelled by Pennsylvania
which covers almost one hundred
per cent more territory. Fifty of
the fifty-five counties have work
able coal veins. More than 11,OO0.-
600 acres of workable coal -
found within the state, which is
about one-twelfth of the coal in all
the United States
TN natural gas West Virginia
leads the world The annual pro-
duction for the past few years has
been over three hundred billion
cubic feet. worth from 60 to IS
million dollars per year. The val
ue Of the gas produced is about
twice that of it's next competitor.
Pennsylvania 1t Is unfortunate,
however, for the state that less
than fifteen per cent Of its, fuel is
consumed with it's borders.
Manufacturing is increasing but
not in proportion to the advantages
offered by cheap and convenient
ties for the development of its wa
ter power there is no section of this
or any other country that offers the
inducements for the establishment
of new industries as does the little
old state of West Virginia. It the
possibilities of the state were de-
veloped along manufacturing lines
as they should be there would be a
material decrease in taxation AID
those now in the game would reap
material benefits on account OF the
increased activity of the state.
"As to the agricultural interests.
there is no state in the Union that
offers better opportunities for pref
table investments. 1t is true tnat
a portion of the state is rough and
mountainous but a liberal percent
age is well adapted to grain grow
ing and grazing. No better blHe
grass land is to be found anywhere
than in practically every county
and the climate is not .excelled even
l. - hive
tions OF Kentucky. The average
land value per acre given in the
1920 censuswas only $32-11. This
could be increased one hundred
per cent in few years if the pro9-
ar means were applied to. getting
more farmers in the state and the
farmers in many sections. split up
into smaller farms and more in
tensive system of farming intro
duced-
. According to the 1920. census
there were 1.463,701 people living
In the state, rs per cent of which
was rural. There are 87,2s9 farms,
772,2S9 OF which are operated by
the owners. The value of all farm
property is s496,439.617, while the
value of the land itself is S3o7,3oe,-
7o4. The total value of all the ma
1OTs 51dIIu C1opS 4ol1EIoSOE was pco'
2os, ,o09. and the total value OF all
crops and livestock for that year
was $147, TOT, ,00S.
LIT Is useless to argue as to the
great possibilities that West Eir-
ginia o offers to the people who live
inside OF her borders. They know
them and emit them. They possf-
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