The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-22
ETTENSIVE.FACTS
0NNEST virginia
GIlEN!NADDRESS
Teachers Urged by President
Of Normal Here to Read
Article to Pupils.


Facts and figures about Wcst
IifREnin which were compiled by
former Governor William A. Mas.
corkie and read at n meeting Of
the state educational association,
which was held In Charleston last
week proved 80 Interesting and in
formative that Joseph Roster. pres.
don't OF the Fairmont State Nor.
nal School, recommends that
teachers In the schools Of this city
read the article to their pupils.
The compilation OF this data re-
quired weeks Of research work and
years of intimate association with
the big affairs Of the state.
Some years ago 1t was the fash.
ION to speak Of the state OF West
Virginia as Tho Little Mountain
State, said Mr. MacCorkle.
During my term us governor I
epposd this nomenclature vigorous
81, and 50 did Governor Glasscock.
Lately 1t has again become the
fashion and many newspapers Civ.
ing their space and money to the
development Of the state. are hurt
ing their efforts by calling the state
THE Little Mountain State It
IS a misnomer and a reflection upon
the state, and in fact a distinct
injury.
The Big Mountain State.
WEST Virginia has nearly $4,000
t1uare miles Of area. 1t is nearly
four times larger than Connecticut.
Ifs eleven times larger than Della.
ware. It is 5000 square miles larg-
On than Denmark. 1t Is twice as
large as H1.and. 1t is five times
larger than Alsace- Lorraine, which
Tor Its comparatively small terri
tory has deluged the world in
blood. 1t lacks only about 1000
square miles in being as large as
Maine. II is two and one-half
times larger than Maryland. 1t is
three times larger than New Hamp.
shire. 1t Is three and one-haif
times larger than New Jersey. It
IS twenty times us big as Rhode
Island.
ct requires only 5000 square
miles TO be as large as Scotland,
With all its wealth Of history ana
story. It Is one and one.half times
larger than Switzerland. 1t Is
nearly, three times as large as Pal
estine, which has echoed to the
footsteps OF prophet and priest aud
king. It Is two and one.half times
bigger than Vermont. 1t Is three
times larger than Wales. 1t is lars
er; than either Connecticut, Della.
ware, Maryland, Massachusetts.
Now Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode
Island or Oklahoma, and IS half as
large as all of these states put to.
gether. 1t Is as large as Connect
sieitt; Delaware and Massachusetts
together and is nearly us large az
New Hampshire, New Jersey,
Rhode Island and Oklahoma com.
bined.
ExeeIs by Comparison.
ut will not do to characterize a
state of those proportions as
Little State Consider again. IL
Isl longer north and south than
elther South Carolina, North
OF South Dakota, Oklahoma. Kan.
sas, Nebraska, Ohio, North Caro-
Ina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Penn.
eglyania, Virginia, or any one of
the New England states. 1t is
wider from east to west than eth.
- Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama.
Indiana, or Georgia, and excepting
Maine 1t Is wider from east to ives:
han the whole Of New England and
excepting Maine wider than either
orany Of the New England states,
and from the western extremity at
Kenoya to the eastern point u
Martinsburg, 1t Is wider than tho
great state Of Georgia.
ut Will not do to characterize
such proportions as this as Little
H reaches from Norfolk on tho
south to the city of New York or
the north being nearly one hundred
miles from north to south, greater
IA extent than the great state Of
Pennsylvania. 1t Is 245 miles fron
north to south and 274 miles from
Harpers Ferry to Kenova. a tire.
rpendous state in area with none
otl the characteristics Of littleness.
This extensive width and
breadth of area produces a mos.
Taried climate with an altitude
q nothing above the ocean to
three quarters Of mile in the air,
tsithere, anything like this in GU:
whole country?
stupendous Figures.
when you consider its inside
i.otentialities, 1t Is even more tire.
mendous than its outside limits.
There Is nothing little about the
state. 1t has 1920 square miles Of
the Great Appalachian coal area, tho
best in the world. 1t has nearly
1000 more square miles OF coa'
than Kentucky, twice as much az