The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-07-22


TEL FIR JIHSO
WEST VIRGINIA.
(continu-d troTr pEee oDs1
West, to within fifty-six miles OF
Washington on the east.
Within these borders, and contri-
butfng materially to their irregu-
larfty, are to be found two panhan-
dies, one more than any other state
in the Union has. Not only do the
panhandles add to the irregular
shape OF the state, but the people
living in these sections have d1-s
verse opinions and thought about
conditions and government. which
adds a wealth of thinking that the
state draws from which Is possess
ed by no other state.
You win also note, in your exam
nations of the map, the fac: that
one man has pointed out West
Virginia is the most southern or
the northern states; the most north
err of the southern states; the
most eastern of the western States
and the most western OF the east
ern s,tates. Another ran has said:
Il. is a d good state for the
shape it is in"
a Mountain State
Not only is West Virginia the
most irregular in outline, but it is
also the most mountainous of all
the states. 1t has been well called
the Switzerland of America" and
is frequently referred to as THE
Little Mountain State" Our state
motto, Montani Semper Liberi,
(MountaineerS are always free)s de-
scribes the geography OF our state
and at the same time indicates the
spirit OF her people.
II we were able to take birds
eye view of this state from the top
Of one OF it's highest mountains, We
would see on the western side, Dor
dering the Ohio River, wide plains
which gradually recede into rolling
hills and broad valleys which mar
row into deep ravines and canyons
in the upland regions. Between
these valleys rise hills which, east
of the center grow int ohuge noun
tains that stand out against the
sky like immense giants, and form
the famous Allegheny range which
acts as a dividing line between
West Virginia and Virginia.
The hills and mountains of our
state make a range in elevation
from the highest point, 1859 feet,
to the lowest, 26O feet above sea
level. This wide span OF elevation
produces an altitude equivalent to
more than thousand miles of la
titude. 1t SO affects the tempera-
ture that vegetable and forest pro-
ducts of West Virginia are such
as may be found from the southern
line OF Virginia to beyond the Can
adam borders.
Owing to the diversity of elm
ate caused by the wide difference
in elevation in the various sections
Of the state, we find there well-de-
fined life zones; the Carolinian;
the Transition and the Canadian
These life zones afford opportunity
for many different kinds of animals
to make West Virginia their home
In the mountain regions may still
be found the black bear, deer, wild
cats, panthers and many other
smaller animals. Also we have 26O
known varieties of birds which
have been officially listed.
Climate
The highest recorded tempera-
ture for this state is 107 degrees,
the lowest degrees below zero.
Everybody thinks about Florida as
being a state of perpetual summer
where people enjoy the invigorat-
ing sunshine the year round. But
careful observation has proved that
there is more sunshine in West Vir-
ginia than there is in Florida, and
less snowfall than in Ohio or Illi-
nois. The climate is so favorable
that some of the most famous sum-
mer resorts in the country are to
be found here. Guests from all over
the world visit White Sulphur
Springs and other West Virginia
resorts each year.
Whether we see the hills and val
leys of ever-changinS scenes or the
huge mountains covered with luXurl
ant forests, there is beauty grand
eur and simplicity 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 doubt
less God never did"
Our place in the sun is fixed. The
responsibility for making our state
the greatest in, the union rests with
the million and one half citizens
living here. With our great natural
resources, our wonderful climate,
our matchless scenery, and our
pure blooded American citizenry,
there is no reason why West Vir-
ginia cannot become the shining
star in this great armament of
states.
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