The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-02-22
PLAN
Proposed for the Development OF
Real Community Life
WEST VIRGINIA
BY J. III. STEWARD

The human and material resources
Of West Virginia are practically limit
| less The high percentage OF native
! born citizens-rugged In mind and
body. loyal to their State and to tho
country in every respect-the magnin-.
cent climate. the scenic beauty and
| the great abundance Of natural re-
| sources-the richest land In the world
display potentialities uneQualled and
magnificent. West Virginia, for all,
that makes for wealth and happiness;
Is uneQualled by any area its size In,
the world Everything desirable and
contributory to the wealth, health and
happiness of the people Is here In the
very finest quality. Some may think:
that West Virginia has been exploited
and developed. but the possibilities,
of the State have scarcely been
| scratched
However, one mistake West Viz
ginians make is that many OF the
finest citizens are so content in their
well doing that they are too unob-
servant OF the conduct OF those who,
take advantage Of the generous spirit
of our people and too lacking IN that;
| sternness against practices which crop
out in small element OF our citizens
to defame the State at home and
abroad.
An event at Parkersburg shows
what can be done whenever the latent
talent and superb moral and intellec-
tual forces are brought into activity.
The Parkersburg News, OF November
18th, 1902, contained a very interest
Ing story OF this event-a story of.
friendship and good fellowship for:
Wood County. Two hundred members
OF the Board OF Commerce, Rotary,
KwRnis and Lions Clubs each In
fted farmer of Wood County as
his guest at q banquet At the Odd,
P>ealows Temple
"rhe occasion was a mo
msntous ono, for II was tho
hrst time In the history Of
Wood County that the Citizen
ship Of Parkersburg had pub
iicly acknowledged their In
debtedness to the farmers Of
the county and their desire for
cooperation and a closer in
tlmaey and friendship"
The News says that these various
organizations intended in one grand
effort TO show their appreciation of
Wood county farmers, but doubtless,
the farmers just as genuinely accept
ed the invitation as an expression of
their appreciation and friendship for
their "city cousins"
During this meeting some good
speeches were made by both local and
outside talent. Good things were said
OF Parkersburg, Wood County, and
West Virginia. The best part of it
probably was not mentioned In the
addresses, namely, the possibility of
the repetition Of this sort of gathering
In Wood County every year and the
same thing in all the counties Of the
State. Also there Is noted the failure
to bring into the meeting some of
the leading women of both the city
and the country, thus combining the
thought, purposes, viewpoint and
talent of both sexes from both ele-
ments of the county population Such
continuity of effort all over the
State would do more to bring about
bHOIOuSi utN tlOIiDtIll OI COM
nunity spirit. to standardize West
Virginia at home and abroad on q
higher plane, TO develop greater state
pride and bring US into higher repute
abroad than any movement that has
occurred In the State for a long time.
At these meetings addresses could
be made. by talent from home and
abroad and thus bring IL thought and
action from other sections Of the
United States and at the same time
carry away a more correct under
standing OF the situation In West Viz
slnIa In any way relating TO It's wei
fare and the way things are being
done here. 1t would serve the great
purpose Of dissipating fallaclous
stories of West Virginia and give a
clearer understanding Of the wonder
ful state and still more wonderful
people Of West Virginia. This looks
Ike dom something oursclYeA- u