Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-03-22

of
HON. HOWARD SUTHERLAND
{ Continued from Front Page


say was ordered to be printed in the
Record in 8-point type as follows:
(The essay awarded first prize in
the. Sutherland essay contest, open
to high school students of West Vir-
! ginia, written by Miss Maxine M.
! Williams, Plus Kanawha, County, w.
! Va.)
West Virginia, A Good Place in. !.
-. 49,. Which to Live
/ West Virginia is a good place in
which to live. It has natural beauty
progressive schools, splendid citi-
zens, efficient government, and grow
ing cities. 1t has rich soil, a genial
climate, fine building materials,
good transportation facilities, thriv-
ing industries, and great mineral
wealth. Great cmomercial success a.
waits the State and the people who
develop its resources.
Nature has given to West Virgin
ia wonderful scenery. From the Al
leghanies. on the east, 1850 feet a.
bove sea level, TO the undulating
Ohio plains on the west, 500 to 600
feet above sea level, there is an ever
| changing panorama of beauty-hills
in the green of summer or the Grim
son, orange, russell, and gold of au-
tumn, yelled by blue hage and silver
mist-colorful clumps of wild honey
suckle, dainty arbutus, stately laurel,
and rhododendron-rugged canyons,
curving rivers, and sparkling
| springs, many of which are mineral.
White Sulphur, having probably the
finest hotel in the South, is the most
famous of the mineral or healing
springs.
West Virginia has good schools
from primary to university. The
State, parents, teachers, and chill
dren are cooperating to make the
educational system better each year.
Last year $11 100000, almost four
times the expenditure of 1910, was
spent upon the common schools. In
the past 10 years the State has trebl-
ed it number Of high schools Six
excellent normal srhools are train
ing teachers for the important task
of instructing pupils in the subjects
that prepare for Complete living.o
Approximately 200 men and women
teach the 2,700 students of the I'M
| iyersity. Through extension work
the university constantly strives to
help more citizens.
At Institute, Bluefield, and Har-
pers Ferry are schools for the high
er education of the Negro race. At
Romney, blind and deaf youth are
educated in studies and trades that
enable them to become self-support-
ing. Instead of permitting way
ward boys and girls to go unhinder-
ed to destruction, seperate industrial
schools guide many Of them in use
full citizenship.
The people of West Virginia are
brave, Industrious, 1awabiding, and
intelligent. The battle fields Of every
war from the Revolution to the
World conflict have proved their
courage. In 1920 over 1891 ,OO0, 900
was on deposit in the banks Of the
State. Since the population at that
time was 1,462,701, the per capita
bank account was little more than
$191. No more acts Of lawlessness
occur in West Virginia than in other
similar areas Of United States terri
tory. Melville Davisson Post, short
story writer; Henry Sydnor Harri-
son, novelist; Herbert Quick, novel;
list; Waitman Barbe, poet; Joseph
Rath, mathematician; and I. G.
White, geologist, demonstrate the
thinking ability of some West Vir-
ginians. Most of the people Of the
State are native born. There are
many negroes, but the majsrity Of
the population is white. There are
III SOAAAAASeSs 1hC IWO laCCS liNC IL
perfect harmony and understanding.
The citizens Of West Virginia be-
lieve in good government, and they
have it The legislators are intelli-
gent, capable, liberal, and progress
i've. The statue books are full Of
laws for the good Of man, and they
are being ~enfrced. State provision
is made for the care of the public
health, as well as the general well
fare Of the people West Virginia is
among the States having the lowest
percentage of tuberculosis. Longe-
witty goes to the peak in the Noun
tain State.
West Virginia people are not
crushed by excessive taxes. In 1918
the rate of taxation was $007 on