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

denominations are Methodist, Epis-
opal, Baptist, Catohlic, and United
Brethren.
Rich soil and genial climate
give to West Virginia great agri-
cultural possibilities In 1919 the
value of farm crops was SOC, 537, 900.
Last year the State produced A.
100000 bushels of wheat, 100000
bushels of oats, and 22,100,000 bu-
shells of corn. Delicious applies and
luscious peaches are making West
Virginia famous. One county, .Ber-
kelley, in good seasons, produces $780,
900 barrels of apples, more than
either Oregon or Washington. There
are 100000 fruit trees in the State
Small Observation-Disclosures rasberries
and blackberries many kinds of
vegetables, and various nuts flourish
in West Virginia. = Truck farmers
have brilliant opportunities in the
State. No long rainy seasons, with
ering droughts, or extremes of heat
or cold plague West Virginia.
Forty-five inches of rainfall, well
distributed over the year, furnished
abundant moisture for growing crops
and rivers to float them to market.
Four of West Virginia's rivers are
locked and damned for navigation
The rivers of the State can produce
enough electricity to furnish power
and lights to all the homes and fac
tories in West Virginia if it ever be-
comes necessary. The rivers are esti-
mated to have maximum potential
energy off 100000 horsepower, more
than any other State pt~qs
West Virginia has not only good
water transportation, bat also hard
roads, steam railways, and electric
lines. At present there are Its
miles of class A. highways in the
State and S50,000,000 in the hands Of
the State road commission to bring
| the class A mileage to $780, Hun
dreds of miles of hard roads will be
maintained by individual counties.
The Midland Trail, a national high
way, traverses West Virginia from
east to west Twelve railroads and
branch lines, collectively measuring
! 3,l99 miles, serve most parts of the
I State Several hundred miles of
| electric lines connect the f1eadihg
/ cities with each other and the sur
rounding rural sections.
One great benefit of hard surfaced
roads is the consolidation of schools.
The isolated, uncomfortable iitsaani-
tary, and too often unsightly one
room school houses are eliminated
and the children transported, per-
haps in motor busses, to attractive,
modern buildings, where they gen.
orally receive better instruction than
the one-room school affords, because
of better grading and more time for
individual help.
| West Virginia is well supplied
with building materials. An abund-
ance of building stone and limestone
for manufacturing cement are found
in the State. Quantities of fine tim
Dor exist also. Six hundred and
ninety-seven million six hundred
thousand feet Of lumber was cut in
production of hardwood, yielding
more yellow poplar and chestnut
than any other State. There are $780,
90 acres Of virgin forest enormous
oak, chestnut poplar, beech hickory,
ash, and maple trees, 10000 acres
and 100000 acres Of farm wood
land.
Much food for the taking is found
rim the steams and forests. The riv-
ers abound with fish and the hills
with wild game, deer, bears, coons,
and wild turkeys in the dense tim
bar; rabbits, opossums, and pleas
ants in most sections. Truly West
Virginia is a sportsman's paradise.
A few eagles, many hawks, and owls,
and large numbers Of song birds
nest in the State.
Many domestic animals and fowls
are raised in West Virginia. Thous-
ands of manginficient cattle are
found in the hills and bluegrass val
lsys Of the State. Numerous farm
ers and companies are regarded to
the breeding of thoroughbred, high
type cattle and sheep and swine.
The superior, fat, grass fed cattle Of
West Virginia are famous. No other
State in the Union ha such reputa-
ton for fat lambs and sheep. For
three consecutive years New York
Stock Market reports stated that
West Virginia sent the best carloads
Of lamps that entered Jersey City
I ,.Lat All ~ ~. CAox.