1942: West Virginia

Area and Population.

West Virginia, originally a part of Virginia, was conditionally admitted to the Union on Dec. 31, 1862, and began to function as the thirty-fifth state on June 20, 1863. With the inclusion in 1866 of Jefferson and Berkeley counties, the boundary remains as thus established. A geological survey, completed about twelve years ago, finally fixed the aggregate area of the 55 counties at 24,282 sq. mi. of which 148 were water surface.

On April 1, 1940, the population of West Virginia was 1,901,974, which represented an increase of 172,769, or 10 per cent, as compared with 1930. The 1940 density was 79 to the square mile, and the total population included representatives of all races.

Huntington, with 78,836, is the largest city, and Charleston, the capital city, with 67,914, is second. Wheeling and Fairmont, among the larger cities, with 61,099 and 23,105 respectively, had less population in 1940 than in 1930. Other important cities in the order of their size (1940) are Clarksburg, 30,579; Parkersburg, 30,103; and Bluefield, 20,641.

Education.

The total pupil enrollment in the 4,744 public primary and elementary schools for 1941-42 was 302,230, or 4,712 less than for the preceding school year. Of this total 18,366 were Negroes, which was 496 less than for 1940-41. The total enrollment of 370 high schools (271 senior and 99 junior) was 141,107, of whom 33,645 were on the junior level. The total for all high schools was 3,014 less than that of the preceding year. There were in addition, 39 private and parochial elementary and high schools. Teachers numbered 16,119, of whom 10,717 were elementary (10,073 white and 644 Negro). Of the 5,028 high-school teachers, 374 were Negroes.

The total cost of public elementary and high-school education in 1941-42 was approximately $31,000,000, of which the state contributed $15,437,285. State funds aggregating $150,000 annually were available for textbooks for children of indigent parents, and a teacher retirement system first became effective for the year 1941-42.

Public Welfare.

In 1941 a more extensive program of public assistance and relief was begun. In response thereto the number of old-age, blind, and dependent children cases rose from about 18,000 in July, 1940, to about 29,500 in July, 1941, and to 37,191 in July, 1942. The general relief loads grew from 12,775 to 14,347 and to 17,470 in February, 1942. For the year 1941-42 $4,150,000 was appropriated for old-age assistance and aid to the blind and to dependent children, and for the same year $3,100,000 was appropriated for general relief under the general welfare act of 1936. General relief was reduced to $2,800,000 for the year 1942-43.

Agriculture.

According to the 1940 census, West Virginia contained 99,282 farms, with total acreage of 8,908,803, or 57.8 per cent of the total area. The average value of farm lands was $30.29 per acre, and they represented a total value of $268,847,642.87. Tenants operated 22.7 per cent of all farm lands, 17.8 per cent of which were used for crops and 22.8 per cent for grazing. Corn was easily the leading product, with a value of $11,076,000. Hay was second, amounting to $9,645,000. The apple crop of 5,024,000 bu. was worth $4,019,000.

Industry.

In 1940 the state reported 3,188 industrial establishments, which employed 230,726 persons and paid $396,884,876.99 in wages. These plants had a total production value of about $898,722,285.80. For the fiscal year 1941-42 chemicals and allied products, among the newer industries, employed 13,932 persons and had a total annual payroll of $34,039,000. Nylon and liveglas, synthetic products, were first made in West Virginia about 1940. Mining excepted, iron, steel, and metal manufacturing, with 43,591 employees and a total annual payroll of $78,570,000, was the state's largest industry. Glass making although one of the oldest industries, was still one of the most important. For the year 1941-42 it employed 15,328 workers, and had a total payroll aggregating $26,924,000.

Other important industries, together with their respective number of employees and total annual payrolls for the fiscal year 1941-42, were lumber and wood products, 15,678 and $16,124,000; clay, stone, sand, and allied products, 13,518 and $20,312,000; and automobiles and trucks, 13,326 and $19,659,000. Total employees, including miners and coke makers, numbered 456,721, and the annual payroll aggregated $727,592,000.

Mining.

Bituminous coal mining is the most important West Virginia extractive industry. Total production for the state in 1941 amounted to 140,944,744 tons. There were 126,214 miners employed and the annual payroll aggregated $230,151,000. Recoverable coal reserves, as of 1941, were 53,312,909,731 tons.

Since 1863, and including 1941, West Virginia has produced 418,345,016 bbl. of crude oil. Reversing the trend of a decade or more, towards lowered production, the amount for 1941 was 3,480,000 bbls., or 53,694 more than for 1940. Boosted by new Oriskany sand developments, natural gas production for 1941 amounted to 170,000,000,000 cu. ft.

Banking and Finance.

For the year ending June 30, 1942, there were 103 state and 77 national banks in West Virginia, with deposits aggregating $176,258,917.46 and $217,197,747.92, respectively. Resources of 22 Federal savings and loans associations were $20,345,193.19. Resources of 38 state building and loan associations were $11,467,338.84. State revenues, from all sources, totalled $61,011,349, of which $19,335,822.26 came from gross sales tax; $10,930,247.25 from consumer's sales tax; $9,459,661.30 from gasoline tax; $4,250,000 from liquor sales; and $2,473,742.26 from the state income tax. Total state revenue disbursements were $62,816,734.49, but a balance from the previous years in addition to transfers left a total net balance, as of June 30, 1942, of $24,027,131.80.

The state road system embraced 4,667.965 miles of improved primary and 11,996.5 miles of improved secondary roads. The total assessed value of public utilities was $661,343,500; personal property $436,074,317; and real estate, $865,480,813. The grand total was $1,962,898,630.

Political Events.

The most important political incident of the year was the November election. Governor Neely, having resigned from the United States Senate to become governor, sought re-election to the Senate, and was defeated by approximately 50,000 votes. At the same time a solid Democratic representation in Congress was divided equally between Republicans and Democrats. Kay Thomas, Democrat, was elected attorney general, to fill a vacancy caused by the earlier resignation of Clarence W. Meadows to become judge of the Tenth judicial circuit. Thomas took the oath but has not taken office. His right to do so is being contested on the score that he is in the Federal armed service and is therefore ineligible. W. S. Wysong, appointed to succeed Meadows, is thus the acting attorney general.

State Officers.

Governor, M. Mansfield Neely; Secretary of State, William S. O'Brien; Superintendent of Schools, William W. Trent; Treasurer, Richard E. Talbott; Auditor, Edgar B. Sims; Attorney General (acting), W. S. Wysong.

United States Senators:

Harley M. Kilgore, Chapman J. Revercomb.