Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-02-12
EXCURSION TO COAL CREEK AND CA.
EEYVHLLE.
nistiuguished Strangers--A Pleasant Trip
What We Saw and Heard.

Distinguishes Str0nEerS-A Pleasant Trip
What We Saw and Heard.
According to previous arrangement, and by
invitation of President McGhee, Of the Knox
vile and Kentucky Railroad and the gentlemen
cumposingthe Coal Creek Coal Company, & select
party of gentlemen enjoyed the pleasure of an
excursion to Careyville and Coal Creek, yester-
day. Two comfortable coaches were Kindly
furnished from the East Tennessee, Virginia
and Georgia Railroad for the occasion, SO that
the accommodations were ample.
THE EXcURsIoNIsTs.
In addition to quite number of our citizens
several distinguished strangers accompanied the
excursion. Among them we may mention Mr..
j. NJ. Leonard, of the Mount Hope Iron Com
pany, Somerset, Massachusetts Major r. I.
Wilson, of New York, now President of the
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad !;
Nh. c. a. Bulkley, of New York; Hon. H. Fl.
Emmons, Judge of the United States Circuit
Court; Mr.. Patton, Of the Fairbanks Scales
Mandatory, and Mr. Sanford, of Connecticut.
Mr.. Leonardis establishment is ,oneTof the
largest in the country. Heis here prospecting
for location where he can make branch es-
tablishment. Since he has been here, he has
visited our iron manufactures, and appears to
be pleased with their operations. He has ex-
amined the car wheels at Clark, Quaife & Co.'s
and pronouIces them OF 3 very superior charac-
ter. He also expresses satisfaction with the
Knoxville Iron Company's Works But we
are DEPRESSING
When the excursionists began to gather at
the depot yesterday morning they We're con-
fr-o4,,lof;nor on tbo frn
WEATHER,
For then the sun was shining out brightly and
the prospect was indeed hattering, but soon the
clouds hogan to gather and at about IL o'clock
the rain commenced falling, and continued
throughout the day, making It very gloomy
and disagreeablc. Nothing of interest occurred
on the way, and the train proceeded directly to
Careyvillc. stopping by the way only few
minutes.
cAREYvILLE
Arriving at this place, the gentlemen of the
party were informed that twenty minutes would
be allowed them to inspect the coal mines there,
and they were left to follow their own inclina-
tons. Some of them went to the mines, while
the iron men went prospecting for iron, Of
which there is an inexhausttble quantity in that
There arc three mines being worked here-one
by Messrs. Kennedy & Morrow, another by
Messrs. Spence & Grady and another by the
East Tennessee Coal Company. Each of the
mines, we understood, were able to send about
forty or forty-fve tons Of lump coal to market
daily.
We And that number Of good buildings have
been erected here in the past three months.
Careyville is getting to be quite village and
shows many signs Of thrift and prosperity. As
the terminus of the road a considerable quanti-
ty of goods are shipped there to supply the mer-
chants of Powelrs Valley, and also other local
tiles. A great deal of grain from this rich val
ley is also brought here for shipment. The en-
gine's whistle was the signal for returning, and
in fifteen or twenty minutes the party were at 3
COAL cRREK,
Where the celebrated coal fields of the Cosl
Greek Coal Company, the Knoxville Iron Com
pany, and McEwen & Wiley, are to be found.
Here the party again dispersed In different di-
rections, some to one mine and some to another.
In company with two ex-Judges, we made our
way to the mines of the Coal Greek Coal Com
pany. Some of the party went on foot, others,
who were unable TO walk so far-including 8
few too lazy-waited for the dump-ears, used
| for drawing coal from the mines. These cars
are about six feet long and three wide, and are
drawn by small mules. On our way we met
gentle Oscar Bell and George W. Ross return
| ing from their explorations, the former acting
as driver and the latter as breakesman The
mule became frightened at his freight and de-
liberately turned off the track, very near upset.
ting the car Itwas amusing to see Oscar drop
the reins and jump for dear life, while Ross dis
played bis agility in wonderful manner They
were both badly scared, but fortunately neither
of them were hurt. They, however learned a
lesson about mules that they could only learn
by experience
| Arriving at the entrance, we witnessed the
sight oftwo Railroad Presidents, United States
! Judge, two ex-Judges ard United States Dis
tlict Attorney seated in one Of these little 6xS
cars. Judge Emmons said having pass over
the road, he couldn't complain at the accommo.
/ dations-though they we're crowded little A
similar car attached behind contained six other
large gentlemen, ,and the writer, with Capt. Boyd,
! took seat on the coupling-link between the
/ two A lad of ten summers acted in the capacity
of dryer, and vouchsafed safe journey. We
bid farewell to the outer world and we're soon
enyeloped in darkness the only relief being the
light of a small lamp, which the boy carried
fastened to his cap. aTs
Themain entrance extends about two hundred
! Yards gith other entrances ou either side run
4 ming out at some distance The stratum of coal
will average about five feet thick. though in
some places II is much thicker. Aftcr exploring
the mines pretty thoroughly. we were admon.
| i.hed Is our tirRs-piesss that the hour for re-