Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-09-02
FROM COAL CREEK.
sumo Interesting Encts About the
Place.

EDITORS CHRONICLE: This is the
nume of stream, railway station
and a town of / 200 or / 800 inhabitants,
Incorporated with mayor, aldermen
and police.
The stream is formed near the mid
die of the town by the junction of
West Fork and Weldon's Fork, and
runs four or five miles into Clinch
River; laying bare, in It's progress, the
vast foundation Of bituminous coal,
from which it derives its name.
About one mile below the junction,
the stream is crossed 10y the Knoxville
and Kentucky railroad. The Coal
Creek Depot stands but few yards
from the bank.
From this point a branch rsilroad
extends along the creek To the junction,
and there divides, one track running
upwards of mile along the West Fork
and the other "a shorter distance along
Weldon's FORK built exclusively for
the coal trade y third track at the
base of the mountain connects with the
other two, forming with them con-
tinuous line of railroad for the cOnven-
fence of the several mines.
The mountains rise abruptly many
hundred feet ON each side Of the
streams, sometimes us near rs To leave
barely room for road or n railway
track, 20 these narrow margins are
confined the dwellings and the cult
walton. Many of the houses are but
little above ordinary high wafer mark
and In case of "a flood. Ike the recent
casualties of Mil River, Mas, Eure-
ka, Nevada, aud Allegheny, Pa, the
the results would perhaps he as dis
astrous.
The town is dualty-Coal Creek
the Upper, lying above the junction Of
the forks, and Coal Creek the Neither,
lying near the depot with a few strag-
Cling houses tetwveu. II dates its
foundation in 1867. Until that time
it had scarcely changed its primeval
condition. Now there are many COM
Portable and some pretty houses, sur
rounded by gardens Astounding in veg
etables, not without flowers. There
are five churches and schools for the
500 or 600 children said to dOmicile
there.
Certainly one good hotel, the Reed
House, where the traveller finds the
same unparalleled table, the same
clean, sweet beds, when made the
former landlady of Montvale Springs,
and subsequently at the Lamar House
in Knoxville, 50 pleasantly remem-
bered by her guests. Nor will be for
got her husband, J. c. Flanders, Esq
who though Republican and always
voting the Republican ticket, extends
a,welcOme TO all, regardless OF sect or
creed, race, color or condition and
sends them away with the pleasant
consciousness OF having been well en-
tertained and very moderately charg-
ed. Naturally, not IA few have made
this "a summer resort, the bosom OF
mountains, vigorous, braciug air.
healing waters from alum and cha
lybeate springs, cool and delicious
nights, making blankets not too heavy
4 for sleep, the aWiUy, CruQuet and 9th
/ er amusemrnt- OF the grove, climbing
/ the mountains, threading the lahy
riMths Of the mines, al the time with
/ iu daily raj road communication Will
/ Clinton and Knoxville, and the wide
( world beyond, uurivaied comforts al
. p modest price. Alas! alas that Ovcl
| crowdiug should spoil il Is it has spoil
/ ed so many other places OF less attr.c-
. .iOu but more preteuti0us.
. But the lie Of the town, the TGisOy
/ d'etrc 50 to speak IS the coal. It's eEi5
, teuce here has been known many year,
/ Sagaciuus men, living ahead of thei
/ time, appreciated J.. and attempted t,
secure the treasure. Hence entries
surveys, grants, Occupaucies and bar
rem land suits. The auspicious hou
had not struck. War came and strange
ley turned the eyes Of men hitherwarl
The attention of capital and enterpris
was arrested. The first car load of Goa
from Coal Creek was deposited il
Knoxville October !, 1867, and from
that day the supply has gone on. i
September Of last year, il reached 50
car loads for the month.
There are now six mines opened
three are on Weldon's Fork the Frank
lin, McEwen and Wiley, and the Knox
) vile Iron Company; and three on tn
|, West Fork, the Knoxville Goa! Com
} pany the Black Diamond, and the An
dersOn county. Only three.however ar
r at this moment in actual operatiou.Tn
Franklin is but just opened and wOr
at mining has not commenced. Tn
L. Black Diamond and the Anderso
? county have suspended work, in cousC
Z quence, il is understood, of "a disagree
ment about the right of way across eac
d others possessions. The others furnis
. "A daily aggregate OF from 10 10 ~ cal
loads. \ good car carries ten tons q
- 80 bu-hels-reckoued at 50 lbs. to tn
7 bushel and 1000 lbs. t. the ton. Eve
4 at 10 cents per bushel, the single Ca
. load represents $500 before leavin
the entrance to the mine. y Sigh
calculation will show how vast ar
the resources which form the depend
ence of this growing community.
The superior character Of this COS
for fuel gives il a market over Othe
Goals equally as good, and some bette
Us steam generators. Ofthe soft coal,
s it ranks next to the camel As it be
e comes known the market for ii en-
larges and apparently will surpass ar
possible supply.
The visitor here should not fail Z
D make the acquaintance Of the septua
geuariau Henry Howard Wiley. III
be has been a lifelong student of thes
, mountains and knows more abOutther
, than any living man. His knowledg
! is undenied, original, and il is no eX
aggeration to say forms very largel
. the basis Of this great prosperity. II
] belongs TO the corps Of pioneers i'm tn
worlds progress, body Of men nor
, IpmulOu- of great results, than of tn