The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-11

QUIET FOLLOWISG-ARRIVAL AT. GIN
CINNATI-INCIDENTS AND EVENTS OF A
PLEASANT TRIP.
Correspondence OF fhe ichmond Dispatch.]
CINCINNATI, September 8, 1878.
On Thursday last twenty councilmen and
other municipal magnates left Richmond
for trip tat their own, not the city's, ex-
pense) to some OF the West Virginia coal
mines, and thence to Cincinnati. At the
White Sulphur Springs they were joined by
this correspondent. Having spent the night
at that place, the party next morning In
the special coach provided for them by the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company
started for Coal Valley. -.
| Rumors were afoat that there had been
an accident at the Big Bend tunnel, and
that the track was obstructed; and it was
partly true, but the conductor was in
formed that soon after we reached the tun-
mel the way would be clear. This allayed
the rising apprehensions OF the passengers.
On we went with good heart until we came
Ito Alderson's. There we learned that the
roofing OF the tunnel had given signs OF
tumbling in at some places, and that to
forestal a serious accident a large force of
workmen had been gathered together, and
the shaky props taken out and new and
strong ones substituted and the fallen stones
removed. This precautionary work, how
ever, took more time than was expected,
and the train remained twelve or thirteen
hours at Alderson's before the announce
ment was made that we could 80 forward.
A STITCH IN TIME.
There was, of course, some grumbling
from the thoughtless; but the cool-headed
men congratulated themselves that the rail-
road company had discovered the threaten
ed danger and were wise enough to put in
the stitch in time, which would not only
save them trouble but also prevent the loss
Of life.
Plenty OF time was thus given the "visit-
ing statesmen" " to inspect Alderson's.
It is growing town in Monroe county,
West Virginia, on Greenbrier river, and the
centre already OF a thriving business which
comes from Greenbrier, Monroe, and other
counties. Excellent meals were obtained at
reasonable rates. Butter was retailed at the
stores at fourteen cents per pound, and
countryman was there with awagon.load OF
fresh beef which lie sold at six cents per
pound, and other things proportionutely.
Where such prices prevail it is no wonder
that the hotel spreads table nearly equal
HAPPY MoUNTAINEERs.
1t so happened that on this day Of the de-
tention of the passengers at Aldcrson's
Baptist District Association meeting was to
be held near the town. The country people
came in in groups of from three TO twelve
or fifteen. Most of them-ladies and gen.
tlemen-were horseback. AS they had to
ford the river at Alderson's we had op-
portunity of seeing them. They were hap
py-loo king people. They were we'll il not
richly dressed, while their sunburnt faces
and hardened hands proved that they earn
for themselves the bread which they eat
Their horses were splendid. / never saw
as good ones anywhere outside Of stock
show or agricultural fair. There was hard
" mean-looking one in the lot. With
such stalWart men, handsome women, and
fine horses-even il we count none OF their
other blessings-the people of this section
are TO be enried.
The Rev. DR.. Dickinson, OF Richmond,
was present at the meeting OF the Associa-
ton. He said that there were five or six
hundred persons there, and that more were
expected next day,Tand on Sunday there
| would probably be fifteen hundred.
The visiting statesmen " left Alderson's
| ut midnight, convinced that these noun
than city people, to say nothing Of the sat-
isfaction of breathing an atmosphere so
pure, of being monarch Of almost bound
| less acres, of owning fat cattle and riding
good horses and drinking (among other
fnids) water so clear that it would be as
| white to a mean "yallow" compared with
the product OF th e James.
AT COAL VALLEY. ..@ 'r. @.aa
The Richmond party were met at the
| White Sulphur Springs by DR.. Lewis, OF the
firm Of Williams & Lewis, proprietors OF
the Old Virginia Colieries, and under his
guidance we landed at Coal Valley, near the
| Kanawha river, the centre OF large coal
mining operations.
From the station we went to the Old Vlr-
ginia Colieries, two miles distant. These
are on the banks OF small creek which
makes in between fall mountains. In sum-
mer it is u siYery stream, winding peace
fully along towards the Kanawha. In win
ter, at times, it is q great, roaring flood, as
savage an enemy as tits now a pleasant
friend. These mines have but recently
been developed, and the community OF pro-
| prietors and miners are little world unto
themselves. The proprietors. determined
to identify themselves with the country and
their employees, brought their families
down mere. uC JuulcS, uuil iluiOu Ia luC
lap of ease. came from the Fiith-Avenue
| Hotel, at New York, to occupy log cabin
at the collieries, in little valley where
there were no neighbors, never passer-by,
and no ready means OF hearing what is
going on in the great outside world.
The settlement has, however, grown since
then. Several neat houses, including store
and town hall, and many miners cottages
have been erected, and the ladies find plenty
OF employment in looking after the welfare
of the two or three hundred people now
settled at the colleries.
| MINES AND MINERS. .s1..tsf
Messrs. Williams & Lewis, the propricters,
conducted the councilmen through mine
| which produces gas-coal, readily salable IN
nearly all the markets OF the country, and
were at great pains to explain all the opera
tions going on. The mountain had been
tunnelled, and within twenty or thirty feet
great coal.bed struck. All OF it is good
for fuel, but the lowest seam, from three to
four feet thick, is peculiarly valuable tor
gas.manufacturing purposes. That IS what WA
they are engaged in getting now. The
miners working this particular seam lie
uDon their sides TO use their picks.
Much has been written about the vast
u - kV.r-I