The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-19
MANY nlaces the disaster was worse than

nauy places the disaster was worse than
with him.
Everywhere the food was unexpected.
The rain had fallen between twenty-four
and thir,y-siy hours steadily. but apparent
IL not unusually heavy. Timber, corn, cat
tie, and swine came dashing down the
river.
ADVENTUROUS RAFTsMES.
Somewhere up the country long raft OF
great logs had been prepared for market.
When the rise came the owners, doubtless
that it was modest affair, loosed
their raft and got upon it and started down
the river. perhaps to Charleston.
At starting they could have had no con-
cep.ion OF the danger upon which tney
we're entering. They found the swollen
stream filed with snags and trees. They
were whirled along at about twelve or hf-
teen miles per hour. Those who gazed
upon them from the shore expected every
minute to see the raft Knocked TO pieces.
By 10 O'Clock in the day the adventurous
rastsmen had had enough of this fun. They
tried to run their timber ashore. but could
not do so. Then they abandoned it, took to
their boat, and landed.
STEAMBOAT LuSi.
A company was recently organized to
navigate the New river. They were build.
ing steamboat at Hinton. and bad the
framework done. The ireshet swept il
away.
The loss is considerable, taking into &C
count the capital Of the company.
II the gentlemen who maintain that locks
for the James River and Kanawha canal can
be built on these streams could see them
now I believe they would change then
minds. Perhaps masonry could he put ui
so strong that it would resist even these vlo
lent waters, but The cost would be inca!cu
liable. The United States Government
hasn't enough money to do it.
DAMAGE DONE AT COAL VALLEY.
The Kanawha rose forty-tive feet mt thl:
nont. It's mighty current, covered witt
drift, snapped in two tue strong inclined
plane railroad OF the Cannclton Canal Com
pany. The Cannclton mine is on the east
crn side Of the Kauawha opposite this place
1t is l,200 feet up the mountaIn-Slde. Inc
small cars filled in the mines are lowered bI
stationery engine down an inclined plane
TO the river. There they are put aboard ;
fiat boat, which is provided with track, ant
crossed over 10 the Coal Valley side. Iber
they are drawn from the boat up another
inclined plane iuto al elevator, from which
they are dumped into the cars Of the Chcsa
peake and Ohio Company. \ considerable
portion of the inclined pI:ne on this side
the river was washed off. People living
along the rivers edge had to remove II
haste to places Of safety.
The water made its way to the note
steps-three feet higher than was ever be
fore known.
SATURDAY.
A VISIT TO MoRRIs'S CREEK.
This evening Dr.. Lewis sent horse dowl
TO Coal Valley and invited me to ride up Il
his tthe Old Virginia. collierieS. The sll
pcrintendent OF the mines, Mr.. Frayser, |
pleasant-faced, intelligent Scotchman, wa
The messenger. He told me that the fiHot
in the creek had subsidized, and that the roat
was pretty good.
1t was GOOD, indeed-what there was
it, but in some places it was only 1e"
inches wide. However. the horse clrnt
to the mountain side like a goat, which
made up ior the faulty road.
Mcssrs. Williams Il Lewis had set theil
men to work repairing the road. With tn
spirit and determination they exhibit, 1t j
certain they will have their branch repalret
bv the time the main line is in order, II moi
sooner.
The Cannelt0n company is wealthy ant
successful corporation, and will proDaDl.
be prompt IL repairing their lnclne-ele
yatOr, some call it.
The other mines have suffered very little
but arc not getting out much coal, because
they cannot tell when it can be shipped.
Reports from Hinton, MacdougalPs, Pam
Creek, Coalburg, Biacksburg, and othe
points. are to the effect that many house:
and cabins have been lost. 1t Is stated tina
fifty-two floateG past st. AlbanS, which Is or
the river below Charleston. | hn0lr tha
many houses were lost. The dwellings o
the operatives ut the mines are generally
built lightly and without sinking any
foundation. Being OF timber. the first rlS'
that reaches them lifts them Oft their pins
and away they 60.
THIS TOWE-MOSQUTOES.
Mosquitoes are very troublesome here
I was fully aware that they existed IN Gin
cinnati, and that they found great delieh
in Huntin eton flesh, but until This visit
neyer knew that away here in the heart o
the mountains, remote from sta9nant Wate
and swampS, they could live. Ii mos
uuitoes were as bad in Richmond Is the.
arc here the people would either leave th'
city or start 4 mandatory Of mosquito
bars. | am informed that they are bat
along the line Of this road in the mountains
Even at the White Sulphur their music ha
been heard. People say that before tht
| railroad was built they were never known
and that they came here with the o!-trains
AS to that l don't know; but that they arr
here, and are making good living, ant
| therefore likely 10 remain, / personally ties
tify.
The town on the railroad side OF tht
kanawha (weSt) is called Coal Valley tha
on the east side Of the river is Cannelton
Cannelton antedates Coal Valley, and there
fore both settlements answer to that name
All the frcghts are shipped to Cannelton
Each place, however, has its post-oillce ant
stores. The store OF the Canneltor Goa
Company at Cannelton IS line structure
and the stock is firSt-rate. | suppose tina
the two towns Of Coal Valley and Camel
ton and adjacent settlements number 1,50
souls. The hotel, under the iudcious pro
pIietorship OF Mr.. Cogbill lwho made III
fame on big, sweet rolls at Covington) ant
management of Mr.. John Johnston (Wh'
for sometime kept a restaurant on Twciftl
street, Richmond), is & 1lourishing lnStltu
ton, doing a better business than some no
tells in Richmond. I wot OF Mr.. CoSbIl
spends most OF his time at his other hotel
at Anderson, while friend Johnston, erel
polite and attentive, commands here.
There are q number of Richmond gentle
men here connected with the railroads ant
mines.
The masculine element largely predoml
mates in this community. AT supper at th'
hotel last night there were seyenty-tivc per
sons fed, and not single lady in the party
Nanny OF the miners liYing in cottage: