The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-02
STANTON. VIRGINIA. OCTOBER 2. 1879.
The Kauawha Valley.

Lie hdUdWud
We publish newsy letter taken from the
Richmond Dispatch, from the correspondent
of that paper in the Kanawha Valley. 1t will
be seen from it, that general attention Is De-
ing called to the necessity OF a more enlarged
outlet for the trade Of the Chesapeake q
Ohio Railway, than is now furnished at
Richmond. Deep water must be directly
reached, and facilities afforded for the &C
commodation Of the increasing trade along
the line of the road. Otherwise it would
be useless to incur the expense OF making
western connections, as the freight now
furnished is not unfrequently blocked up In
Richmond, to the detriment Of operators at
the industries already in operation in Virgin
ia and West Virginia.
CHAMELEON, w. Va,
September 10Th, 1879. !
This is the coal mining centre of the ka-
nawha Valley. There are about dozen
colleries in operation here. and camel,
splint, and gas-coa!s are dug from the noun
tain sides in immense quantities. There are
no shafts, asin Chesterfield. The coal veins
are pierced at their own level, and inclined
planes cracks are constructed, upon which
wagons, or rather cars, are run down lin
some instances 1920 feet to the railroad
track, and here ''tppled" into the cars of
the railway company. The weight OF the
loaded car brings the empty one back to the
.bark." There is about here enough slack
fine coal which has passed through the
sorrento cover the Capitol Square over
twenty feet deep. 1t is hardly worth its
freight to Richmond. In some places coke
ovens have been erected, and the ''slack''
thus put to use.
The operators have had to struggle against
hard times, strikes, and many, .other dis
couragements, but think they are now
more hopeful.
Camel coal is used at many gas-works as
an enricher OF other coal. 1t will not do for
CRATE purposes, as it pops all over the floor.
The gas coal of this valley is superb.
1t needs no enricher. 1 am told that it is
growing in the estimation of northern and
eastern gas manufactures. The splint is
popular fuel.
The coal-men count upon the time when
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad shall strike
deep water either at West Point or Newport
News. They complain of the cost and Diff
ficulties of getting large vessels up and down
James river. What they have to say on this
point is worthy of the attention OF our au-
thorilies. The United States Government
is vigorously prosecuting the work OF erect
mo dams on the Kanawha river below Can
Melton. These will give the coal miners the
long desired boat navigation from Cannel-
ton TO the Ohio river, and enable them to
compete for western business with the Penn
svlyania mines with more success.
The towns of Cannelton and Coal Valley
are only separated by the Kanawha river,
and the two places generally 60 by the name
Of Cannelton. The population is about q
900 or 2 500. Saloons are numerous. There
is hut one church building, andth belongs
to the colored people. There are occasional
services for the whites held iii a store.room.
AT the Old Dominion collieries OF M1ssrs.
Williams & Lewis there is a convenient and
neat hall, built by the firm, where services
are held alternately by the Presbyterians
and Episcopalians. Bishop Peterkin has
been here several times.
The outer world has received bad I'M
pression of the Valley on account OF the
freouent resort to mob law. How far the
the courts, by their dilatory and frivolous
proceeding, are responsible do not know.
They have the County Court OF Magis.
strates out here. From all that have heard
of the workings of the system hope that It
NAV never be imposed upon old Virginia
again.
From a gentleman who was present re.
ceiyed graphic account Of the lynching OF
Mort. Lee a few months ago. He was
Richmond negro, and had been guilty OF an
atrocious crime upon lady living IN the
upper part Of this (Fayette) county. lie lied
and was arrested at Parkersburg. lie was
SEN, bv boat from Parkersburg to Hunting
ton, A large number of men from Cannel'
ton and Coal Valley entered train OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio Company and went TO
Huntington, and took the PRISON. and brought
him here. The authorities had timely notice
of their movements, but did nothing. They
might have protected the prisoner at hunt
ington or at Charleston, but preferred not
to do so. The party reached here about
O'Clock at night and calmly proceeded to
lynch Lee. He asked for time to eat
square meal His request was referred to
the crowd. With few dissenting voices
they agreed to let him have the meal. 1t
was procured and eaten. Then rope was
put around his neck, and be was drawn up 70
the limb of d tree and left until O'Clock next
morning, when some colored people cut him
down and attended to his burial. Ihere
was no excitement, no efforts at disguise on
the part of those participating. They pc
leved they were doing rights
That Lee deser, ed death there can be no
question; but it would have been better TO
| have left him in the hands of the law. Fer.
| haps one reason for not doing so was that In
West Virginia his crime could not have been
punished by death. CHESTER.