The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-22
KANAWHA VALLEY.

TIE COAL-MINlNG BUSINESS AT AND NEAR
CASSELToN-H0w THE COAL IS REACHED
AND MARKETED-TiE SHIPMENTS VIA JAMES
RIyER-INPROyEMEST OF TEE KANAWHA
BY The GENERAL GOyERNMENT-SOME IN
CIDESTs OF THE LYSCHING OF MORT. LEE.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
CASNELToN, w. VA.,1
September 10, 1879.
This is the coal-mlninS centre OF the ka-
nawha Valley. There are about Il dozen
col!ieries in operation here, and camel,
splint-. aud gas-coa are dug from the noun
tain sides in immense quantities. There
are no shafts, as in Chesterfield. The coal
veins are pierced at their own level, and in
clned planes (tracks) are constructed, upon
which wagons. or rather cars, are run
down tin some instances 1900 feet) to the
railroad track, and there "tippled" into the
cars OF the railway company. The weight
OF the loaded car brings the empty one
back 10 the bank" There is about here
enough slack-Gne coal which has passed
through the sorrento cover the Capitol
square over twenty feet deep. 1t is hardly
wcrth its freight to Richmond. In some
places coke-oyenS 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
Tor CRATE purposes, as it pops all over the
floor. The gas-coal Of this valley is superb.
Ii needs no enricher. am told that it is
growing in the estimation OF northern and
eastern as-manufacturers. The spllnt is a
popular fuel.
hn oooI ,,,o,, oo,,,t ,,,ox, ,;r,o
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad shall
strike deep water either at West Point or
Newport News. They complain Of the cost
and difficulties Of getting large vessels up
and down James river. What they have to
say on this point is worthy OF the attention
OF our authorities. The United States Gov
crnment is vigorously prosecuting the work
OF erecting dams on The kanawha river be-
low Canneiton. These Will give the coal
miners the long-de>ired boat navigation from
CanneltoD to the OHIO river, and enable
them to compete for western business with
Tie Pennsylvania mines with more success.
The towns OF CanBelt0n and Coal Valley
are only separated by the Kanawha river,
and the two places generally go bv the
name OF Cannelton. The population is
about 1000 or $500. Saloons are numerous.
There Is but one churcb-buildings and that
belongs to the colored people. There are
occasional services for the whites held in 4
st0re-room.
AT the Old Dominion collicrles Of Messrs.
Williams Il Lewis there is convenient and
neat hail. built by the firm, where services
are held alternately by the Presbyterians
ana Episcopalians. Bishop Peterkin has
been here several times.
The outer world has received a bad i'm
preston OF the Valley on account OF their !
frequent resort TO mob law. How far the |
courts, by their dllatory and frivolous pro- |
ceedIngs, are responsible do not know.
They have the County Court of Magis-
uStes out here. From all that have heard |
oi The workings OF the system hope that |
II may never be imposed upon Old Virginia |
again. -" g.
FROM gentleman who was present |
received graphic account OF the lynching |
VI Mort. Lee few months ago. He was |
nNationd negro, and had been guilty OF an |
.aIoc'ous crime upon lady living in the
ssl'Per part OF the {Fayctte) county. He
heu' aud was arrested at Parkersturs. He
mas mas sent by boat from Parkersburg to Hunt
ihstou. A large number Of men from Cam
n Ss and Coal Valley entered train OF the
1Tnesapeake and Ohio Company and went to
tnauuhgton, and took the prisoner and
81, o"~ A.hi ueAe. De dulDOFltleS NaQ
SsI a notice OF their movements, but
ts., nothing. They might have pro-
a, y the prisoner at Huntington or
SO. asfiieston, but preferred not to do
o'clortle party reached here about
10 lvnna AZ night and calmly proceeded
square n a. Lee. He asked for time to eat a
the crows aL HIS request was referred to
ibey asraa, With few dissenting voices
was n usresa 10 let bim have the meal. 1t
put aro Dvutea and eaten. Then a rope was
10 tb the lug hls neck. and he was drawn up
next rna ao 81 a tree and left until 8 O'Clock
cut h;ro ~ g, when some colored people
There M aoWn and attended to bis burial.
guise On mss !, 20 excitement, no efforts at dis
They b sn Inc part Of those participating.
/ That II' es s they were doing right.
auestias s'ss deserved death there, can he no
base le.t ,s oal It would have been better to
ilaps one YIN " the bands OF the law. Per.
10 Wes. vi sssoa for not doing 40 ~ 90 that
been n,,nisbgslaai a bis crime COLD not have
= "sasp, CHESTER,