The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-06-10

American look beIond his own country
for the snblime and beautiful OF natural
scenery
Stone Gift, Fire Creek, ssEell and
NutAllbRrR, az each Of which stOPpsge was
made in succession, afforded examples OIL
the extent 70 which coke.burning Ia car
risd on in the New river region. In every
instance ovens are built parallel with the
railroad, convenient for shipment OF the
product. The coal veins are uniformly
near the summit. Gravity inclines bring
the coal straight down the mountain
sides and shuLes catch the coal either %
deposit it without handling into railroad
hoppers or into bins for burning. Nothing
could be cheaper or more expeditions
than these appliances and some Of the
establishments do annually an enormous
business both in coal and coke. They are
nearly all owned and worked by northern
oWneEs.
GAuLEY MOUNTAIN DEvRLoPNEST.
The widest aud grandsst Of the local..
ties in the New river region, aa we'll as the
most interesting and extensive for its coal
mining aad coke burning interests, 10
doubtless the Hawks Nest in the GGuley
mountains, in the region where Gov, Wise
had his barren campaign in the early part
OF the late war. This Gauley mountain
coal IL mined by an English company.
The vein which they are WORKING is 1000
feet above the river and 500 feet from the
summit Of the mountain. The product Is
400 tons Of rich coal daily. The vein il II
feet thick, lying in three or four strata.
The coal ia brought down by . narrow
gauge railway, u feet wide, 4 miles long,
1000 feet rise, and the greatest grade $50
feet 10 the mile. Steam is used for haul.
ing up empty cars and the loaded me are
sent down by gravity at q rafting rate OF
speed, in trains OF fifteen cars, managed
by two men to each train. The engine and
cars are Of course small In proportion TO
the naFroWness OF the track.
ATaRILLING RIDE,
II was decided that the ladies and gen
tlemeu should ride in one Of these toy
trains to the mine and descend by gravity.
The "pig'psn special" as 1t was called,
from the size aud shape oil the cars, was
made up and swept as clean as they could
D6 ulAu6s 4u6 lAllg1 WIIb hn9ldggu W luulP
In II was like getting into dirty dry goods
boxes, Everybody looked with curiosity
upon the miniature locomotive and won
dered how ii could tug Q train loaded with
fifty people up the windings Of this steep
and narrow little track for four miles; bat
when 1t started 10 the work 10 hand with
vigorous snorts, which sent forth showers
OF ashes and burning Cinders and volumes
Of dense smoke, new interest was impaired
to the exertions Of the little giant Of the
Hawks Nest. As O defense umbrellas
we're hoisted, aud Lsoms OF them were
soon riddled with holes made by the live.
coal Cinders. In the midst OF this pleasing
shower OF fire. thunderstorm hroke almost
out OF q Cloudless sky, and the trip was
literally made amidst FIRE and water; but
the novelty Of the experiences and the OK.
element oil the moment kept everybody In
good humor. The route followed the hill
side, along the course OF o mountain cur.
rent, through dry gulChes and magnificent
de6les, cliDgiDg TO the rocky sides, where
q way had been blasted for the narrow
roadbed beneath great o%verhauRing masses
Of sandstone cliffs, and over giddy ~trestles
to the end. At one point our route lay
LuI1uHu v WlhlAbulG buhu6lt nhlVIl WAC
like a picture more than q reality. In the
wild gorge through which the torrent
poured its rushing stream there were
several cascades and picturesque hooks.
Through the dsales were grand views Of
distant submits wreathed In clouds or
hecksd with shadows and sunshine. As
far IS the eye could reach the wave lines
Of the great uphesval stretched out like
pillows which had been fixed In aerial
blue. Bursting thunder showers were
breaking all around, and diverting atten.
ton from the diScomlorts OF our own ex.
perienCe, The play ofsunshine and cloud
on the boundless stretch OF hilltops was
the most magnificent sight any OF US had
ever enjoyed, and all were glad to be
wet or burned q trills to witness the spec.
taCle, But the pigmy engine had no aenti-
~timentality on the subject; It was plain
business and hard work, which was done
faithfully and safely to the great s~atisfaC.
ton Of the ladies.
unT,NrA 10 n,,u1r