Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-09-07
RIDGE RAILROAD AND
POPLAR CREEK COAL FIELDS.
Railroad Building in Il Hurry---Winters
Gap on a Boom.

WINTERS GAP, Sept. 3, 1881,
Mr. EDITOR: Knoxville spreads out her
railroad booms in large type and loud talk,
and we do not intend that you shall neglect
US and our prospects. We have now two
railroads in progress: the Walden's Ridge
Railroad is coming to us at the rate of over
mile week, and the grading is already in
| five miles or less of our place. Then the
Knoxville, Winters Gap and New River
Railroad Company have commenced grading
from the Walden's Ridge Railroad line up
! into the Cumberland mountains, and intend
| to push q tunnel through that mountain on
the great seven foot coal seam. This is a
grand and new idea, but Is perfectly FEAST
bic, as the mountain is not over two miles
through, and experimental surveys have
shown the existence of the same coal on the
other side and the practicability OF the
levels. From the point the other
side that they would reach the head
waters of New River there is good almost
level route to Robbins, on the Cincinnati
Southern Railroad, while another route is
also down New River, passing near Hunts
vile.
The Knoxville, Winters Gap and New
River Railroad Company having regularly
obtained charter, organized at Oakdale on
Tuesday, the 30th of August, Mr. Peter
Ferry, of st. Louis, being elected president
and B. Y. jerks, of Oakdale secretary
The company ordered the president to
employ az engineer to survey the route of
the road and to commence its construction
Immediately. J. K. Payne was employed as
engineer. In accordance with the charter
the road was divided into three divisions !;
the first to commence at Knoxville and ter
inmate at some point on the line of the
Waldens Ridge Railroad; the second to
| commence on the line of the Walden's
| Ridge Railroad, near the gap in the
| WaldeI,s Ridge, through which comes the
| Indian Creek fork of Poplar Greek, through
| that gap through or over the Brushy Noun
tain, or near thereto, to point on the head
waters Of New River. The third division
was declared to be from such point on
New River, to the most eligible connection
with the Cincinnati Southern road 1t was
resolved to commence work on the second
division immediately, and on Wednesday, the
3lst, over fifty hands commenced grading
and blasting At this date a great pass has
been made through the butt of the Walden,s
| Ridge, at the gap, and q good distance
at the prospect of steady work and certain
pay for a long time to come. They al
know that John G. Scott does not do things
for bluff nor show, but means business, and
pays promptly.
Mr. Scott says we will certainly have
trains running through, and coal being
brought out by the LIST of November. Win
ters Gap has long looked for this, and now
we know it has come, with a certainty OF
doing the whole country great benefit
What we need most now is a good hote,
building. DR.. MeFerris and wife surrender
their house to Mr. Richards ON the 18th Of
October, and they now only take per
sons for accommodation, as Mrs Nc
Ferris goes to the Hot Springs or
Tuesday next, for the health of her son
Mr.. Richards will keep the house only fn1
his private use, hence there will now be III
place to stop at but Mrs. Mitchelps, and hel
room is very limited. The travel here is
getting large, and if some capitalist woulc
erect good building and put Mrs. Mitchell
in charge of the housekeeping department
it would not only be one Of the best KEEP
hotels in the State, but also be full of visit
ors. The days here are seldom very no
and the nights are always cool. A bianke
is sure to be needed before morning if yol
leave a window open.
No one here likes the change in the mai
by which the CHRONICLE gets here thirty
hours after it is printed instead of the same
day, as formerly. We expect change an(
daily mail direct from Knoxville when thu
railroad is finished. Yours THE GAP.
P S.-An old man in the mountain say
that bathing the head in the water of the
spring here that has the pink deposit viii
make gray hair turn black again and bald
spots to grow out l,lxuriantly. Never knew
a case to fail. Send over some of the boy
afflicted with "early piety."