Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-27

housekeepers, as we had occasion to know, the
mother being an invalid ct the time.
MI Nichols is handling Kentucky lands extern
acres on Block mountain to Philadelphia parties,
for 80 COO. This tract In said to contain. among
| other things, 1f-foot vein Of camel coal. and
| another OF ordinary coal Is feet thick. 1t is Is
miles from Whitesburg, on Kings creek, near
stony Gap. On the other side Of the mountain
IS Imboden City, In the same geological belt.
There are extensive beds Of both iron and coal.
Gen. Imboden has interested some heavy
English capitalists, and contemplates opening
the mines on an extensive scale, and erecting
furnaces and rolling mills, as soon as railroad
connections can be secured. We did not visit
this point. it being 81 miles southeast Of Whites
burg. but authentic Information leaves no doubt
OF the great size and richness OF the coal and
iron deposits there Mr.. 7. W. MARI, Q very
Intelligent gentleman, and the principal attor-
ney at W hltesbHrg, gave US courteous attention,
and attended US one day in our explorations to
the headwaters Of the Kentucky river. Here
we found abundant coal 0utcropping every
where along the valleys. On the ROckhouse
branch OF Kentucky river several DISTINCT veins
were found from 3 to feet thick. Some of
them are coking Goals, similar to those of the
Connelsvle district, Pennsylvania, and Of the
New River district, in West Virginia. These
seams lie above water, with excellent roofs, and
are free from sulphur. Some thin beds of can
mel were also seen.
COAL EVERYWHERE.
Everywhere the bands Of iron stone concre-
lions attest the presence Of the .Richney ore
peculiar to this formation in other districts.
These mines are upon tract of $1,000 acres,
owned by j. B. Farwell, the great dry goods
merchant of Chicago, brother of the Hon. Chas
Farwell, now in Congress from that city. The
forest growth is magnificent. Black walnut is
being cut wherever found here, its high price
in vi 1onrr haul at hir Z,
now worth in the log 800 per thousand on the
Ohio river. The finest oak. chestnut, hickory
and poplar Is here growing, and rOtting or fall
Ing before the axe of the woOdman to be burned
up. The waste seems wicked to an outsider.
1t would pay the state to eXtinguish the private
title to these lands and preserve the forests. 1t
ought TO be done in the interest of civilization.
Instead of that the state has surrendered the
finest body of timbered land now left in America.
TREE MURDER.
They have been bought often at ten cents per
acre by private parties, mostly spectators.
Some are occupied by settlers often without a
shadow of title. These last cut away the tim
Der worth hundred dollars an acre with pro-
digious labor, and plant wheat and corn. The
SOIL soon washes away unless allowed to grass
over, which 1t rarely is on the steep slopes The
old lands yield only to bushels Of wheat and
10 to IL bushels OF corn per acre. And for such
wasteful agriculture as this the finest forests of
the continent are being swept away.
Thousands Of hard wood logs were seen rolled
into the ravines to get them out of the way.
asked Mr.. Mari, our legal friend, why they did
not burn these into ashes aud scatter it over the
worn out lands? eff you should propose it they
would have you sent up to the lunatic asylum, -
he replied. They have no idea of replacing the
wear OF soils by manure or green crop. To grow
what the land will, and then clear up some more
is the policy here as In the west also too often.
Leaving Whitesburg, We proceeded northeast
through Floyd county to the headwaters of the
Big Sandy at Piket0n. Our route lay mostly
now along streams Of larger size. with some
breadth of valley. Wewere in danger of seeing
our horses starye before our eyes from scarcity
Of feed. The farmers were reduced to short
| rations Tor their own teams. By dint of con-
slant inquiry, picking up a few ears of corn in
one place, and some bundles of corn blades in
another we kept the poor beasts in good heart.
The last season came near producing famine,
| and sooner or later unless the present barbarous
agriculture is. succeeded by intelligent cultiva-
ton, the country will be called upon to save
the people from starvation in some bad season.
REGION WHERE THE SCHOOLMAsTER Is NOT
ABROAD
The people have no realizing sense of better
things. Few of them can read or write. The
schools are the poorest have ever seen in any
part Of the south. We were told by the parents
repeatedly that they would be glad to educate
their children but have no schools The school
system is without vitality here. The school
houses are rude log structures, generally with
out glass or windows of any kind, and would be
regardedas unfit for stables in the north. Light
is admitted by leaving the door open. Again
| and again we dismounted and examined these
huts that the rich state of Kentucky provides to
educate its children. It would be incredible II
not seen, that people exist in the very heart OF
our country so far behind in education. The
present generation will do nothing except as
help comes from without. They know nothing
OF the value of instruction for their children.
and will not take the trouble to secure it,
commend this region to the agent Of the Pea
| body fund. The meeting houses are like the
school houses, mere rude and neglected places
Lands can be bought for from two to five dol
lars per acre. These poor people have generally
either gone upon the land without title or paid
80 for survey of 200 acres. They certainly de-
serve the land they occupy whether paid for OF
not.
PRIMITIVE CORN MILLS.
Our curiosity was excited by some queer little
log structures along the rapids of the streams
We thought them spring houses at first, but
passing near one heard something going on in.
eide. So we alighted, and the door being fas-
tened we looked through the cracks. There we
saw the nature of the thing. 1t was mill, and
such mill! A water wheel with the simplest
gearing connected with set Of stones about Is
inches in diameter, rude hODper-that was all
the mill. Over this hung bag holding about
two bushels Of corn, which a little continuance
connected with the gearing shook, so that q
few kernels dropped constantly into the hopper
Below was tub of rude construction to catch
the meal, which was of good quality. This one
belonged to Harry johnson, who was away al
| work. Mrs. Johnson was shearing sheep, aided
| by her little boy. She told US that her husband
built the mill in about ten days. It's capacity
was two bushels day. 1t cost nothing to run
it, and they ground their own and neighbors
corn We saw these little mills frequently, and
| they struck US as an admirable cOntrivance fol
| farmers wherever they have little water
| power. The stones are Of ordinary coarse grit
abundant in the hills, and anybody can make
the machinery with axe. saw and augers.
We struck the line of the railroad survey from
the mouth of the Big Sandy, now built to Peach
Orchard, 100 miles north. The route seems
practicable enough. The people seemed quite
Indifferent to it. The lumber and coal will make
| the road largely paying from the very start. II
will bring the wealth Of this region out into thu
valley of the Ohio. With few tunnels an al
| most unbrOken down grade can be secured.
At Abel Tocketts, on the Boone branch, We
saw fine peach orchard and coal is found, out
cropping Of the splint and camel varieties
We are on the trail said to have been followed
by Daniel Boone and his daring followers who
crossed from Virginia to these wilds and founded