Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-11-16
Rates Of Advertising.
wHHKLY OHRoN1OLn
Winters Gap.

hOuOO LUZ Alo Coei AlIuiAB luLcrcolS, huu
knowing that our people are anxious to see
our vast mineral deposits developed, I beg
space in your esteemed paper for full de-
scription of what has been and is being
done in the way of developing the Poplar
Greek coal field. This field is probably
| the largest and most accessible of any
other in the Cumberland range of noun
tains. This development is due to Jno. G.
Scott the present manager of the Oakdale
Iron Works and Transportation Company,
who, with his associates, came into this
section few years ago, and have expended
during this period large sums of money,
first, in the purchase of the defunct Oak
dale Furnace Company; second, in the
construction of q three foot gauge railroad
from Oakdale over Diamonds Gap to q
connection with the Cincinnati Southern
Railway; third, after exausting the coal
found in Walden's Ridge, constructed a
road of the same gauge to and into Win
ter's Gap, tapping the coal field on the
lands of Geo. W. Ross worthy citizen of
Knoxville; and last, in extending this sys-
tenn of railway to water communication
with the Emory River, where, under
stand, contracts have been made with
steamers to transport coal and iron ore to
Chattanooga and other points.
My prediction is tltat in time, the Poplar
Greek coal will take the lead in the coal
market, it being superior to any other coal
found in the South. It is easy of access,
there being larger and broader basis to
draw from. There are three openings
through Walden's Ridge at this point, into
the base of Cumberland Mountain. The
West Fork of Indian Greek, or more proper
ly the West Fork of Poplar Greek passes
through Walden's Ridge atwhat is known as
Winters Gap. Branches then extend west
and east, far into the base of this great coal
basin. These branches are known as
Rocky Fork, Middle Fork, and Coal Bank
Creek The East Fork of Indian enters
again through Walden's Ridge at another
break, short distance from the first named,
and the tributaries of this fork are Cas- Lit
tie Cow and Flat Creeks, also penetrating
and draining this vast field of coal, then one
mile farther east the Mountain Fork of Pop
lar Greek enters, through Walden's Ridge,
what is known as Donaban's Gap, and this
also has three tributaries, again giving an
outlet to the same body of coal, but farther
east. One of these last tributaries heads
within few miles of Coal Creek, and has
quite settlement on it, known as Frost
Bottom.
The coal has been opened and exposed
on all these tributaries, and so far as shown,
is the same in quality. The Oakdale Iron
and Transportation Company have three
openings, and consume nearly four hun
dred tons of coal daily. A large amount of
coal is cooked, and I am informed answers
exceedingly well for smelling, but would
make better coke by crushing before being
placed in the oven. Seven other mines are
now being opened, and railroad of over
mile in length is being constructed to these
different openings, and SCOTS Little Road,
as it is known In this section, will have all
it can do to transport this coal to market
via the river and the Cincinnati Southern.
The headquarters of the mountain divis-
ion of the Cincinnati Southern have been
moved from Glen Mary to Oakdale juno
ton, where the light engines coming from
Chattanooga are exchanged for the heavy
consolidated engines. They have built
round house, with all the latest improve
ments, to accommodate eighteen engines of
this pattern. They have also lain a large
number of additional side tracks, and are
preparing for reshipment of coal from the
narrow gauge. Shutes to accommodate
each company mining can be built, SO as to
Immediately dump into the broad gauge car
from the shute.
They are estimated to carry 800 tons or
10, 900 bushels of coal. The amount re-
ceived by water and consumed at Pitts
burg is over fifty million bushels annually,
and from railway over thirty-five million
bushels more. Cincinnati received during
the year 1880, 38, 198, 246 bushels OF coal by
water, from Western Pennsylvania, and
Virginia, and there is foated down the
Ohio river annually over one hundred mil
lion bushels of coal.
The completion of the canal around
Muscle Shoals and the clearing out of other
distractions in the upper portions of this
great river of ours, would put the coal of
this section in competition on the Mississippi
pi and lower Ohio, with that of Western
Pennsylvania and Virginia 1853 miles by pre-
ference. AS to quality, having examined
both, think those of Winters Gap have
the preference, The Poplar Creek coal
will also bare longer stockage than any
bituminous coal yet mined. So much
for our coal field.
Capt Vanderhoof from your city has
been here and located town for us, and
will be known as Oliver. This is one of
Jno G. Scott's enterprises. Heretofore it
was difficult matter to buy a respectable
building site. / understand that great
many lots are spoken for.
Joseph Richards, the owner of the Min
eral Springs property. is also adding his
mite to the development of this section. He
has partially completed summer resort
hotel. Visitors hereafter will find better
and more suitable accommodations than or
dinarily found at summer resorts. The
Ill =
the hotel grounds will have sufficient shade,
as well as sunshine. The future and the
wealth of this locality is in its infancy.
Where is or what has become of the Emory
Gap Railway Let Knoxville throw out
bait to Jno. G.. Scott and I'll bet an acre of
coal that in the space of fortnight or more
he could have q narrow gauge to Knoxville.
MY IL.