The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-09-02
The OutlOol< of the Kanawha
Valley.
Kanawha Gazette.


Kanawha Gazette.
The present outlook for the Great
Kanawha Valley is now very promis-
ing.
On Davis creek 4 miles below
Charleston,a standard gauge railroad
with steel rails is being constructed
from the Great Kanawha river to the
black band iron ore and coal deposit
on the head waters of Davis creek.
This black band iron ore crops out
also on the Coal river side Of this
mountain.
AT the mouth of Davis creek, the
same Company is erecting furnace
where iron will be made from this
black band ore. Both the Davis
creek furnace and railroad will be
completed this fall. Boston capital
lists are doing this work and own
$500 acres of land on Davis creek.
On Fields creek, 13 miles above
Charleston, the Winifrede Coal and
Railroad Company has constructed a
first class railroad from the Great
Kanawha river to its coal banks at
the head of Fields creek, distance
miles. This Company owns 1880
acres of land extending from the
Great Kanawha to the Little Coal
river. Philadelphia capitalists are
operating here and are mining and
shipping the well known Winifrede
coal extensively, East by the Chesa-
peake & Ohio Railway and West by
the Great Kanawha river.
On Cabin creek, IL miles above
Charleston, railroad is being con-
structed from the mouth Of the creek
to the superior coal lands situated s
and 10 miles up this creek. This
enterprise is owned and carried on
by Baltimore and Pennsylvania CAPT
talists.
On Paint creek, 81 miles above
Charleston, a narrow gauge railroad
has been constructed from the mouth
of this creek to the camel coal de-
posts, situated miles up the creek.
This camel coal is now being mined
and sent to market. Eastern CAPT
talists and Kanawha parties are OPP
Grating these works.
On Coal river the prospects look
favorable for starting a railroad this
fall.
All of these railroads when com
p,eted will connect with the Chesa-
peake " Ohio Railway.
Other Coal Companies on the Kan
awha are mining and shipping coal
largely from Campbells creek, Coal
burg, Coal Valley, Cannelton, Pea
body, Carkin and other localities.
SO much for coal, railroads and
coal companies. Now let us look at
the improvement of the Great Kan
awha navigation by the U. S. Govern
ment.
The appropriations thus far made
to our river by the ". S. Congress are
$l,592,0OO. OF which sum about ST.,
1872, 900 have been expended in con-
structing Lock and Dam No. at
Brownstown, Lock and Dam No. at
Cabin creek, Lock and Dam No 3 at
Paint Creek above Charleston, and
Lock and Dam No. at Tyler Shoals
below Charleston.
With the 100000 on hand another
Lock and Dam will be commenced
this fall Whether that will be No.
2 at Cannelton, or No. 7 below st.
Adams is not yet known.
Locks and Dams 4 and are COM
pleted. Lock and Dam 8 will be in
few weeks and Lock and Dam 6
will be in few months.
These Locks and Dams will give
at least 7 feet of water all the time.
The U. S. Engineers report that it
will require 100000 additional to
complete the entire navigation works
from Loup creek to the Ohio river as
contemplated by the government,
there being altogether 10 Locks and
Dams.
Besides this expenditure of money
in our Valley by the General Govern
ment, it is erecting in Charleston a
very substantial building for Post
Office, U. S. Court room and other
purposes at cost Of 49,, 200.
The building for the State Capitol
here is also looming up into hand
some and imposing structure-ready
for the Legislature and State officers
on the 1st of January, 1885.
To all these evidences of prosperity
in our Valley, we can add that the
Ohio Central Railroad Company is
constructing a railroad bridge over
the Ohio river at Point Pleasant, at
a cost of 81, 800, 900, and is construct
ing a railroad from that bridge to
Charleston, distance 60 miles. This
road will he completed this fall from
the Ohio river to this place-and its
completion will make marked
change in the immediate future Of
our town and Valley. Its compile
tion will put an increased activity in
the whole Valley and insure the early
building of the Elk River Railroad
of railroad from Charleston to the
Gauley rivey-of a railroad up Gauley
and probably up New River also-on
the opposite side from the Chesa-
peake q Ohio Railway.