Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-28
BLACK DIAMONDS
Which Give Wondrous Wealth to
the KanaWha Valley.
MILE AFTER MILE OF COAL MINES
Where Thousands Of Men Labor In Eternal
GIoom-The 0ecaying Salt Indus
try-Trafic on the Riyer-Wild
and Beautiful Scenery.
Special Correspondence of The Register.

Special Correspondence of The Register.
MAIDEN, W. Va, April 4.-The ages
have done wonderful things for this Ka-
nawha Valley. They have raised giant
bills that are the dwelling places Of un-
told wealth; between the blue-topped
mountains they have forced q water way
to the sea. And now in the latter part Of
this ninsteanth century crowded foil Of
wonderful events, thess hin that hkSe 30
long kept silencs are vocal with the sound
of constant toll, and hundred of tramwsys
climbing the mountain side, index the
road to riches. From grim and forbidding
entrance ways comes forth the evidences
Of wealth. Day after day thousands Of
miners labor amid eternal gloom, that
light may shine. Few people away from
this busy valley have anything like
an adequate conception of the vast
amount of business transacted in this
one wrinkle in the face of the nominations
of West Virginia. Beginning short dis
tance below Maiden, the hillsides OF the
valley for miles are one succession OF coal
mines. The largest one OF all is the one
operated by the Campbells Greek Coal
Company, the output OF which aggregates
including slack and nut, nearly $1,000
bushels per day. This company owns and
operates a feet of steamers, a navy Of
barges, elevators in Cincinnati, railroads
and engines. The chief spirit in this strong
company is George Dana, who came TO this
country possessed OF scarcely shilling, and
who now puts on as many airs with his
b inc IA had haan n = m
born, and had never guided an engine or
handled pick.
other Mines.
To describe one mine in the valley is to
portray all. They are all worked on the
same system, and it is believed that as q
class they are the safest mines in This
country. At 0aRnelton, which is opposite
Coal Valley, on the Chesapeake Il Ohio rail
road, vein of superior camel coal is being
worked. 1t is an exceptionally good coal
for fuel, and finds a ready, even an eager
market. Most of it goes Eat, for rich
mems bCmes. A number OF new aud sew
cral long idle mines are being opened up
his spring, and the general feeling in the
valley is one of hopefulness. Naturally
Shat side of Kanawha on which is located
he Chesapeake 4 Ohio railroad, has de-
veloped ~ uch the faster, and. so " is said
TO the detIiment OF the opposite side.
THIS it is claimed is not alone an appar-
ent detriment caused by comparison, but
positive damage that nothing short oil q
parallel road can remedy. am told that
before the railroad was built, the great bur.
den of travel was on the northern bank OF
the river where all the stores, postOffices
and villages were. Their long lines OF
teams gave an heir of business TO that side.
Produce was abundant, and mine host
happy. Huntington's great trunk line
from the seaboard changed all this. Out OF
the wilderness came the village, and the
desert place grew into center OF activity.
Travel forsoUk the northern side and stores
multiplied along the iron roadway. The
scorss nf tosme that:in other DAYS had been
wont TO come down from the interior coun-
ties, and in or to Charleston for market,
now found a better one one al their doors.
The narrowness OF the valley, also, Is a
potent factor in the development OF the
southern bank. II offers SO uperior advan-
,aees 10 coal dealers. A much shorter
tramway than would be necessary to reach
he river on this bank, on this ithe SOUTH
reached by both water way and rail way.
Naturally coal lands on the south bank
sold at a premium. Development was
swfter and progress more rapid. Inc
railroad gave coal interests on the northern
bank a decided forward impetus which,
Notwithstanding the doubtful position OF
The road, has not ceased.
Decayed Industries.
Despite the great increase in population
and material wealth that this valley has
witnessed in the past ten years, there are
not lsckipg these who lift up their voices
and mourn for the good old days"
of salt boiling and pack sad.
dies. Salt boiling has dwindled
ron a vigorous, lucrative industry, EN-.
allowing hundreds Of men, and feeding
aaiv scores Of families down 70 the mere
exrrriment Of attempting TO live on q
profit of NIL But two salt furna ces are In
operation in the valley, and the operators
con Id pot keep them fired, II the employees
| did not consent 10 accept for the maj or
portion OF their wsges, goods from the
company store, sold at profit that would
cause a Wheeling merchant 70 dream OF
fabulous wealth. ] am told that every
barrel of salt manufactured here is sold al
a uositiye loss. Everywhere one sees the
black. smokeless cbImneys that are pain
(ul indiCes of the ruin that has over taken
this once prosperous industry in its very
birth place.
SteamDOhttug.
The tonnage of the Great Kanawha ha'
more than kept pace with the increased
demand for freight facilities. More than
score of vessels are engaged in carrying In
what is popularity called the upper tra1e-
that is from Charleston 10 the head OF nav
igstion, which hy common courtesy IS Goa
Valley, although steamers hsve no dlih
frnr
farther up The river. Half a dozen are
passeuger r packets that find lucrative Gus
,om under the very smoke oil hunt
lpgton's engines. One packet, the NIr
de Lee. finds il profitable to make
round irips from G., dar Point,
hamlet of less than 100 population, TO Ca
| cinns,i and return. Another, the Chan
| ceIlor. is in the Charleston and Pittsou'e
| trade. milking the round TIP once weekly
| At all hours VI the day and night the pun
| ing ef boats assaults the ear, and there II
| scarcely A time. day or night, on any por
| lion of. the river. when o boat cannot D
| ..en. The Ksnawhs Ess always been re
| rsrded rs dangerous stream TO navigate
The channel is narrow. aud, - an Old pllo
| expressed il, exasperatingiy crooked. Ih'
| mountains on either side cast shadows ths
| often ada 10 the perpleIitiss ana olihcuI
| ties of the situation. Yet no unasuali,
| serious accidents have ever occurred: az
| travellers seem to feel their lives safer u
these waters than in many larger ana 20
| called safer streams.
The Scenery.
II the interior OF these mountains ao'
the bowels of this valley are rich in min
ersl stores, the surface is not les 50 in a.
that appeals to the eye. Hill knit TO hill
With bands Of green clad meadow; noun
tain ioiped 10 mountain, With veins
| ragged rock; streams Of water lsasing II
dszzlipg purity from moss grown rock .
| cool retrests holiowed through years Q
l oesseless flowing; ferns, delicstely fasn
ioped, dropping ID graceAl segligenee owe
rock and stream; great Rsecipices lroWnin
from beneath greater bills, oark an
| sha6oEy with thick fyowing forfstsi hug
| piles OF rock sitting Sith an irnpndent 81
on the very crest OF mountains 90 oad ths
The centuries they have seen sre pas !
years to rs and oue years bat a. moment
| 10 them. a,
Pretty little valleys nsstiing 9uaind
| under the everlasting shadows et the uI
r.echipg pssks, defiIes rugged and Wil'
| low. grsss grown ssps thai invite 70 greer
.r fields and isirer meadows beyond, pas
villages end sniet farm fonsss witn toe
fogers. Ifnor of no valley, ana l ns' ,
.