The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-11-07
TELLS WHAT HE SAW LONG THE
LINEOF THE CHARLESTON, GIN.
CINNATI AND CHICAGO
RAILR0AD.
'.Sights and Wonders In the Earth In
Tennessee and Virginia, but Won
derfGiiy Golden Silence in Re-
gard to the Town Of
PikeYille.
Is CATLETTSBURG JEALOUS?
W. 4. Patton. in Kentae.y Demoorat.l

W. A. Patton, in Kentucky Democratl
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn, Oct. %.
Last week | was over to Elkhorn
City, Pike county, KY, and returning,
passed over the route OF the Three
C's railroad, and as this section will
soon be tributary to the jobbing trade
Of your city, | will attempt limited
article on it.
Elkhorn City Is at the junction Of
Elkhorn river with the Russell Fork
OF Big Sandy, it being at the foot Of
Cumberland mountain ON the north
side and only three miles from the
breaks" Of the Big Sandy. II was in
a beautiful pine grove here, where the
Rev. Geo. 0. Barnes held his Big San
dy camp-meeting, and is at present
the site OF the extensive water. mill
erected by Gen. Wilder, which has
the capacity Of saving 25,00O feet Of
lumber day, in addition to the plan
ing, edging, ETC., and large Touring
mill. On the completion of the Three
C's it is intended to be run in connec-
ton with large furniture factory.
The power of the mill is enormous, the
river having fall OF 25 feet, which,
by the use OF two turbine wheels OF
Gen. Wilder's patent, gives power far
in excess of all demands.
This city is the first town-site on the
line OF the Three C's railroad south OF
Catlettsburg that has been projected
BIZ the development that will follow
The construction of that road, and
coming from the south, it is the FIRST
level land suitable for town-site for a
distance of 25 miles or more, and being
the first station north of the noun
tain, it is destined to be place of con-
siderable importance. At present it is
the extreme southern limit OF the Cat
lettsburg jobbing trade, as beyond the
Cumberland mountains all merchan,
disc is shipped by rail to Abingdon
Va, and hauled from there, making
the freight discrimination too much to
he overcome by the Catlettsburg job.
ber But on the completion Of the
Three C's vast territory will be open
TO the very doors OF the Catlettsburg
merchants, and no other point will
have an advantage in catering for this
trade
Leaving Elkhorn | met the engi-
neer Corps OF the Three @ in charge Of
Mr.. Hull, about five miles from Clint
wood, Dickinson county, 20 miles
south OF the "breaks" The corps had
just completed the survey of the tun.
mel through the Sandy ridge and were
now travelling northward permanent
ly locating the road as they 60.
There are four important tributaries
OF the Big Sandy South of the noun
taias Itis the Russell Fork Of Sandy
that runs through the breaks" and
four miles south of the "breaks" it re-
ceives the Pound river'ifom the West
At the junction the Pound river which
is the largest, and also the longest ol
the two streams, but as the Russell
Fork carries its name to what is called
the Upper Fork, eight miles above
Pikeville, it must be admitted that the
Pound runs out the Russell instead OF
the Russell running out the Pound
The Pound runs Immediately at the
foot OF the Cumberland mountains on
the South side for distance of 25
mihs and on the eastern side il re-
ceiycs Two important tributaries, the
Mcclure and the Cranes-nest The
route 81 the Three C'sis located to fol
low the water courses up the Russell
Pound and Mcclure to the mouth Of a
small branch known as Tramels Greek
which heads against Lick creek 0
the Clinch river. 1t is from Tramel
creek tl Lick creek where the Three
C's tunnels through the Sandy ridge
this tunnel being 2,400 feet long, and
with the exception Of very shor
tunnel through a point on Clinch riv
or, Is the only tunnel on the roat
from Johnson City, Tenn, to Cattles
burg. Following Lick creek to wher,
It empties into Clinch river, We COM
to Beckley's Mills, in the Castl
Woods. AT this point the Three G.
crosses the Clinch Valley devision O
the Norfolk & Western railroad, ant
two extensive and competing cite
have been layed Oft here, one on eacl
side Of the river, known as MinneapC
lis and St, Paul As TO which wi
take the lead remains for the iutur
10 develop, but Minneapolis seems I
be in the lead, and from the backin
it has It is highly probable il viii b