The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-16

so much for the development of this point.
Going along the tlinch Valley extern
sioniwenty miles one comes TO Tazewell
Courthouse. The village Is finely situated
on the hills about mile from the
station. All along the road that leads from
the railroad TO the town one sees lots laid
out. We are told that handsome hotel
will soon crown one of the hills, and al
ready a street-car line is being laid the
contractor being Mr. Pizzini, of Richmond.
RICH MOUNTAIN RANGE.
Near the Courthouse village is
very high peak in the Rich
mountain range, Your correspondent had
the pleasure of clir1bing TO the
summit Of the lofty crags. 1t is said that
from this point one can see into five states.
counted five parallel ranges of mountains
to the South, and far of IN the distance
imagined that could discern the outlines
Of White Top. 1t is said that years ago very
prominent citizens of TaZewell made a
wager to roll h0gshead of tobacco
up this peak. 1t was a herculean task,
but was accomplished. In the valley Just
beyond this peak one sees town which
claims to be older than jamestown. II
is the home Of ancient community Of
bears. Just over the first range OF noun
tains 10 the South il the far-tamed ana
beautiful Burke's Garden. one of the rich
est and lOyeliest parts Of the State. AS ore
looks towards the North and Northwest he
sees hill after hill, still covered with the
primeval forest. Far away in that direc-
ton lie the almost unknown counties oil
Buchanan and Dickorson, as yet unpene-
trated by civilization. In these remote c0un-
ties above named large part OF the popu-
atiOn dwell in miserable little log cabins
and not few partake freely OF what Il
known as mO0nshine whisky.
About twenty miles below Tazewell
Courthouse, on the railroad, Is the new town
Of Richards. Ii was born only about SIX
months ago, but has already about fifty OF
sixty houses. 1t has "A handsome motel ana
stone bank. A beautiful iron bridge con-
meets the parts of the town living on the OPP
pOste sides OF the Clinch river. There Is
also to be a rolling mill, and there is already
large brick factory. "Oh, we expect 10
have a big town here" said Mr.. George NC
Call, the superintendent, to our reporter
You see we have peculiar advantages our
coal mines are only two miles away"
Mr.. Mccall is probably right there will be
for Richlands bright future. only two
miles back up the road towards Tazewell Il
what is known as Mouth Of Indian or
Cedar Bluff. little village that Is said 10
stand on the site of an ancient Indian VII
lage. Here is what was formerly called
"Gunpowder Spring" but is now known to
be an excellent sulphur spring-around are
tall and craggy mountains and the whole
valley picturesque in the extreme.
Richards has the advantage over many
Of these new places, in that its valley Is a
broader one, and there Is level place LOT Il
city. This place and Graham have the
prestige Of being pets Of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad Company. and railroad
90 N pifhpr ma kp or bliWhf A TOWN,
4 little below Richards, towards II.
Paurs, is the famous Swords creek.
Around this place was once very rough
and lawless community. About two years
ago ten men were shot in two weeks. The
difficulties occurred principally among
themselves, and it was almost Impossible
for the officers Of the law TO do anything.
STARTLED OF COURSE.
1t was near this place that young man
belonging to the engineering corps, OF eX-
cellent character, was passing along the
road and stopped for IA moment IL buckle
his shoe, and looking up, was startled 10
md Winchester rifle pointed at him by a
rough looking mOuntaineer. OF course he
started up and asked what was the matter.
The fellow then saw he had mistaken MS
man against whom he had declared death
He came forward and spoke. but did not
apologize. VI COURSE IL ut hhu h"'N hhiS"
nv friend by mistake he would have apollo
gized 10 his relatives, and this he thought
quite sufficient. These rough men OF this
class are great drunkards, and they drink
moonshne whisky until they are crazed-
and often shoot at people against whom they
have not the slightest prOyocatlOn.
The coming vi the railroad VIII prove .
great means of ciyilizing and subdulng
these wild fellows, who have hitherto bid
defiance to all law. II is said that some OF
them determined not to allow the trains tc
pass; but long ago all this has been settled
and as one passes along on the car. he sees
no more evidence Of disorder than IN
other parts of the State. AT Cleye
land there are lots laid out, Du
| the town has not vet come. st. PauPs Is th'
nresent terminus of the line, but the wOrl
4 h, beng rapidly pushed forward. and VIII
! be soon opened 10 the South and West. A
| II. Paups it is said that the {. {. Z. rail
road will cross the Norfolk and Western
so town called Minneapolis is being lai'
out on the opposite bank Of the Clinch rive
on tall and romantic hills. st. PauPs IN OF
the edge of Scott county, and IS at presen
almost exclusively community OF men
Near this place there are quite eXtensN
coal beds, and there seems to be good mop
that one of these days these places, II
Paups and Minneapolis, may attain to som
of the glory already reached by their West
ern namesakes.
| ODD BITS.
One sometimes hears odd bits of CONVEX
sation in travelling. A party OF men fror
East Virginia were sitting behind me
well" said one, "my wife got OF a goo
saving on me the other night. When
went home il was dark, and j thought
would have little fun, so | turned up m
coat collar, knocked at the door, and aske
in mufiled, disguised voice, Does Nj
Blank live here1 mentioning my OVID name
Yes said she from the other side OF ID
door, "a man of that name calls this hi
home, but he only takes his meals here"