The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-16
IN OLD TAZEWELL.
ALONG THE MEANDERlNGS OF
CLlNCH VALLEY

CIlNCH VALLEY.
Changes Wrought by Machinery in the
Mountains-Some of the New Towns.
odd Bits OF Character and Conyer-
sation.
GRAHAM, Nov. d. Special III Taze-
well county, Virginia, is not able to boast
Of the marvellous scenery OF switzerland, it
can at least lay claim to being remark
ably beautiful and attractive country.
When one remembers that it has not been o
decade since all this region that lies along
the Clinch Valley was remote from the
railroad lines and uncOnnected with the
great marts of the world he is amazed to
see the vast development which has taken
place. Only few years ago these nils
were covered with primeyal forests, the
bowels of the earth had not been
robbed OF their minerals, here and
there quaint little villages nestled in
narrow mountain valleys, rustic inhabi-
tants utterly unmindful, and the vast and
busy world far beyond their hills. but now
how different. Railroads have come.
Towns are being laid out. Huge manuiac'
tories are being erected. The rough noun
tainer has either been driven back before
the advance Of civilization TO more remote
Businesses or else he has laid aside his gum
abandoned his wrecked log-hut, and gone
10 work as a miner or labOrer on some other
developed schemes.
t.a.s.- =. OLD TAZEWELL.
Old Tazewell has always boosted of a
number Of wealthy and educated persons,
and has been noted for the generous hOspt
tality of its people. But even this class
have entered "A new epoch OF existence.
Heretofore much OF their wealth was una
yailablp-the gentleman Of ailluence had 10
drive miles and miles over the weary noun
tains and the terrible roads In order to reach
city of any size. Theirs Is furniture IN
razewell now which was wagOned from
lynchburg, and caused great amazement
among the people OF the olden time. NOW
it is quite apparent that WIN the rise OF
lands. the opening Of mines, the approach
of railroads, Tazewell county promises soon
20 be one of the very richest and most hour
| ishing i'm the state Of irglnla.
The new railroad up the valley OF the
Clinch river, which Is 10 be a through
line TO Louisville, ky., and the great West
has lent on animation To this whole country.
Into this region population Is drifting with
remarkable rapidly, and the time may
come when Lehigh Valley Will be repro
duced in Southwest Virginia.
As we roll along on the train that goes up
the Clinch Valley extension we look out on
a lovely country. whose yerdant wales OF
Grass are made radiant in the splendid iight
Of the morning sun. At Tip-IOp we are
rold that we have arrived at an elevation OF
$40 feet above sea level. The coun-
try is well cleared up and dotted win
| comfortable farmers homes. The grassy
| slopes are animated by herds OF fine cattle
aud nOcks of sheep. Everywhere one sees
the visible evidences OF agricultural pros
perity. How different from some parts Oi
! poor old East Virginia, around when hang
such splendid memories!
| The Norfolk and Western extension Iuns
from Graham 10 IT. PauPs. The former
Mace is at the junction Of the RadtOrd and
| Pocahontas branch. 1t. Paul is eighty
miles away. in what was a short time ago
a wild and remote part Of Scott county. IL Is
only thirty miles from Big Stone Gap. In
these eighty miles your correspondent no.
ticcd that he had 10 cross the Cllncb
! river twenty-slX times. The railroad runs
down the narrow valley OF this river and
has thus saved thousands and thousands
of dollars in construction cost. 10 put
another road through this country would
be very difficult If not impossible. ms
road sometimes takes one side ana some
| times the other Of this mountain stream,
which seems To have won its way through
these tail mountains. Some of the work
done on this road must have been
both difficult and expensive, tunnels
have been cut through large stone cllhs..
At times your correspondent observed
places where apparently narrow roadway
had been carved out of a rock cliit hundreds
of feet high. and we looked down on the
clear waters of the Clinch as they rolled on
through the hugh bOulders that retarued us
current. Now there is one feature Thai
lends particular interest to TINS new line
| When il has completed its connections Il
| will be one of the great trunk lines con
Meeting east and west together so mat yOt
can take YOUR choice as 10 whether, II
leaving Richmond for the great West, you
will 90 via Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
or Norfolk and Western by way OF Radford
Graham, and the ClInch Valley extension
+ Already this line is busy carrying car load
of timber, coal, and live stock, and bringing
back materials for the new towns that ar
, being erscted.
THE NEW TOWNS.
What do you think OF our new towns il
CIinch Valley! asked gentleman OF you
We'll. il takes good deal of faith to Sc
: some Of them at all. You remember hear
: ing of a boy who is now celebrated who re
marked, after visit from the country to III
city. that he could not see the town on &C
T Count of the houses. Here the trouble
that YOU cannot always see the city on az
: COMMIT of the number OF vacant lots betwee
5 the houses. In tact it does take come it'll
experience and observation to tell when 20
3 are in the city aud when YOU have gotte
! back 10 the country.
GRAHAM.
Al Graham we see laid of lots enough fC
: town of about ten or fifteen thousand IL
habitauts. Already the Improvement con
pany mas erected beautiful hotel on IN
summit of hill after the plan OF the Lura
and Roanoke inns, where travellers will !
j. entertained i'm the most approved styl'
4 There mas also been started here rollin
Il mill which will give employment 10 sewers
e hundred men. The Norfolk and Wester
Railroad Company ia now erecting at 6ri
ham handsome stone passenger depo
The place has "A bright future. Blueheld
4 only down the railroad three miles fro
4 Graham, towards Radtord. IL is just ov'
y the line in Mercer county, West virginia:
these places grow the narrow valley TN
connects them will soon be filled Wi
70 houses.
IL IS said that handsome site for 8