Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-07-24

Even the last three words, he had to
acknowledge, were super1uous, rs he
knew that his friend would never consider
his "outfit" complete without those
granite specimens; but he thought he
might rs well make the message ten
words long, since it did not cost any
more.
1t was nearly ten o'clock when he
reached Bullionvillc. Dismounting be-
fore the telegraph Office, he was cha
Srincd to find it had been closed almost
an hour. He had forgotten that the
office was closed at nine o'clock.
He made some inquiries for the opera
tors, but could not find him. Having al
ready taken SO much trouble in the mat
ter, and having SO little time for his
preparations, he resolved to ride up the
line five miles to Whitewater, where he
knew the operator slept in the office, and
would get up if need be, to send tclc-
gram.
| lie had no notion what an excitement
his conduct had caused in Bullionvillc.
Groups OF men began to gather upon the
street corners, and the story was rapidly
told that the contractors agent had lust
come up from the engineers camp with
some very important news, and that he
had ridden all the way up to Whitewater
to save Il few hours delay.
Morris found the operator still up
when he reached Whitewater. Taking
Il blank, he proceeded to write out his
message. The WORKOUT pen furnished
FOR the public convenience made bad
blot upon the first blank. Crumplin.
it, he tossed it out oil the window, and
took another.
4 man standing in the shadow of the
building reached out and picked it up.
1t WAS the cntcrprisin3 eoitor of the
! Echo, who was on his track.
AS Morris galloped back through
Bullionvillc, an acquaintance, whom
Morris WAS surprised to see up so late,
stepped ont and hailed him.
1--WE hear you're going to move at
last said the man.
Morris was too weary to be pleased at
their interest in his college prospects.
Eyes" he said, shortly, "Im going
TO Columbia this year"
GLOW are you going'" was the next
question.
"Why. by rail, of coursc!" Morris
said.
columbia is pretty near the salt
water, aint it:''
"salt water: We'll, within two CIR
three miles, | guess"
He was tired and in no mood for
further talk, SO he rode away.
boys" said the quc,tioncr, trium.
phantly, to II group ut the hotel, "I
guess none Of you will dispute that the
road is going to be built now"
Before morning the report had gone
through the town that the road was to
he pushed westward mt once through
Bnllionvilc 10 the mouth of the Column
bia River. Morris had said so.
If Morris had made his accustomed
visit to the town next day, Instead OF
gong down the river in quest of aeo-
logical specimens, he would have hardly
known Bullionvllc. Activity and cx-
citemcnt had taken the place of lstlcss.
ness. Men were busy stalking out lots,
and others were buying and selling real
estate in the stores aud ON the corners.
LUMBER, brick and building-stonc had
advanced fifty per cent. in urice, while
the wages oi mechanics had increased
thrccfold.
lmproviscd real estate Offices had been
opened in dozen places, and were do
Ing Il thriving business-though not, it
mus; be admitted, cash business, for
money WAS rs scarce in the town us ever.
Meanwhile, the cause of all this excite
mcnt was collecting specimens and max
ing notes of the various geological strata
ilecn miles away. About noon ne
went in search of Il feed of oats for his
horse, and had TO cali ut several r,,nchcs
before he obtained it,
Soon after this he met the stage coach
coming up and rs usual without pas
son.erS.
"Prospcctng?" asked the driver.
"ies, said Morris, 81 find wonder.
fully rich ground in this valley"
lie was speaking gcologicnly, for he
had picked up the tooth OF an extinct
animal that very day.
"Thnt's what I've been preaching for
nigh onto seven years." said the driver
and went on.
In the Echo extra appeared the follow
as P"i"5I"pH.
Full particulars regarding tho new de.
velopment III railroad circles are not at this
writing obtainable, inasmuch us the con
tractors agent is mt present down the rive,
looking over tho work, and buying up tbs
gram III that neighborhood. To persons who
have met him, however, he has express "a
himself III glowing terms"
From that time the "boom" proceeded
without much restraint. No rumor WA.
too wild to be credited. Reports wer,
rife that immense railroad building.
would be located in the town, that nu
merous syndicates were endeavoring t.
get possession of land, that manuiac
tories would soon be started All thes,
reports seemed to start from nowhere
and yet to 90 everywhere.
1t was after shutdown when NIorri,
rode up to the town. He saw at ono,
from the air of haste and lmportanc,
which dominated the crowds on tn,
streets, that something important mus
have taken place. He began to make in
quiries, but every one seemed too bus,