Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-07-24
CIinch Valley News.
FRIDAY, july -, 1871.
THE NEW TOWN OF NOtS-
TON, VA.
("S.'' in Richlands News

ioih anu W cSlStll IuilfbUti ltlt IcVC-
nue. from the vast shipment of coal
from those mines gave the road n
most favorable standing in financial
circles. This. combined with he abb,
ty displayed by the management. Was
not long i'll causing the promoters 60
cast about IL search of more extern.
sive fields OF operation. But mo
ment's glance sulliced TO discover I'm
broken fields of coal extending
through Southwest Virginia into
Kentucky, and beyond the West Y;r.
GINA line into Ohio; while thousands
of square miles Of choice timber lands
remained untouched. Coal and min.
cral experts sent ont towards the
Kentucky line returned 10 nukc most
glowing reports.
Along She entire routc of the Clinc,i
Valley extension, from Graham to
Big Stone Gap and beyond, WAS
found coal and Gre Of llc first quail
ty and in vast quantities. Tazcwrli
and Russell counties were discover
Cd to be rich beyond calculation with
these deposits, while III Wise county
and across into Kentucky the gcncr.
GUS coal actually scpa.ntcd the earth
that it might be seen. With these
new fields of iucstimable wealth dis
covered, the managers decided ut
once to build an extension through
these counties i'll the direction OF the
Southwest. A proposition, made by
the Norfolk and Western to the
Louisville and Nashville railroad, TO
extend and connect with each other
at some point, WAS readily accepted.
The next important action WAS to
select place the most suitable for
tho two prosperous roads TO join
Many things had To be considered in
making The selection. They needed
ample space for extensive yards, lr
pots, round houses and work shops.
They wanted an abundance of good,
pure water, with which TO supply ihc
domestic demand, and sufficient
flow for any Industrial uses. They
desired a site whore large ANA
thriving town could be laid out. for
they knew capital, labor and bust
ness would follow the improvements
they proposed making ut the point
selected.
Having viewed several places and
their advantages discussed, the
shrewd munngers decided ut last
where tic connection should be made
and II substantial town built. Nature
but too often lends IL helping hand
to mans efforts. High mountain
ranges for pure, fresh air, and cold
sparkling water, are great essentials
that health may be susiaincd; raw
material beneath the ground and
dense forests Offering their products
must abound that labor may be EN-
ployed. The place thus provided by
nature and selected by the managers
of tho N. ~ w. was in Wise county,
Va, and known by The local namo OF
Princes Flats, now changed TO Nor.
ton.
The managers of these roads see.
ing that the money they proposed
spending at Norton would be the la.
Sis of a prosperous town, and know
ing OF the great coal fields north of
this place, which coal would find nm
outlet here, resolved on adding
strength to the place by securing
moned men to take hold and foster
1t with ample capital This was done
by presenting to j. II. Dingcc, one
of Philadolphia's shrewdest business
men, the advantages offered. Mr..
Dingee, who represents 10000 of
English and American capital, read
lily accepted the opportunity For
two Years this company, with Mir.
Dingee in the lead, has been propar.
ing the foundation of this new town
by laying out and grading streets,
making ready sites for commoiious
hotels, and doing various other worl,
that nicely rounds up town.
During the time recently passed
when SO many towns were being
rushed upon the market, this com
pnny was moving in calm way, wei
knowing thore was no need Of excite
ment to help dispose Of their prop
erty Tho sfreetc oro No., 80, I