The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-11-06
362, and in October $40, or a total of so2; or .
grand total of 1927 arrivals in town for those
two months.

tits not generally known that Big Stone Can
| formerally had race-track in the bottom near
Powells River, comprising what is now Blocks
%, 80, 40, 4S and 40 in Platte L, which is we'll
adapted to the making of an elipticslly-shaped
almost level course. Here, old citizens say,
many race has been lost and won, and many
day ofsport enjoyed by crowds of mountain
GERS Perhaps on kite shaped track, and in
this bracing air Maud S. or Sunol might beat
their already wonderful records. Those old
days might be renewed with improving finances
and, Indeed, one of our go-ahead citizens sue-
gested the establishment of a Fair to be held
here, hereafter, in the autumn, when stock and
agricultural products, household and fancy
work be exhibited, tiots,races and other amuse-
ments provided, and such general programme
gotten up as shall confirm people for fifty miles
or more around in the belief that Big Stone
Gap is to he the centre of this section for busi.
ness and pleasure.
The coal supply of the mines at Big Stone
Gap is totally inadequate to the demand, and
only the mild weather has prevented its being
telt with physical suffering. The dealers here
have been unable to get even car load for ten
days past, and may not for week OF 81 vet to
come, as the S. A. 0. R. R. is carrying it's out
put to Abingdon and Bristol, on previous con-
tracts, providing only an occasional carto keep
the electric lights going here. 1t is one of the
unexplained mysteries Of the coal trade why
people will not lay in their supply of fuel in tho
summer. when it is perfectly dry and cheaper
than it is in the winter. If this condition Of
AFFAIRS continues to exist, and other mines are
not opened, recourse viii have to be had to tho
mines at other points, on the l.. MR..
Stonega Academy has enrolled As pupils, the
Public school at Big Stone Gap 1877 the ono
at buttons Mill 40; that at East Big Stone
Gap 1885 and the colored school 20, or total
of 1913 for this place.
1t is reported that much of The coal on about
6O or 80 miles of the extension of the line Of
the Norfolk & Western r. r. from Pocahontss.
'o" "Soo 'HSihids W Vic 'OulO RlVer, ~
not OF good quality, which, if true, adds very
largely to the value. of the coking coal 6elds
about Big Stone Gap.
Mr. d. G. Williams of Big Stone, Gap, who
has been mentioned in thssecolumuss as pes---
sesslng one Of the two kncwnfaruasy on which
ginseng is cultivated, has recently removed a
quantity of the roots from portion of his
ground and finds that the yield IS at therste Of
$1,000 per acre, and, rsoruover;~by process
known to himself after long experimenting, he
uses the same plant SO as to give him another
return in about three years. Mr.. Williams
has IN cultivation at the present time about
three acres and by sprlug will have some ten
acres, planted with seed, or with young roots:
which he keeps alive and moist, in boxsa of
earth. The seed which resemble small coffee
berries bring Sl.OO pint and the green ginsing
roots Sl.OO per pound. These last, when
. ceritied," Chat is put in hot water, scraped
and dried) bring $500 to $500 per pound, the
price depending partly on the size. Mr.. VIII
liams has Oh hand now some 1000 pounds Of
ginseng dried and sacked, though SONS yesrs
his sales run UP to $500 pounds.