davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

" The Christmas Tree At the Baptist church,
was all occasion it is pleasant to recall. The
hands 1me forests SO near, afforded most album
dant supply of cedar, holly and mistlctoc; and
The arrangement ofwrcaths, stars, and legends,
70 say notling,ot the tes tooning, was most arts-
tic. The ladies' and gentlemen, who decorated
ne church deserve the thanks of al present.
Ever, face told tale OF enjoyment from the
city bred man, to whose mind came the sweet
recollection OF home, 10 the sturdy noun
taince7 to whom it was all like a fairy tale.
And he children whose pleasure is always
genuine when the actual time has conc for the
Gdvcn. of old Santa Claus, never proved their
,rorthiness more fully than On this occasion.
The misses and boys from nine or ten to sweet
sixteen, came filing up the aisle and in pure
white. filing tn. house with their sweet
roiccs as they sang "Chiming Bells" This
was one of the most ENJOYABLE things of the
evening, but the heart Of each proud mother
swcllod with pride when in marched little
Lizzie Polly, followed by Lolita Spaldng,
Leila Burns, Edgar Young, Andy Witt, Willie
lessee, John Goodloe. John Marston, Jack
Taggart and John CarneS, each with high
paper bat on his head 4 bright colored cambria
suit covered with glittering tinsel, each irving
his very best to out-sing his neighbor to the
tune Of jolly old "kemo Kimo." And when
these happy little people were al seated and
had waited just long enough to become really
excited, bugle sounded away in the distance,
announced the approach of "old Nick" and
nearer and nearer it came until with n shout
and call in the window, bounced the hoary old
man, greeted with screams from each little
throat, some in laughter, some in tears. But
there he stood the same
80 Right jolly old elf
laughed when saw bin in spite OF myself"
There were any number of presents on
the tree for the little folks and am told
that about 5000 dollars worth Of presents were
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02
Our Postoffice MANAGEMENT.

Our POStOfT!ce Management.
Complaints in regard to the management
of the postollcc here continue without
abatement and without any apparent effort
on the part of the postmaster to remove
the causes for them. Last week number
of letters were sent to tic postocc from
the Intcrmont hotel to BIZ mailed but one
gentleman, wishing to mail Il letter Of
special Importance and being particularly
anxious for it to reach its destination ut
the earliest moment, put il in the postohce
himself at 10 clock a. IN. The afternoon
Of the next day 4 messenger was sent from
the hotel, us usual, for the mail that came
in at noon. He returned with Il number
ofettcrs, a dozen or more, that had been
sent to he mailed the previous day, and
man who had taken the special pains TO
put il in the office himself. The bundle
tails that had not been sent from the hotel
at all, but had been mailed by outside par
ties.
This occurrence illustrates the lack Of
system and general bad management of
the Big Stone Gap postoilicc. | furnishes
an explanation too why 50 many letters
sent from here, never reach their dcstina-
ton, and why so many letters and papers
addressed to parties here are nevsr
received. We are constantly getting
complaints from subscribers Of the Posi-
because they do not get their papers.
One gentleman says he has mailed three
separate copies to a relative and not one
reached him. Letters have been dropped
in the Office addressed to this paper and
have been returned to tho Posr from Es-
tillville and other points on the railroad
where they wero sent instead Of being
put in the Posi- letter box.
But the Posr, as appear. from the above
statement which has been obtained from
the partic. concerned, is not the only
sufferer. The management Of tho post
Office seems disposed to treat all with i'm
partial Indifference. We might fill many
columns Of the paper with complaints were
We to specify all that come TO us. 1t is
certainly time, however, that the depart5
ment at Washington be notified OF the
situation and some remedy applied
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02
Facts for Manufacturers.

The Virginia Coal & Iron Company
agree to furnish coke at the following
prices:
Furnace. Foundry.
A, the ovens at Big Stone Gap. $500 $3.50
1t is likely these prices will be reduced
under competition, but take them as they
are and compare them with prices at Con-
ncllsvillc.
Cost OF coke at Connellsvilc December, 1890:
Furnace coke, s2.l5 per Foundry coke, s245
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02
The Exposition Hall.

The exposition hall, the money for the build
ing of which was, with so much public spirit,
given By DR.. Roland b. Whtridge, Of Boston,
one Of the directors of the Big Stone Gap I'M
provemcnt Company, is rapidly approaching
completion. 1t is located on the northwest
corner of East Third and Shawnee avenues,
or lot 10 of block %, the use Of which was
also donated by MeSsrs. Whitridgc and Fox,
the Commercial Club and Hcnwoods buildings
having been moved to lot II to accommodate
it. The mason work is being done by Lafay-
cite Parr, the carpentry by C. Z. and C. II.
Spaldng, and the painting By Wa. Henwood.
The building is 20xi0 with substantial stone
foundations, josts and oak floor: finished within
in dressed poplar oiled, the planned raftcrs
showing; outside shinglesquc finish, the roof
being stained dark olive green and the walls
dark brown, both having Il sating effect.
The doors are dark olive green, and the
exterior of the window frames, stills, ETC..
cream white. There are five double windows
each Of fcrty-eight panes Of double thick Ger
man glass 121l2. The shingles On the side of
the house arc put on irregularIy, and on the
roof evenly but Of varying widths. At the
south end of the building is huge chimney
IL feet inches by 3 feet inches, of rounded
bouldcrs, which, when nicely pointed, will pre-
sent rustic and artistic effect. The fire place
itself (for burning logs and large blocks of
camel coaD is feet long, feet 8 inches deep,
and feet 10 inches high, and has on either
side settles or seats of oak, finished in an old
fashioned way. It's intended, further, to have
pebble walk leading up to the door; to have
the yard covered with beautiful green sward,
and when the grounds are enclosed BY neat
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

MoRE towns arc claiming Mr. Hew'itfs plant
than ever claimed to be the birth place OF
Homer. South Watauga, near johnson City,
expects to get it. and cven Bristol has put IN
claim. Big Stone Gap, however, is net uneasy.
Something will be heard to drop between now
and the ides Of March.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

The CITY council of Roanoke have 'gr'cd to
appropriate s2s1 600 for sever and street I'M
movements. Had one fifth Of this sum been
appropriated few years ago, the city
would now be twice as large and it would
never have gotten the name of graveyard--a
name that must cling to it long after 1t be-
comes well drained and hosltby. The people
of Big Stone Gap should learn lesson from
Roanokc's experience.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

We have bit Of information for all persons
who II ay labor under the misapprchcnson that
the in criion OF az ad, crtiscnsnt in this paper
secures thc patron immunity from criticism
for whatever affects the public interest. OF
that tie withdrawal of such an advertisement
will sop such criticism as long as it is our
duty u make it. The paper that cant i've
vitllout allowing Dick, Tom and Harry to still,
its voice or control It's policy with five or ter
dollar advertisement. does not deserve to live
and community that will not sustain an indie
pendent Journal, honesty devoted TO It's utter
csts, Gocs not dc.er7c 20 have one. The Posi-
vas started with good will toward every cti-
zen OF Big Stone Gap, and without injurious
prsiudiccs against any. It's sole object was and
is to advertise and fifty represent the advan-
tages If this entire section TO the world; &c
promo,c tic Development of our industries
and t. supply the community with live and
cntcrl rising newspaper, expecting Of course tC
beneGt lis owners in proportion to the benefit
it confcrs upon others. II had no private
schemes to further, no host:litc; to crafty, NJ
,avor;.cs 10 reward. Mere personal grievances
find NJ place in Il, columns; but as it was pro-
iec;ea fol The public benefit and looks to the
pablo for support, it proposes TO do its dut,y
by thu; public Thus Far it has certainly had
no reason 10 dev2te from it's settled policy. II
has made money every month since its first is-
cue appeared, and it bas secured . circulation
both It home and abroad, far in excess of SHAT
WAS expected. Some people can't understand
thai metropolitan newspaper can sustain
ITSELF N small town, but We are going to
show low tic thing i, done. Of course there
are persons here, as there are all over the
world who would rather pa'ronize foreign in
atituton than q home one, and who, with even
loss 10 themselves, will send job work and
ether .svors to BE- done elsewhere when they
can h.vc such work done as cheapiy and bet
Ter ht-c, but We believe we can get along with
out them about as well Is they can get along
without us. -
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

exchanged there among friends OF every age :,
Senator Mills alone having given about Si'o
worth. The affair was in every wa oreai.a-
BILE to those who managed it, snd is one which
will long be remembered BY every ono present.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02


Of ali the badly managed institutions at
Zig Stone Gap, the Electric Light Company's
plant has perhaps been the most annoying.
First one obstruction and then another has
been presented. and whenever we have needed
the lights most wc have had them least. 1t is
understood that the builders Of the plant
offered to furnish the company capable and
reliable electrician at reasonable price, but
thew declined the offer and secured cheaper
service, which resulted in continued failures.
The well dug TO suppl, the engine with water
was also chcaply done, and within two weeks
it gave out. Then after considering the mat
Ter several days, the management concluded to
have another dug, and this resulted in ten
nights of darkness, though the works are i'm
mediaicly on the river and the boiler might
we'll have been supplied from that source.
When the we'll afforded sufficient water, how
ever, and everything appeared again ready for
operations, it was discovered that the coal was
out, which caused several days of additional
delay, though there was an abundance OF wood
within easy reach Then the oil in the rccep-
taclcs became exhausted, and part OF the
machinery WAS destroyed BY TIE friction-an-
other delay in order TO send TO Ohio for the
needed machinery. This came, and it was
then discovered, that sand from the well had
filed the water pipc-anothcr delay. Then
when ;ne sand Wa removed, the electrician
died. The management are now considering
tn. matter Of securing another electrician.
The result of it all has been that We have been
unable TO place the least reliance ON the electric
Highland the demand for lamps has 50 increased
that the merchants have failed tosupply them.
Time md again las The Posi- been compelled
to borrow lamps for tie composiors 10 work
by. If We arc hereafter to depend Oh the
electric lights at all i, is TO be hoped the plant
will be placed under some competent manage
mcnt. Just nov il is nuisance.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

wire fence set out around the building, num-
Der of symmetrical evergreen trees, winch
with the hcmlocks and rlIododendrons along
tie river will provide . beautiful setting Tor
this little picture gemof a house. DR.. " MT
ridge Hopes the building will be completed oy
New Years, when or soon afterwards INC
openiny will be celebrated by a dance or some
other alcasant ceremony. Then the building
will be filled with the varied natural products
of Big Stone Gap and vicinity. Mr.. .. ~
Taega.t of the Virginia Coal and Iron Com
pany will provide abundant samples OF the
red hcmatit. ores from their lands in the lid
cat Valley: seven to ten feet sections OF their
cokinc coal from Galatians creek, their cannei
and OTHER domestic and fuel Goals; their coke;
an imrlense variety OF timber which Will DC SO
dressed as to show the natural ana hhisheo
grain If the Notwithstanding one plank four
fee. vide, one side of which will be planned;
the masons have promised rough and dressed
samples ~ the marbles, limestones, SAND
stones: there will also be shown plaster, mortar
and building sand taken from the river near by;
and lime burned in the town itself clay Tor
brick, tile and pottery; ochrc and paint ores;
and in fact there will be such display as WILL
in an hour or twc's inspection, give visitor
no matter what his particular line OF work or
interest, m idea of the wonderfully rich re-
sources of our place, that he could not other
wise get without days of uncomfortable riding.
And later on there will be exhibited samples
of the finished products of our manuiact-
cries Of Whatever kind To add further intercts
and aesthetic beauty competent gentleman
will furnish collection of fossils and gcologicai'
curioslics, and in their season, specimens oil
the diverse flora and fauna hcrcabouts.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02
start the matter here are few that are
deemed appropriate:

start the matter here are few that are
deemed appropriate:
East, West,
Homes best
"Pax yobiscum.'' (Peace be with you.)
"Amici, ct rnel,I." (For my friends md myself
uIric habitat FeIIci,as" Iic-c dwells hnppness.)
"You bring your own welcome
"welconc to our inge-nook,
Take your knitting or book
"Not what We have ba: what We share makes IN
best"
"0h, We fire and heat, bless ye the Lord
Praise Him and magnify Him forever
and those very pretty lines from Tennyson'
II am not quite sure Of the words):
..What matter how the North wind raves,
Whit matter how the night behaves
pIow East. blow West. blow high, blow low,
We ST, beside cur hcar,h-frc's glow
The carving of these in quaint old English
letters on oak produces an artistic effect ana
Q, thing of kenuty. y
The spirit of Christmas came over our nt''c
town uS gently rs tne uubh VA VIZ f|
before il. and into the thickcning shadows
Santa Claus staked the strcets--thIs time
in strange disguise. From the fat, jaunty lit
tie fellow with j6cil!y face and white whiskers'
who has been gladdening the world for ccntur-
les. he had heightened himself into a long
broad houldered giant with bushf' black
beard that would make pirate The terror OF
a Spanish main. Instead of being burdened
with presents he carried roll Of paper with
a long list of names. Instead OF whIrling
mast behind rcindeers, he rolled like sailor IN
seven-lcagued boots from store to store
swecpine counters clean, and checking oil one
bv one those lucky namcs. And that ngh''
when the lights in the little church flashed on
widows curtaiued with cyergrccns, and the
eternal message of peace and goodwill swung
in festoons Of holly and laurel above the pulpit
and on the eager, rosy faces beneath it when
the Christmas carols brought out Tie Santa
that the children knew, not many OF the big
children behind, stretching out hands for I'M
expected gifts, would have expected as the
eiver that other Santa had they not known the
heart beneath the edges of his bnshy beard,
and it's workings, not only Christmas but all
the year.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02
ANEliAGK NE

AVERAGE or Carbon. Ash. phur.
samples Big Stone Gap coke, made
in open rick and by barrel test 1923 5.C9 O.749
samples Conncllsve, Pa. coke,
oven test. ........::........s $3.50 81 OSio
samples Chattanooga, Tenn, coke,
oven est.....................S0 .5l 1914 l.5.ti
samples birmingham, Ala. coke.
oven test. s729 1854 lla5
samples Pocahon,aS, Va, coke,
oven Observation-Disclosures. G2.55 5.,4 O.59I
samples New River. WA, coke.
oven t...................9 2:s 7.2l O.552
l sample Zig Stone Gap coke, oven
test, analysis made By 4. $.
McCrea,h. September, 1890. 300 4.74 .5sS
These facts require no comment. Coke
can be delivered at the ovens here much
cheaper than these figures indicate, and
still afford large profit to the maker.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

Total shipments from COnnellsville for week ending
November O. 1890. G,917 cars, distributed as follows
To Pittsburgh, 1860 cars to the West 400 ears to
the East, 1871 cars.
Bcssemer orc is now costing ut Pitts
burgh 1925 per ton, and non-Bessemcr
ore costs at Pittsburgh from $500 to $500
per ton.
Non Bessemer ore will cost at Big Stone
Gap from 81 .25 to $3.50 per ton. and Bess-
cmer ore from $500 to $3.50 per ton.
Limestone will cost at least twice as
much at Pittsburgh as at Big Stone Gap.
1t is said that 700 tons Of Pocahontas
coke passes west through Bristol daily for
furnaces in the Chattanooga and Alabama
districts. This coke will cost from 1915
to $3.50 per ton at those furnaces.
These facts show the smaller cost of
coke and iron orc at Big Stone Cap. Now
let us compare the quality Of the Big
Stone Gap coke with that of Connclls-
Vile. The following table is based upon
the analysis of McCrcath:
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

\>Thc authorities at Washington report that
the latitude of Big Stone Cap is 80 degrees
81 minutes and u seconds, and longitude So
degrees &c minutes and IS seconds, and the
difference of time 3 minutes and seconds
less hanstandard Eastern,railroad me,-that
is to say, when it is now at Big Stone Gap it is
81 minutes and seconds past at New York.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

Mr. J. X. Taggart, manager of the Virgins
Coal & Iron Company, says Big Stone GaE
coke combines the purity Of the focahontas
with the strength of the Connellsvile coke.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

The Norfolk & Western railroad has recently
issued some of the handsomcst maps yet put
ont BY any railroad, one showing its Ohio River
extension: another its relation to other rail-
roads and the country generally; and third
this immediate section Of Virginia, Kentucky,
West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee;
and, in colors, the GOALS. iron and other min
erals; railroads and country roads; state and
county lines, and lior Of elevation. Of many
important places.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

The Appalachian Club receives the following
papers:
DAiLlrs.-Ncw York Herald, New York Sun,
New Yorl, Tribune, Boston Herald, louisville
Couricr-Journa, Richmond Dispatch.
WEEKLrES.--Lifc, Puck, The ,Iudeo The Ma
item, Public Opinion.
-liarpcr'>. Scrbncr's TIC Ccntu-
~, North American Review.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

Here are two good puzzles to try ycurlriends
on during the winter This is tic name Of
All author and one Of his works
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

The livery men have offered to give lOC
to 200 wagon loads of fertilizers, TO the gar
den and dairy men who will avail themselves
of the free land Goo acres) offered by Messrs'
Whitcridgc and Fox and the Jones estate.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

Captain Joe Smith, near Little Stone GaM
hauled to tbs station last week holly tree,
sixty two inches in circumference at the stump,
and ffty-two inches ten feet ADORE. There
are in the park near Poplar Hill, three others
81, 80 and - inches in diameter, and near
the Proctor street bridge arc two more IS and
81 inches, these last dividing into three forks n
few feet above the ground. 1t should be mat
ter of pride with our citizens to keep five such
splendid specimens of this beautiful tree in
their present state and not remove even
berry from them. =
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

When SO many handsome houses are about
to go up on Poplar Hill, it would be good
idea for the owners to give them names, as is
the custom in other parts of the country. tits
distinctive, locks well on ones note paper and
outer door; and BY and bye, when we grow
to free-delivery size, it will facilitate the dis
tribution of mail. Another pretty idea is to
have some appropriate motto carved on the
large wood mantcI In ones hail or library. To
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

81 knew was charming fellow said one
of the Big Stonc Gap dudes, as ne walked over
(hc lack of) Our city fathers raycncnts "but
had no idea this mud would get so stuck on
me-"
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

A lady III this city recently receive from her
brother in Missouri Il postal card. On which
were written 39j words. Thu salue gentle
man not long ago sent communication of 500
words to an editor in the same way, and it
was regarded as such curiosity that the card
was framed and kept in the sanctum.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

Ii is said Senator Mills cleared $;o,On0 by 4
deal few days ago, and lie at once invested
nearly a thousand dollars in Chris las pres
ents, which he distributed amcng his friends,
much Of it going To the poor. Everybody
wants the Senator To win H. never boards
his dollars bus sends them shout doiug good.
The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-01-02

II YOU have no compass and wish 10 know
the points, fake yony watch, turn it until the
hour hand points directly to tic sun, and
midway between the hour hand and ike
figure MI will be south. Say the hour
hand is at x, the figure N will point 10 the
south.
The Opelousas courier., 1891-11-07
FOWLS AS CLEANERS.

It matters not how much care be exer.
cised in gathering the grain crop, more
or less of it is certain to be left on the
field in the shape of loose kernels, single
heads and litterings. Sheep and hogs,
if turned in promptly, viii eat a portion
of this ungathered crop, but they are not
often wanted thus early in stubble
ground, especially if it is newly seeded.
Hence a farmer having a field near the
barn can utilize this scattered grain by
letting the fowls all out at once in the
morning, inducing them to follow him
to the field by scattering grain before
them, remaining in the field with them
half an hour, or until they scatter about
in search of food, Practise this for two
or three mornings, and they will visit
the field often during the day.
By this plan the fowls not only fatten
rapidly, but they are away from the
house and barn buildings, look better
land are healthier than when depending
upon food fed to them. | have known
instances where fowls have been induced
Ito forage nearly half a mile from the
buildings. Not only is loose grain read
lily utilized by them, but insects of all
kinds, and in their season grasshoppers
Iare their ~favorite food.-TKe Examiner.