The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-26

termed the dcrcuiill III the History OIL roc non
tas. Ten wears ago, whtrc 5.p.o pco'ic now
throng the numerous streets of thiokiy oH'l.
town, less than eco soula me ndc-cd amonG the
stumps and dead trecs ard waded Through
marshes: now church spires snd CIlplls o.
school buildings rear their lengths skywaid. In
stead OF tho towering otka, maple ano her loct.
Brick books guard thci: respective sdcs OF NcG-
trc, Water. ST. Clair, Church ard toifc streets
and Railroad avenue. Ten years ago lcdes.
TRAN either crossed Laurel ciecs by wadn. Its
waters or balancing his body unstcadily on a
swaying footlog, the primitive method in those
days OF going frombank to bank OF shallow water
course TO-cay you gaze down On tic sGrs iiiiS
waters OF the stream from hstantia! Draced
bridges
Thc town OF pocahontas w,s virtually pro-
jcctcd and put upon paper in the year 1881. but
really did not beg, to assume shape with morhcr
earth as its fun 'aton until the year 1882 With
ont name, the town was contemplated: then
came the question OF its name and by what name
1t should he chrstcncd when its establishment
became fact The fret title that presented IL
SELF as Il can jidatc was "Marymoore " in honor
OF Miss Mary Moore, youngest daughter of the
now amcntcd William II. Moore, Il very near de-
name was finally discarded as uuruly, and IL was
Dubbed Pocahontas in honor OF
JOHN SMITHS DusEY REscuER.
Tho, name was appropriate. and virtually re-
icsa s some s sem;eivili1cd cE"an knocks out the
last two syllablcs, leaving the unmusicsl sound
ing "Poca.''
This cntcrprising town really owes its origin.
birth ard nouiishment into solid existence o the
judgment, energy and foresight OF Col ] homas
Graham (now deceased of Philadelphia, Pa
His attention in 1879 being called to the hidden
wealth OF coal under the range of RIDGES north OF
the town and seeing the untold thousands OF
dollars that would come TO the promoters of such
q scheme and tho convenience it would be To the
outside world by Developments Immediately pro-
w d H9a a
ginin i'll Mar n, 1880, under the name OF The
Southwest Virginia Improvement Company.
Through Colonel Geaham other capitalists soon
became interested with him and pariook in Il
great degree OF his enthusiasm respecting the de-
velopmcnt. But all along ut that time Colonel
Graham was the prime factor il the enterprise.
In the spring OF 1881 Dr.. Jamcs O'Kcefrc was
selected by tho parties interested as agent to pur-
chase all the coal lands available OF and beyond
the Sioncy ridge. In March lSS. Or. O'Kccnc
began his labors OF optioning all the laud around
and about this territory ANA travel in those days
had to be done entirely on horseback, th.rc being
no wagon roads. III ~ few months he had sccuycl
by option abou. 10000 acres Of valuable coal
property for his clients
After this agent had secured options on all
properties, at this time available Mr.. William
McGcorgc Jr prominent attorney and cou-
vcyanccr OF the city OF Philadelphia. was di =
patched Immediately with competent force Of
clerks, 10 examine and pass upon the titles OF tho
lands purchased by contract. After due y = nina
ton and nn,ing the majority OF the properties in
good condition rs far as title was concerned, MIR
McGeorec proceeded at once TO have conveyance
made Of them to the company and succeeded after
due time in perfcotirg doubtful titles
In the meantime due and hasty progress was
being made IN tho construction OF tho
NEW RIVER DIVISION
o. the now Norfolk and Western railroad, which
starts out from Rad ord follows the course of
New river TO the mouth or Fast river: thence up
it to the headwatcrs OF Bucstone river and thence
to Pocahontas. Mr.. John Graham, Jr., son OF
Col. THOMAS Graham, WAS chief engineer OF this
work
pennsylvania, was sent down rs superintend
OF the affairs of the company in this locality.
Mr ,Lstni["p is graduate In mining and civil
man OF energy, he represented the truth of the
old saying, IAN old head oil young shoulders ~
lie was thoroughly admired by all The em ploycs
or the company, AMI made few enemies willie
located in this community. And none the less
admired was his accomplished and refined wife,
Mrs. Hattie Llthrop, u Now York lady, and to
this good woral Is the writer Indebted for many
Kind snd s,cia alterations. At the time of the
site contained the folio ,yirg residences: Ono log
house which was situated where tho pre- sent brick
nloc> OF AR. Alex St Clair is ocnicd, on the cor
afo one tobacco BAN which stool in tn, rear OF
the colorcd Methodist Church.
! he lo5 housc WAS nccnnc1 by Mr.. W e Butt
and family. Consequently the supcrintcn dent
was through
STRESS OF cIRcuMsTANCEs
compelled TO seek quarters outside OF the, mo-
then town. so he deposited his wife and house
hold effects under the hosptable roof of .Uncl,
billy" Moore in Abbs Valley, ak miles west OF
TIL mines.
struct shelter for the engineering corps, which
was under the caotaincy OfJ w. l5lak y, and al
ONCE for himself near whore the first tlpple now
stands This old office believe. is now uscd al
an Office by the weigh clerk. A number OF for
ttign min,rs, principally Hungarians, Swedcs ant
Germans, were secured mt Castle Garden New
York. This force was at once. upon its arrival
put to work opening No or East mine Labor
ing forces were employed in grading, clearing
brush and standing timber from powell's Bot
tom" Mcssrs j. w: Minor q Brother, OF Con
ncisvi!lc, Ia were the contractors To build the
coke ovens. This firm went at once to erection
of 100 bank ard 100 block ovens
Saw mills were hauled into the Laurel Greek
valley aud preparation made to convert tho hem
lock- OAK. chestnut and poplar timber into build
ing material, out of which TO erect the necessary
cottages GEO. Tor the iss ssmpi s, o. the company
ana placed IL The temporary office to be used by
the super inicndcnt, who at once moved III witt
Prospect. Pa, draughtsnan and architects: Mr. Jno
w. SPOTS OF Tazcwell, accountant and paymls
ter. Mr.. Bolion planned and supervised the wo:l
or putting up
THE IRsT TIrPLE,
over which the coal mined from Nos. and
veins were 20 be screened. During this time al
bad to be content with what could be secured
from adjoining farms to cat and the variety was
limited and sometimes the quantity was also
The nearest railroad facilities we're found ut Salt
vile, hfiy-one. miles away and over rugged
mountains and rough roads; IL was sixty.iivC
miles TO "y'hcville, another railroad town
Freight WAS conveyed over IN tmo, ,our six
anu ciSnt morse wagons All money to pay
pcnses OF development, purchase supplies and the
necessnries OF life was carried from Wythc .il!t
on the back OF n horse: tho parties from whom
land and timber were bought would not acccp l
chccks, such mode of payment WIS new To them
Ihc inhabitants OF Stoncy Ridge and the tug
Fork OF SANDY had no desire to take written
check for their property 1t mattcred not how
Solvent the bank upon which drawn or rcspunsi-
bic the drawec might be. IL was ''no good" INC
pay roll OF the company would sometime.
amount to the sum of 900 In month, 80 the
reader can readily zee that II was no pleasant nor
SAFE task to carry that quantity OF the legal ten.
der OF the United states over wild country
lures and vegetables In proportion A supply
honse for storing necessities purchased was huiii
at the mines on Coal branch, and ere the work.
,ncn repaired when their lardcrs became low and